~Asher Period 1: Macbeth Essay!~

Ruhi Sharma
Period 1, Team 8 :]

Macbeth Timed Essay

Man is undoubtedly and by-instinct a prisoner of his fate. Exemplified in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, each character is given a distinct fate, directly proportional to their actions and the thoughts of others. These actions and thoughts specifically serve to catalyze and highlight the actor’s self-determined destiny. Macbeth for instance, had no one- but himself, to blame for his inevitable fate – the most brutal and tragic death. Because of his easily influenced demeanor, Macbeth became susceptible towards doing deeds based on the encouragement and force of other, such as Lady Macbeth. Because of his tragic flaw – his desire to gain constant power and notary, Macbeth seals his fate as the king who was never meant to hold true power.

From the play’s beginning, Macbeth was seen to become easily overpowered by his own actions, instilled into him by his own wife, Lady Macbeth. Wanting her husband to become the King of Scotland and earn notoriety, Lady Macbeth slowly yet steadily wound her way into his head, and convinced to commit heinous deeds. On behalf of his wife, Macbeth murders the King Duncan as well as the King’s two guards. Were Macbeth not as gullible, his strive to be king would not have taken such a murderous turn. By this action which was, in all fairness, Lady Macbeth’s doing, Macbeth unleashes the so-called tickling time-bomb, thusly severely endangering his life. After the initial murder of the King Duncan, Macbeth receives instantaneous pangs of guilt – a guilt that urges his wife to respond, declaring that such deeds “must not be thought after these ways; so, it will make us mad.” Not only does Lady Macbeth seem unremorseful for the deed she made her husband commit, but her desire and need of power and authority can be seen vicariously through Macbeth’s power. Power-hungry and filled with greed, Macbeth further seals his own fate by pursuing his once loyal friend, and confidant, Banquo. Because of his fear of Banquo’s claim to the throne of Scotland, Macbeth enters a state of paranoia, even well after Banquo’s murder, claiming to have seen his ghost at one of the dinner parties he hosted. Macbeth’s naivety and sudden thirst for power and wealth rapidly spurred his eventual, yet inevitable downfall.

Furthermore, throughout the majority of the play, Lady Macbeth was seen as Macbeth’s fuel for power. She directed her husband and provoked and coaxed him into committing heinous deeds. Aside from Macbeth’s actions which drastically controlled his fate, Lady Macbeth’s secret thoughts of him helped establish a sense of her ambitious demeanor, which then proved infallible when speaking to Macbeth. Upon reading the letter sent from her husband, Lady Macbeth was overjoyed at Macbeth’s title as Thane of Cawdor. She was aware of his true nature, of what it used to be before she influenced him, and that ‘it is too full o’th’ milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way.” Lady Macbeth, although deeply devoted to her husband, knew that he would never be capable of performing any of the tasks she wished him to perform. Lady Macbeth wanted her husband to perform all that she wanted and all that which she was unable to do herself, on account of being a woman. Macbeth served as the pawn in his wife’s game to gain power.

Ultimately, Macbeth’s own choices and actions led him to choose his own fate of pre destined, yet tragic death. Macbeth was afraid to step out of his own shadow, which then easily promoted others around him, such as his very own wife, Lady Macbeth, to take over his mind and control his actions. His gullible and apprehensive character thoroughly catalyzed Lady Macbeth’s strive for power, which fueled the action of this plot. Macbeth’s pre determined fate was sparked by none other than his devoted wife, Lady Macbeth.