Macbeth
...dictions are now influencing Macbeth’s thoughts. This influence plagues Macbeth all throughout the play and distorts the Thane of Cawdor’s view of the world. The mistake that Macbeth made was acting criminally to fulfill the prophecy. This creates a chain reaction in which Macbeth finds himself killing to ensure that only the parts that concern his crowning in a positive manner are fulfilled. Booth not that this is a mistake that might’ve led to his downfall; “ …He makes the mistake of acting criminally to bring about the first part of the prophecy, and then acting criminally to prevent the fulfillment of the second part …Macbeth tries to pick and choose from their promises, and they thus aid him in his self-destruction.” (P. 99) Furthermore as the play progresses Macbeth looks to the witches for answers and help. The witches continue to toy with Macbeth showing him horrible apparitions, each which offers predictions. A floating head warns him of Macduff but more importantly a bloody child appears and tells him “Be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn. The power of man, for none of woman born. Shall harm Macbeth.” (Act IV, Scene I, ll 86-87) This creates a sense of invincibility in Macbeth that puts him over the top and creates a tyrant. Act IV, Scene II is the part in the play that clearly establishes Macbeth as a tyrant. He has been corrupted by power and greed that he can no longer differentiate between the battlefield, his enemies, and women and children. Booth also realises this when he writes; “… he does not understand the differences between ‘bloody execution’ in civilian life and in his past military life…” (p.100) Macbeth, being a sergeant on Scotland’s army, possessed a job that forced him to take lives. However, when he places that dagger through Duncan’s heart, you can sense a weight being lifted off his shoulders. The play suggests that once you use violence to further your quest for power, it is impossible to stop. Banquo’s murder saw a confident Macbeth calling the shots in a well-organized assassination. He rallied up the troops and arranged for the murder just as he would do on the battlefield. As the death toll of Macbeth keeps rising, an inevitable ending is carved in the mind of the reader. When the play is just about to hit its climax, Shakespeare decides to appoint another title to Macbeth. Up to act IV; Macbeth has been known as the thane of Glamis, the thane of Cawdor and the king of Scotland. All these titles were acquired through the use of some sort of violence. A violence that tormented Macbeth’s days and nights. This leads me to my third topic; the king’s weak character. The last topic is the one that really played a factor in his downfall. All throughout the play, it is obvious that Macbeth has a week character. Shakespeare gives evidence to this numerous times in the play. Macbeth struggles to kill Duncan, which is a natural reaction when forced to chose between good and evil. Macbeth however changes his mind six times before concluding to let evil prevail after being urged on by his wife. Booth notices that; “… she twits him for cowardice, plays upon the word ‘man’, making it seems that he becomes more a man by doing the manly deed…he (Macbeth) does not understand the forces working upon him to make him commit the deed…”(p.100) Shakespeare also creates this “Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde” feeling when it comes to Macbeth. Everyone in the play is both good and honourable li...