How Does Manipulation Lead To Macbeth's Downfall

“I can resist anything except temptation” says Oscar Wilde. In the story Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the author follows the characters of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth through a journey of gaining power. Macbeth receives prophecies from witches that will determine his future to become king. He then becomes power hungry and will do anything to get to the top, even if that means killing others, creating suspicions. The author creates the idea that, Manipulation has the ability to impair one's judgement, providing temporary satisfaction that will lead to one's downfall.

Lady Macbeth represents temptation which conveys the theme of how manipulation impairs one's judgement, providing temporary satisfaction, leading to one's downfall. In addition

to receiving the news from Macbeth about the throne, Lady Macbeth states, “Hie thee hither, that I may pour my spirits into thine ear, and chastise with valor of my tongue all the impedes thee from the golden round” (I.V.16). A temptress is a woman who entices or allues someone to do something. Lady Macbeth embodies this role developing her complex nature as the play continues because she has the desire to do something evil or unwise. Furthermore, Lady Macbeth reveals her manipulative and temptress nature by sneakily persuading Macbeth to talk him out of going after the crown. Lady Macbeth also believes that after all, if both fate and witchcraft want him to be king, he needs to go after it. Lady Macbeth’s manipulation to kill Duncan leads him to his downfall due to the vast amount of guilt. Immediately after committing the murder, Macbeth states, “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, make the green one red” (II.III.30). Macbeth claims, that the entire ocean would turn red with blood if blood were to represent the amount of guilt he feels. This is a direct result of Lady Macbeth's manipulation and reinforces the theme that, manipulation has the ability to impair one's judgement, providing temporary satisfaction that will lead to one's downfall because Macbeth is caught up in his guilt, impairing him of Lady Macbeth’s manipulation to gain power and overthrow others. Along with Lady Macbeth, Shakespeare uses the floating dagger to convey the theme of manipulation.

The dagger represents guilt and hallucinations conveying the theme of how manipulation has the ability to impair one's judgement, providing temporary satisfaction that will lead to one's downfall.

Before committing the murder of Duncan, Macbeth's guilt causes him to envision a floating dagger and says, “To feeling as sight of all thou but a dagger of the mind a false creation” (II.I.25). The dagger is a knife with a pointed edged blade which is the weapon Macbeth has in his possession. This is created from his paranoia, but will give him the temporary satisfaction when done. Macbeth kills both Duncan and the guards revealing that Lady Macbeth's manipulation impaired his judgment because the mission didn't go to plan. Furthermore, Macbeth confesses it by saying, “O yet I do repent me of my fury, that I did kill them” (II.III.35). This alludes to Macbeth's downfall because he admitted the murder, potentially jeopardizing his credibility. The idea of the truth coming out frightened Macbeth causing him to make impulsive decisions, killing the guards. Blood stains just like guilt doesn't leave the body, it continues to build up. Shakespeare uses the dagger to represent guilt conveying the theme of how manipulation impairs one's judgment, providing temporary

satisfaction.

In the story Macbeth, the author explores the idea that manipulation can impair one's judgement creating temporary satisfaction, leading to their own downfall. Shakespeare uses Lady Macbeth to symbolise temptation revealing her manipulative nature displaying it upon Macbeth, convincing him to commit crimes. The author also uses the floating dagger to represent guilt creating hallucinations that may be deceiving. This is important because it demonstrates how one’s influence of another can cause them to do outrageous acts causing self destruction. Nowadays, teens and adults are influenced by one another, causing them to do something they may regret.