Macbeth

The Influence of External Forces

There were many external forces that influenced Macbeth on making his major

decision. The decision was whether or no to kill King Duncan. These forces were the

apparitions, the old witches, and Lady Macbeth. The apparitions influenced Macbeth by

making him think he was invincible. The witches influenced Macbeth by telling him that

he was going to become king. Lady Macbeth also influenced him by emasculating him.

Although these factors influenced Macbeth, it was still his choice to act upon this

decision. Still, no matter how hard Macbeth tried, he could not avoid the influence of

what others had to say.

The first external force that influenced Macbeth was the apparitions. The

apparitions influenced Macbeth by making him think he was invincible. The first

apparition said, “Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff! Beware Thane of

Fife, dismiss me; enough.”(act 4, scene 1, lines 71-73) This meant that Macbeth, had to

watch out for Macduff, the Thane of Fife . The second apparition said, “Be bloody,

bold, and resolute, Laugh to scorn the power of man, for none born of woman shall

harm Macbeth.”( act 4, scene 1, lines 78-81) This meant that no man that was born out

of the female birth canal could harm Macbeth. This statement contradicts the one

statement made by the first apparition. Macbeth thought that since Macduff was human

that he had to have been born through the birth canal. Macbeth did not know that

Macduff was born by c-section, he was untimely ripped. The third apparition said,

“Be lion-mettled, proud and take no care of who chafes, who frets, or where

conspires are: Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high

Dunsinane Hill shall come against him.”(Act 4, Scene 1, Lines 89-94) This means that

Macbeth should be brave and proud. It also means that Macbeth will not be killed until

the forest marches up to his castle. Macbeth thinks though that that was absurd. He

never imagined the forest walking. The forest did walk though. It walked

when Macduff and his associates camouflaged themselves with it, and attacked

Macbeth’s castle. The apparitions made him feel like he could do anything. Then he

decided to take out Duncan.

The witches also influenced Macbeth in killing King Duncan. They told Macbeth

that he was going to become king. The first witch said, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to

thee, Thane of Glamis.