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Macbeths Downfall
Macbeths Downfall
Macbeths Downfall
Mrs.figueroa
Senior English
2/19/19
Does the responsibility lie on the individuals downfall or the environment around them?
In William Shakespeare's play Macbeth it begins with Macbeth hearing his prophecy and it
starting to come true, once king Duncan made him the thane Cawdor. Three witches sparks his
interest after the first prophecy came true this lead the disturbing thoughts of killing the king for
his throne and getting rid of anything that gets in the way, such as his best friend Banquo and
Fleance. After all these events occurred, Macbeth's sanity instantly goes into this darkness full of
a guilty conscience and illutionations. From feeding Macbeth's gullibility to cleaning his mess,
lady Macbeth plays a big role in executing the prophecy. Lady Macbeth is the reason for
Macbeth's downfall because of her constant manipulation and constant control of every aspect of
his life.
sees the benefits of manipulating her husband to be royalty once she is exposed to the
prophecies.”Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy
nature; It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be
great, art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it” (1.5.15-20). She basically
mans up for the both of them and take the situation in her own hands because Macbeth can’t
follow through. Lady Macbeth shares her crazy vision of the way she wants things to go just like
when eve shares the idea of eating from the tree of good and evil . “Lady Macbeth your face, my
Thane, is as a book where men may read strange matters. To beguile the time, look like the time;
bear welcome in your eye, your hand, your tongue; look like th' innocent flower, but be the
serpent under't’’(1.5.73-78). Flowers and serpents usual symbolize the story of adam and eve in
Lady Macbeth shows a great amount of control when comes to the situation that her
husbands in. lady Macbeth punishes her husband by bugging him until he takes action in killing
king duncan. “Art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it [...] Hie thee
hither, that I may pour my spirits in thine ear and chastise with the valour of my tongue all that
impedes thee from the golden round, which fate and metaphysical aid doth see to have thee
crowned withal”(1.5.15-20;28-33). This is when the true form of Lady Macbeth's control comes
out and she starts to think outside of the box. “You spirits/ that tend on mortal thoughts , under
me here./ and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full/ of direst cruelty” (1,5.38-41). Lady
From a victorious battle to insanity at its greatest the story comes with many uncanny
features. Macbeth shows how one can be manipulated into doing a treacherous act without
thinking. The Foreshadowing in the story Macbeth really helps you understand what lead to his
downfall from the beginning. Because of her constant manipulation and constant control of every
aspect of his life Lady Macbeth influence a lot of Macbeth's actions . All and all, the evidence
makes lady Macbeth the most prominent character in her husband's downfall.
Work cited
Othello: Entire Play, shakespeare.mit.edu/macbeth/full.html.