Witchcraft and Downfall: A Macbeth Analysis

1424 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The role of the witches macbeth

Within the story of Macbeth, the three witches play a significant role, for their actions and prophecies begun a chain of events that eventually led to the downfall of the play's main antagonist and despite their limited appearances within the play, impacted the story in more ways than one. Their manipulation of truths are the main cause for the chaos and the bloodshed within the story. However, the witches’ influence not only furthers the plot, but develops character and conflict within the story, with the most prominent characters being Macbeth, as his involvement with the witches formed the framework for the story, Lady Macbeth, who lost her sanity after that fateful night and Banquo, where the promise of kings blinded his noble and honourable …show more content…

It can be seen that this is true in many cases one such as the doubts and fears that plague is mind after he attains the crown. “ Upon my head they place a fruitless crown/ And put a barren sceptre in my gripe” (3.1.77-78) confirms his uneasiness about the first set of prophecies spoken by the witches. This imagined instability prompts him to further prompts him to commit unspeakable acts terror in order to protect what he believes to be rightfully his. This is the beginning of a slew of horrible events that ultimately lead to his untimely death at the hands of Macduff. Another change in his character is the overconfidence that fills his heart during his second audience with the witches. The …show more content…

This is especially true during his soliloquy: Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all,/ As the weird women promised, and, I fear,/ Thou play'dst most foully for't: yet it was said/ It should not stand in thy posterity,/ But that myself should be the root and father/ Of many kings. If there come truth from them/ As upon thee, Macbeth, their speeches shine/ Why, by the verities on thee made good (3.1.1-8). During this scene, Banquo refuses to speak out against Macbeth as he begins to believe the prophecies. His silence sealed the fate of Scotland to one of chaos and terror as his word may have dethroned Macbeth at that very moment. One can see that the prophecies were what stopped Banquo from speaking out against Macbeth as he now believes that all the events that transpire before him are a part of fate. It is now his hope that his sons become kings hereafter as the witches foretold. However, it can also be said that the prophecies were the cause of his murder as proven by this

Show More
Related

  • The Power of Fear in Shakespeare's Macbeth

    958 Words  | 2 Pages

    Here, Macbeth realizes that if something is not done to Banquo, his sons will become Kings.  Macbeth can not have this. He had already worried that his soul will go to hell for what he had done. His fear become evident in this scene also, "But to be safely thus: our fears in Banquo Stick deep;" [Act III, S I, L 53-54] Macbeth has Banquo murdered,

    Read More

  • Banquo And The Juxtaposition In Macbeth

    1378 Words  | 3 Pages

    Both Banquo and Macbeth are introduced as loyal captains in the king`s army, but as the play progresses, Macbeth is overcome with the desire of power due to his reception of the prophecies. Upon hearing, Banquo does not become greedy for power, but, alternatively, he is suspect and cautious begins wondering if “we [Macbeth and Banquo] eaten on the insane root that takes the reason prisoner?” (1.3). Realizing the witches were simply trying to make him ambitious, Banquo remains loyal to his king and his country, despite knowing that he will have a dynasty to rule Scotland. Despite having the motivation, Banquo does not commit treason against his king but rather wants to “keep my [his] bosom franchis'd and allegiance clear” (2.1), meaning that he has no desire to betray the king for personal gain. Conversely, upon hearing the witches’ prophecies, Macbeth becomes ambitious for power and follows them blindly. He is curious about the witches’ prophecies and demands they “stay… [and] tell me [him] more” (1.3). When he hears that the prophecy that his heirs will rule Scotland he will be king, Macbeth`s ambition is born and his thoughts instantly turn to murder, even though the witches had not mentioned murdering King Duncan which shows that Macbeth has previously thought about murdering his king. As a result, Macbeth has no loyalty to neither his king nor his country and commits treason. While both Banquo and Macbeth hear the witches` prophecies that promised power, only Macbeth conceded to their prophecy and became overcame with ambition. Macbeth is a direct antithesis to the honorable, dependent Banquo. He transforms into a greedy man who is obsessed with his

    Read More

  • Macbeth's Downfall

    792 Words  | 2 Pages

    The three weird sisters “witches” predicted that Macbeth would become the King of Cawdor. “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!”(Shakespeare, Macbeth 1...

