Relative Influences on Macbeth to Kill his King in Shakespeare's Macbeth

Relative Influences on Macbeth to Kill his King in Shakespeare's Macbeth

There were a number of factors that influenced Macbeth's decision whether to assassinate King Duncan or not. Each of these arguments worked for or against Macbeth's better judgement of the situation. Eventually, a combination of all these factors broke down his conscience through his mental weakness; this led to an unwise decision to kill the King. The consequences of this were fairly disastrous because Macbeth began to regret his actions just moments after the deed was done.

The whole concept of Macbeth's desire to become King of Scotland began when he and Banquo first met the three witches on the moorland. The witches greeted Macbeth each with a prophecy of his future titles:

'All hail to thee, Thane of Glamis

All hail to thee Thane of Cawdor

All hail to thee Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter'

Macbeth seemed to be somewhat stunned by the witches prophecies, whereas Banquo continued to question the three witches in a calm and humorous manner. He noticed Macbeth's troubled facial expression and said:

'Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear

Things that do sound so fair?'

This was the point where Macbeth started to seriously think about the witches' predictions, the possibilities of becoming King, and how he was going to become King. Although he appears to be head-strong in the opening scenes, the witches' predictions frighten him because he knows he wants to become King, but he realises that he has to take action to progress any further.

One of Macbeth's first soliloquies shows us that he has frightening thoughts, as the idea of murder has slipped into his mind. Although the witches did not suggest murder, Ma...

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... around. Although this was the main turning point for Macbeth's lifestyle, there were many other factors that influenced his final decision to commit the crime of murder. All this so far has come together to prove that Macbeth maybe strong and valiant on the outside and very mentally stable and confident in battle, but he just can't stand up to his wife. This may be because he doesn't want to lose his wife, or it could mean that he is just mentally weak when it comes to his emotional situations. This shows that he has very little will power and is an emotional coward. All of the Shakespearean plays end in tragedy, and Macbeth was not an exception. Macbeth, as the main character, and also a battle-scared hero, is the person whose life ends in tragedy. He enters the play as a 'valiant', and 'brave' man, but ends up a twisted wreckage of a hero who once was.