Macbeth the story of circumstance Essays - Characters In Macbeth

Macbeth the story of circumstance: Victim or Villain: Circumstance is a powerful and dangerous device against those who are weak. It can sway one?s decisions between good and evil, concealing judgment and dismantles the very principle that makes us human. It plays the vital role of a protagonist villain, an invisible danger to the hero in William Shakespeare?s Macbeth. The circumstances and decisions of Macbeth will indeed lead to the destruction of his very soul. Macbeth begins as very honorable Thane of Glamis and Scottish general who fights the Irish invaders with ?great courage and violence? as stated by the captain when explaining how Macbeth slays Macdonald the Irish leader. Macbeth will soon be surrounded by multiple circumstances that fill his mind with dangerous advice which will lead to the demise of his soul as well as his life. The 3 most influential characters include the witches, lady Macbeth, and Macbeth himself that lead to the killing of Duncan. The Witches: The first of the three major circumstances Macbeth falls victim to the are the witches' predictions. Macbeth and Banquo are cornered when the three witches explain that he shall become the thane of Cawdor. Macbeth is mystified by this title, as he has not yet heard of King Duncan?s decision. The witches also announce that Macbeth will be king one day. Stunned, Macbeth asks the witches for more information, but they have turned their attention to Banquo. The witches call Banquo ?lesser than Macbeth, and greater,? and ?not so happy, yet much happier?; then they tell him that he will never be king but that his children will sit upon the throne (1.3.63?65). Macbeths and Banquo are distraught over the witches? predictions .Macbeth states ?Your children shall be kings,? he says to his friend, to whom Banquo responds: ?You shall be king? (1.3.84). Their conversation is interrupted by the news that Macbeth has been named Thane of Cawdor by king Duncan due to the treasonous acts of the former thane. The third prophecy really gets Macbeth?s reasoning racing into madness; there his mind is filled with the fantastic thoughts about how he could steal the kingdom from Duncan. The witches had been right on the track with their predictions up to this point. Macbeth is a little Leary; the only way to become king is to kill the beloved Duncan which could bring a major uprising from the people. Lady Macbeth: The second of the circumstances is Lady Macbeth. Macbeth?s wife, a very persuading and ambitious woman has an unquenchable thirst for power. Lady Macbeth reads the letter prepared by her husband that announces his new position as well as the meeting with the witches. Lady Macbeth realizes what is at stake and will desperately tries to convince her husband to do whatever it takes to make himself king. When she receives the news that her husband is near the castle, she makes the speech ?you spirits. That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full, of direst cruelty? (1.5.38?41). She urges her husband to stop at nothing to seize the crown, telling Macbeth to have patience she will construct the plan to dethrone Duncan. Macbeth struggles against his desires to become king and the terrible consequences of doing so, after all he is Duncan?s kinsman, host, and the king is loved by all. These circumstances offer him nothing but a guilty cons. Lady Macbeth is livid once she finds out Macbeths intentions are no longer to kill the king, she calls him a coward and questions his manhood. When you durst do it,? she says, ?then you were a man? (1.7.49). She has a plan a perfect murder; when the king falls asleep, she will get the chamberlains intoxicated, then they can slip in and kill Duncan. The murderous cover up will be slain on the chamberlains. Macbeth then agrees to proceed with the murder, blown away by the daring nature of her plan. Lady Macbeth?s words not only convince but taunt her husband and erasing his immoral thoughts from memory. Macbeth is now in-between an unjust man and villain. When Macbeth kills Duncan with the dagger, he states the deed is done. Lady Macbeth attempts