Antunez 1

Nathan Antunez

Figueroa

Senior English

February 25, 2019

Downfall of Macbeth

Most people blame their downfall on everyone else but themselves, but deep down inside

it was the decisions they make that caused it to happen. Macbeth is a story written by William

Shakespeare. It was written in 1606 during medieval times. The story takes place in Scotland.

During these times people believed in witches, dragons, and demons existed. The downfall of

Macbeth was his fault but was heavily influenced by the witches, and his wife Lady Macbeth.

The downfall of Macbeth would have been impossible if the 3 weird witches never told

Macbeth the prophecy that he would be made king. Macbeth and Banquo meet them on a trail

and are told that he will be made Thane and will be crowned king soon after. “All hail, Macbeth!

Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! All hail,

Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (Shakespeare 1.3.51-53). Macbeth and Banquo were very

curious of what the witches said were true until he became Thane of Cawdor. The witches then

praised Macbeth and Banquo, but little does Banquo know he will soon be killed by his own

friend. “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none so all hail, Macbeth and Banquo”

(Shakespeare 1.7.53;70-71). The witches praise Macbeth so he will start to believe it and he then

starts to believe them once he is Thane of Cawdor and is willing to do anything to become king.

The witches influence him once he finds out they are telling the truth.

Lady Macbeth is also a huge part of Macbeth’s downfall for helping him do his dirty

deeds. Lady Macbeth makes metaphors about her baby and breast feeding, and basically says
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that if she promised to kill the baby she would, so she would like Macbeth to promise to kill the

king. “I have given suck and know how tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me. I would, while

it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums, and dashed the

brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this” (Shakespeare 1.7.62-67). This shows how

far Lady Macbeth is willing to go to be queen, and she can convince him to kill the king. This

next quote explains how Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth that he is acting like an elderly woman for

being afraid to kill king Duncan. “O proper stuff! This is the very painting of your fear. This is

the air-drawn dagger which you said lead you to Duncan. O, these flaws and starts imposters to

true fear, would well become a woman’s story at a winter’s fire, you make such faces? When

all’s done. You look but on a stool” (Shakespeare 3.4.70;73-81). This shows how Lady Macbeth

sees her husband and has only bad intentions to make it to royalty. Lady Macbeth is a much

worse influence on Macbeth for the way she treats him, and calling him names, which influences

him in negative ways.

Macbeth’s downfall was ultimately because of his actions, but was influenced by the 3

witches, and Lady Macbeth. The witches sparked Macbeth to want to become king because the

opportunity was there. Lady Macbeth pushed him the rest of the way with killing Duncan and

getting rid of evidence like the bloody daggers. Be careful who you surround yourself with and

don’t let them allow you to do things that affect you negatively.
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Work cited

Shakespeare, William, and Neil Freeman. The Tragedie of Macbeth. Routledge, 2017.