The Importance Of Habits In Macbeth

Human beings are often drawn by the rewards of dark temptations, but morals and life experiences, allows them to resist the allure. However, what would happen as outside forces push one towards their temptations? This idea is illustrated in William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, as a tragic hero who was previously described as “full o’ the milk of human kindness,” (Shakespeare 1.5.16) soon falls to nothing more than a ruthless tyrant. As he becomes surrounded by nefarious forces that encourage his “vaulting ambition” (1.7.27), resulting in his inevitable demise. The prophecy, gives Macbeth a false sense of power, allowing him to be blinded by reality through his dedication to fulfilling it. Also, the witches manipulated Macbeth by spurring him

The second apparition encourages him with an alliteration to “Be blood, bold and desolate,” allowing Macbeth to believe that he cannot be dethroned and he should be able to rule as he pleases. Furthermore, the third apparition encourages reckless behavior, manipulating Macbeth to rule carelessly, believing he is undefeatable. However, the result of his actions is witnessed near the end of the play, as he was abandoned by most of his citizens and soldiers. The apparitions prophesized that no one born of a woman can harm him and he can not be defeated until Birnam Wood forest reaches Dunsinane. These equivocations deceived Macbeth as these requirements seem impossible to meet. These quotes reveal the power the prophecy withholds over Macbeth as the previous parts such as: becoming the Thane of Cawdor came true. As the play progresses, Macbeth deteriorates from a noble character to a ruthless king, enrooting his actions from the invincibility of the prophecy. This is demonstrated as he attempts to reassure himself prior to the

The play starts off with the introduction of the witches, encompassing the rest of the play with evil. Specifically, when they chant “Fair is foul, foul is fair,” (1.1.11). The paradox illustrates the idea of appearances being deceiving as they imply that things that appear as a blessing, envelopes a curse within them. Thus, setting the perspective for the rest of the play. In addition, an alliteration is used to the draw the reader’s attention to the quote with the letter “f”, as it’s meaning is relevant throughout the remainder of the play. For example, the deception of the witches and Macbeth’s murder of King Duncan. Similarly, the witches conjure a bloody dagger, allowing the thought of murdering Duncan to linger in his mind. This is evident during the dagger soliloquy when he says” Is this a dagger which I see before me, / The handle towards my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, yet I see thee still.” (2.1.40-42) The confusion arises as he attempts to rationalize the conjuration as he says “A dagger of the mind, a false creation, / Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?/ I see thee yet, in a form as palpable.”(2.1.45-47) but soon admits the dagger “marshall’st [him] the way [he] was going”(2.1.49). Macbeth talks in prose from his reaction to the bloody dagger, showing his insanity. Also, he addresses the dagger with