Shakespeare's Macbeth: Responsible for His Own Destruction Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, is the tragic story of the character Macbeth, a virtuous man, corrupted by power and greed. This tragedy could be explained in two very different ways. One explanation is that the tragic hero, Macbeth, is led by fate down an inevitable path of misfortune. A second explanation is that there is no "outside" force working against Macbeth, thus making him responsible for his own actions and inevitable downfall. The text of the play seems to imply that Macbeth is actually responsible for his own actions, actions brought about by an unwillingness to listen to his conscience, the three witches, and his own ambition. First, Macbeth ignores the voice of his own psyche. He knows what he is doing is wrong even before he kills Duncan, but he allows Lady Macbeth and greed to cloud his judgment. Referring to the idea of Duncan's murder, Macbeth first states, "We will proceed no further in this matter" (I.vii.32). However, after speaking to Lady Macbeth, he recants and proclaims, "I am settled and bend / Every corporal agent to this terrible feat" (I.vii.79-80). There is nothing supernatural in the fact that a man allows himself to be influenced by the woman he loves, in fact this action could be perceived as exactly the opposite. Secondly, the witches must be cast out as the source of Macbeth's misfortune before the latter. theory can be considered. It is certainly strange that the strange sisters first address Macbeth with "All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Lord of Cawdor!" (I.iii.49), a title that not even Macbeth knows he has received. Stranger still is the third witch who cries to Macbeth: "Hail, Macbeth, that henceforth thou shalt be king" (I.iii.50)! However, as Bradley stated, "[the witches] did not even hint at any connection between these announcements and his actions" (232). Some are still unconvinced, however, of the less than supernatural role of witches; however, throughout the play Macbeth appears to be completely aware of his actions, rather than being controlled by a mystical force. The effect of the witches on the action of the play is best summed up by these words: Although the influence of the witches' prophecies on Macbeth is very great, it is clearly shown that it is an influence and nothing more (Bradley 232).

Topic > Shakespeare's Macbeth: Responsible for His Own Destruction Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, is the tragic story of the character Macbeth, a virtuous man, corrupted by power and greed. This tragedy could be explained in two very different ways. One explanation is that the tragic hero, Macbeth, is led by fate down an inevitable path of misfortune. A second explanation is that there is no "outside" force working against Macbeth, thus making him responsible for his own actions and inevitable downfall. The text of the play seems to imply that Macbeth is actually responsible for his own actions, actions brought about by an unwillingness to listen to his conscience, the three witches, and his own ambition. First, Macbeth ignores the voice of his own psyche. He knows what he is doing is wrong even before he kills Duncan, but he allows Lady Macbeth and greed to cloud his judgment. Referring to the idea of Duncan's murder, Macbeth first states, "We will proceed no further in this matter" (I.vii.32). However, after speaking to Lady Macbeth, he recants and proclaims, "I am settled and bend / Every corporal agent to this terrible feat" (I.vii.79-80). There is nothing supernatural in the fact that a man allows himself to be influenced by the woman he loves, in fact this action could be perceived as exactly the opposite. Secondly, the witches must be cast out as the source of Macbeth's misfortune before the latter. theory can be considered. It is certainly strange that the strange sisters first address Macbeth with "All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Lord of Cawdor!" (I.iii.49), a title that not even Macbeth knows he has received. Stranger still is the third witch who cries to Macbeth: "Hail, Macbeth, that henceforth thou shalt be king" (I.iii.50)! However, as Bradley stated, "[the witches] did not even hint at any connection between these announcements and his actions" (232). Some are still unconvinced, however, of the less than supernatural role of witches; however, throughout the play Macbeth appears to be completely aware of his actions, rather than being controlled by a mystical force. The effect of the witches on the action of the play is best summed up by these words: Although the influence of the witches' prophecies on Macbeth is very great, it is clearly shown that it is an influence and nothing more (Bradley 232).