’s Acti Essay, Research Paper
An individual makes many decisions in his or her lifetimes that will determine the outcome of his or her life. The decisions made are made by the individual alone. Therefore, every individual is responsible for his or her own actions. Others may influence the individual however; the outcome of the choice made will still be the responsibility of the individual making the decision. In the great Shakespearean tragedy Macbeth, the protagonist, Macbeth, kills King Duncan because of influence of his wife, Lady Macbeth and the Three Witches who manipulate him, leading him to his own death. However, because of the decisions he made to listen to the insinuating prophecies and his power fanatical wife, Macbeth is ultimately responsible for his own downfall.
Although Macbeth is solely responsible for his own downfall, there are many others who encouraged him to do the feat. The two main contributors is Lady Macbeth the Three Witches. It was three Witches who brought this idea to Macbeth s awareness at the very beginning. They seduced him in to believing the prophecies that he can be the Thane of Cawdor and King hereafter. The Three Witches also greeted Macbeth as the Thane of Glamis however, he already is the Thane of Glamis. Macbeth is reluctant to believe the Three Witches prophecies at first but when he is greeted Thane of Cawdor (page 19, act I, scene iii), he immediately begins to speculate about the other prophecies. The Three Witches are the first ones to implant the idea of ambition in to Macbeth s mind. The idea that he could be someone important was all it took for Macbeth to wonder and make decisions that will forever change his life.
After the idea has been established in his mind, Macbeth needs encouragement. Although Macbeth is a courageous Scottish general, not used to doing evil deeds, he is lured by the idea of power and advancement. Lady Macbeth is much more determined in pursuing her goals and doesn t contemplate about what may occur in the ending. The theme order vs. disorder became evident when Macbeth wrote the letter to Lady Macbeth. Macbeth is a person too full of the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way. (page 23, act I, scene v) and that is why he wrote to his wife. Lady Macbeth seems to be the one with more ambition and more willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve what she wants. The Three Witches supplied the concept but it is Lady Macbeth who provides the encouragement and nourishment that led Macbeth to his death and her own.
After all Macbeth has done, individuals still believe that he isn t a bad man. Some might even say he is one of Shakespeare s greatest tragic heroes. The idea of being King after Duncan was not the idea invented by Macbeth nor was it supported at the very beginning. He was even doubtful but all it took was puzzling words of supposed promise and assurance of power and advancement to persuade Macbeth to murder an innocent man and resulting in many more murders. Macbeth murdered King Duncan partly against his better judgement and because of that, had to live the guilt and paranoia that his conscience maddens him with.
In the Shakespearean tragedy Macbeth, Macbeth is lured with promising prophecies, confused by evil witches and encouraged to do immoral and sinful crimes by his very own wife. Some individuals may believe that because of this, one should not blame Macbeth for the acts he committed. However, he was never forced to believe the prophecies nor listen to his wife s words of encouragement. He knew it was a sin to kill King Duncan and is remorse with guilt when he says This is a sorry sight. (page 39, act II, scene ii). Every individual will hear the phrase you are responsible for your own actions at some point in their life, including Macbeth. Although the Three Witches and Lady Macbeth influence Macbeth, he is ultimately responsible for his own downfall because every individual is responsible for his or her actions.