    Read More

  • The Witches in Macbeth: Unlocking the doors to Regicide

    665 Words  | 2 Pages

    The witches in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth serve to drive the story, advance tension, reveal weakness, and give the audience a hint of the things to come but they do not control Macbeth or anyone else in the play. The only power they have is the ability to reinforce ideas that have already been set in Macbeth’s head. Macbeth is the master of his own fate and he controls his own life. Many temptations are laid out before Macbeth. The way in which he deals with these temptations depends on his own moral strength.

    Read More

  • The Downfall of Lady Macbeth

    583 Words  | 2 Pages

    serious if his wife was not more anxious than he was.  She, more than her

    Read More

  • Free Essays - Character Changes in Macbeth

    565 Words  | 2 Pages

    Later in the play Banquo starts to have a bad feeling about Macbeth. "Thou hast it now: King, Cowdor, Glamis, all,/ as the weird women promised, and I fear/ thou play'dst most foully for `t." III i 1-3, this is a quote from Banquo explaining how he feels about Macbeth's predictions coming true. Macbeth realizes this about Banquo and he starts to have feelings about killing Banquo. This isn't the only reason he feels this way, the witches had also made predictions for Banquo. "Thou shall get kings, though thou be none." I iii 67, Macbeth doesn't want any of Banquo's family to rule Scotland; he wants his own family to continue to rule. Macbeth hires two murderers to kill Banquo and his on Fleance. The murderers end up killing Banquo, but Fleance gets away.

    Read More

  • Lady Macbeth Manipulation Essay

    435 Words  | 1 Pages

    Macbeth was set on the path of insuring the prophecy by his wife’s manipulation. Lady Macbeth constantly pushes Macbeth to carry out the prophecy, in one instance saying, “Was thy hope drunk /Where in you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since? /And wakes it now to look so green and pale /At what it did so freely? (…) Art thou afeard /To be the same in thine own act and valour /As thou art in desire?” (1.7.38-44). Macbeth’s wife fuels his ambition, putting him on the path which leads to him taking Banquo’s life. Because Lady Macbeth sets Macbeth on this path by manipulation, it is the cause of Banquo’s

    Read More

  • The Lying Witches and the Downfall of Shakespeare's Macbeth

    808 Words  | 2 Pages

    The first set of prophecies that the witches reveal to Macbeth in act 1, scene 3, stated that Macbeth was to become Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and finally be crowned king.  They also said, "Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none."  Macbeth was shocked when the first two prophecies came true.  In act 1, scene 3, he spoke of his fears, saying "unfix my hair, and make my seated heart knock at my ribs." In Elizabethan times, witches were known as creatures of the devil, satanic creatures who roam the world to cause destruction and chaos.  But how could devils speak of great truths? Macbeth's new knowledge was then reported to his wife.  He writes about how he will become king.  But how would he do this?  One of Macbeth's rash decisions was to murder the present King.

    Read More

  • Witches: The Catalyst of Doom in Shakespeare's Macbeth

    950 Words  | 2 Pages

    Powerful in nature and curious to the eye, the witches in Macbeth were hooks of fascination. One never knew what would come next when it came to the witches. They possessed a dark authority and supremacy unlike any other and the temptation to ignore them was unfeasible. They brought with them gloomy days and evil thoughts. The witches could draw you in and begin to almost play with your mind if you let them. This is what ultimately led to the down fall of Macbeth. Collectively, the witches in Macbeth acted as a catalyst for all of Macbeth’s actions.

    Read More

  • Shakespeare's Macbeth: Fate Or Free Will?

