Shakespeares Macbeth - Responsible for His Own Destruction :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Macbeth Responsible for His Own Destruction Shakespeares play, Macbeth, is the tragic tale of the suit Macbeth, a virtuous man, corrupted by power and voracity. This tragedy could be explained two very different ways. One explanation is that the tragic hero, Macbeth, is direct d birth an inescapable road of doom by fate. A abet explanation is that there is no outside force wor male monarch against Macbeth, which wherefore makes him responsible for his own actions and inevitable downfall. The text of the play seems to imply that Macbeth is thusly responsible for his own actions, actions provoked by an unwillingness to listen to his own conscience, the three witches, and his own ambition. First, Macbeth ignores the voice of his own psyche. He knows what he is doing is handle even before he murders Duncan, but he allows skirt Macbeth and greed to cloud his judgment. In referring to the idea of the murder of Duncan, Macbeth first states, We will rise no further in this busi ness(I.vii.32). Yet, after speaking with Lady Macbeth he recants and proclaims, I am settled, and bend up/Each physical agent to this terrible feat(I.vii.79-80). There is nonhing supernatural to be found in a man being swayed by the adult female he loves, as a matter of fact this action could be perceived as quite the opposite. Second, the witches have to be dispelled as a source of Macbeths misfortune before the latter theory can be considered. It is admittedly strange that the weird sisters first address Macbeth with, All hail, Macbeth add up to thee Thane of Cawdor(I.iii.49), a title that not even Macbeth is aware he has been awarded. nevertheless stranger is the third witch calling to Macbeth, All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter(I.iii.50) However as stated by Bradley, No association of these announcements with any actions of his was even hinted by the witches(232). Some are still not convinced, however, of the witches less than supernatural role neverthele ss, Macbeth appears throughout the play to be all told aware of his actions, as opposed to being controlled by some mysterious force. The effect of the witches on the action of the play is best summarized by these terminology while the influences of the Witches prophecies on Macbeth are very great, it is quite clearly shown to be an influence and nothing more (Bradley 232).