External Forces In Macbeth Essay

Macbeth

In the play, Macbeth, the decisions and choices made by the tragic hero are greatly influenced by external forces and end up playing a major role in the downfall of Macbeth. From the start, Macbeth seemed to be a loyal warrior that was making justified decisions to better Scotland, this mindset is changed by the external forces of Lady Macbeth, the witches, and his own prophecy influenced ambitions. The first external force he faced were the witches,and the prophecies.

The three sisters, also known as the witches are a huge external force on the decisions Macbeth makes to fulfill the prophecies that were told by the witches. Foretelling the future, the witches put thoughts in Macbeth’s head and give him the idea that he is going to become the king. (1,3,49) “All

hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis” This is the first prophecy that Macbeth is given, although it already has happened as he received the title when his father passed away. (1,3,50) “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor” This is the second prophecy that was told by the witches. This one confused Macbeth, with thane of Cawdor still being alive, there was no way that he could be it. Immediately after the witches leave, Ross and Angus enter and grant Macbeth with thane of Cawdor which is given by Duncan. (1,4,51) “All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter!”. This is the third and final prophecy given by the witches in this act. After having the first and second ones become true, Macbeth is convinced that this one will also happen. These three prophecies are the uprising of Macbeth’s foul actions, doing anything possible to achieve king. Not only did the witches partake in the making of the tragic hero, but also his wife, Lady Macbeth.
Lady Macbeth, in the beginning of the book, was far from the guilty, regretful person she is in the end, infact she is a big part of the murder of King Duncan.

When Lady Macbeth finds out the prophecy of Macbeth becoming king, her and Macbeth come up with the idea to kill Duncan to gain the crown as his own. Macbeth, not being brave enough bails on his plan and decides that he can’t do it because Duncan was respectful to him and granted him with thane of Cawdor. This is when Lady Macbeth encourages and tells Macbeth that he is not a man and has no traits to become a king because he is too gentle and kind to strike aggressively at the chance to become king. (1,7,46) “What beast was ’t, then, That made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man; And to be more than what you were, you would Be so much more the man. Nor time nor place Did then adhere, and yet you would make both. They have made themselves, and that their fitness now Does unmake you” Lady Macbeth pressures Macbeth back into murdering Duncan, thus starting the brutal line of killing that drives Macbeth insane. Macbeth’s ambition to become the king of Scotland was also a huge factor in the killing he

did.
The overall ambition to achieve king and hold the title was the main external factor that led him to the ground. After murdering Duncan, Macbeth took everything into his own hands and made his own decisions without the help of Lady Macbeth. He did anything to keep the crown in his hands, starting with murdering the guards that Lady Macbeth had drugged so that they couldn’t speak the truth about how it wasn’t them. Next, Macbeth, worrying about Banquo’s prophecy saying that his descendants will become king, he decides to kill Banquo by hiring mercenaries because he felt threatened about the fact that Banquo knew what he had done. The list of murders from following his own ambition is what finally in the end led him to Macduff coming back for revenge because Macbeth killed his family. Macbeth still wanting to be king and fighting as a man, dies in the final battle against Macduff who was not born by woman, which follows the prophecy of the witches.
Lady Macbeth, the witches, and his ambition to become king, are the main external factors that turned the hero into a tyrant, killing anything in his path. The witches, telling him what is to become of him and giving him the ideas, Lady Macbeth pressuring him to kill duncan, and finally his ambition which drives him on a series of non-stop killing are the key components that drove him to his death.