How The Witches Manipulate Macbeth

Though Macbeth performs a plethora of cruel tasks throughout the play, his actions are not his own. The witches, the apparitions and Lady Macbeth's constantly manipulate and motivate Macbeth throughout the play. The witches’ prophecies provide the foundations for Macbeth’s actions. They first convince Macbeth they are indeed magical and their words hold meaning. During their first encounter, one of the witches greets Macbeth with the second prophecy of “All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor.” [Act 1 Scene 3 Line 51] The witches seemingly predict Macbeth’s advancement to thane of Cawdor before it happens, therefore he begins to believe the witches and fall under their temptation. The next witch introduces the idea of kingship to

The first apparition makes Macbeth fearful and wary of Macduff. During Macbeth encounter with the apparitions in order to get more information, it replies with, “Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth; beware Macduff, Beware the Thane of Fife.” [Act 4 Scene 1 Line 70 - 71] Macbeth upon hearing this decides to hire murderers to slay Macduff and his entire family. He believes that Macduff could be a threat to his throne. Though that worry is quickly resolved when the second apparition provides him with a sense of invincibility. It says to Macbeth, “Be bloody, bold and resolute; laugh to scorn. The power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.” [Act 4 Scene 1 Line 78 - 80] Macbeth believes that everyone is woman born, thus there is nobody able to harm him. Even in the face of defeat, he chooses to fight on and slaughters all in his way with complete confidence. Bolstering his confidence even more, Macbeth deems his defeat impossible due to the third apparition's word. It informs Macbeth that, “Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill, shall come against him.” [Act 4 Scene 1 Line 91 - 93] Macbeth believes his defeat is an impossibility because Birnam Woods logically cannot reach his castle of high Dunsinane. Therefore he allows all of the other Thanes to defect to England and acts recklessly, leading to his eventual demise. The

She employs the usage of Masculinity, guilt and suggestion to manipulate Macbeth into committing the crime. She first introduces the idea of murdering King Duncan to Macbeth. She explains to Macbeth, “But be the serpent under’t. He that’s coming Must be provided for; and you shall put This night’s great business into my dispatch, [...]” Macbeth has no intention of killing Duncan up to this point, it is Lady Macbeth who plants the idea of murder into his head. She also plans out the entire murder beforehand, thus Macbeth had no part in the planning. Furthermore, Macbeth is against the murdering of Duncan, but Lady Macbeth convinces her otherwise by questioning his manhood. He says he’s doing only what a man would, but she replies with, “What beast was’t, then, That made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would be so much more than a man. [...]” [Act 1 Scene 7 Act 47 - 51] She uses Macbeth’s masculinity to coax Macbeth into committing the crime. She compels Macbeth to murder Duncan in order to preserve his manhood, therefore not want toing to look weak in front of his wife, he carries her plans. In addition to questioning his manhood, she utilizes guilt to persuade him. She says additionally in their discussion, “Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you Have done to