    745 Words  | 2 Pages

    Macbeth was brought down by his ambition, but it was ambition that was exploited by the witches. Macbeth was never forced into any actions that occurred; he always had free will to choose his actions. His prophecy merely fed a desire that was already inside Macbeth. He corrupted his own ideas of fate by using his free will. He thinks that his fate is something he is able to control, and continually takes steps to ensure that. While he may think what happens to him is fate, it is not. He completely takes his life into his own hands, and makes it his own. After killing king duncan, Macbeth and his lady realize that they must now eliminate Banquo if the witches prophecy were to come true. In order for Macbeth to get away with such a deed he took it upon himself to hire men to kill Banquo and his son for him. In act 3 scene 1 Macbeth tells the hitmen, “Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour at most I will advise you where to plant yourselves, Acquaint you with the perfect spy o' th' time, The moment on ’t; for ’t must be done tonight, And something from the palace; always thought That I require a clearness. And with him— To leave no

    Read More

  • The Witches Play the Greatest Part in Macbeth’s Downfall

    1093 Words  | 3 Pages

    The witches talk to animal sprits and talk about what they have been doing. One says that she was killing swine (Diseases of cattle were believed to be caused by witchcraft in Shakespeare’s day.) Another says that she will punish a sailor. The third witch says that she will help her to do it. They were all doing cruel things. Soon they would do a cruel thing to Macbeth which would end in his ruin and downfall. The witches await Macbeth on the heath, boasting of there powers.

    Read More

  • List The Adjectives Used In Macbeth Act 1

    1578 Words  | 4 Pages

    Macbeth reacts to the prophecy with complete disbelief. The readers know that Macbeth reacts in such a way because as Banquo describes the disappearance of strange, female witches with “choppy fingers,” “skinny lips,” and “beard”-like creatures, Macbeth replies almost incredulity that Banquo’s children will become king. In return, Banquo replies that Macbeth will be King. Macbeth sarcastically replies, “And Thane of Cawdor too.” Macbeth’s sarcastic tone gives the reader the insight that he does not believe the prophecies told by the witches.

    Read More

  • The Downfall of Lady Macbeth

    1360 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth’s desire and ambition leads to her eventual downfall. When Lady Macbeth hears of Macbeth’s prophecy she dreams of the glory and high-standing that awaits being queen. She cannot withhold her ambitions and she is willing to manipulate fate to bring about Macbeth’s prophecy. She invokes evil spirits to be filled from head to toe with cruelty to do the evil actions necessary to make Macbeth king and to remove all remorse and pity for her action from her heart. She is initially able to be involved in the treacherous deeds that are needed to bring about the prophecy quickly, but as the play progresses the weight of the merciless deeds fill her with remorse. The remorse and pain she feels for her wicked ways cause Lady Macbeth to lose control of her life and wither away until the weight of her deeds causes her to die. Lady Macbeth’s wish is partially granted, her mind becomes evil and enables her to do horrific things, but her soul remains pure and unsure of her actions and her remorse for her wicked ways leads to her destruction.

    Read More

  • How Does The Witches Affect Macbeth

    1107 Words  | 3 Pages

    After they hear the prophecies told to them by the evil sisters, Banquo starts to worry about Macbeth and his ambitions to become king. Macbeth is thinking that he may become king without doing anything else, and Banquo thinks Macbeth does not deserve to be thane of Cawdor. At this point, the two friends start growing farther from each other because they do not trust one another. Banquo starts to fear Macbeth because he knows if his prophecy is true than he is a threat to Macbeth's throne. Macbeth realizes he must get rid of Banquo to secure his spot on the throne and make sure his sons will not take his place.

    Read More

  • Witches, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth's Responsibility for Macbeth’s Downfall

    1503 Words  | 4 Pages

    and scheme to go and meet him. This shows that it is important for the

    Read More

More about Witchcraft and Downfall: A Macbeth Analysis

Open Document