Who Is Ultimately Responsible for the Tragedy of Mackbeth

Who is ultimately responsible for the tragedy of Macbeth?

It could be said that Macbethґs strive for power affects every aspect of his life, and this motivation eventually leads to his demise. Many different factors play a pivotal role in deciding his ill-fated future. With his wifeґs cajoling, and the three witchesґ foretelling of his future, Macbeth, will stop at nothing to gain position as King of Scotland.

It could be said that Lady Macbeth is responsible. She bullies him, emotionally blackmails him and knows he is morally sensitive so he must be pushed. She mocks his bravery and knows he is a warrior and will be insulted. When Macbeth is having doubts she says:

'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.

Act I, Scene VII

What she means by this is if he does the deed, he will be more of a man. She also organises the fine details of the murder. The main part is when she goes to put the daggers back. Macbeth has returned from the murder scene and brought the daggers with him. She is annoyed with him because he is being careless and is too scared to go back after the murder. She goes and puts them back herself. Lady Macbeth plays a key role as she removes her feminine caring feelings so she can push Macbeth to carry out the murder.

Then there is Macbeth himself, The main argument is that he commits the murder. He is driven to the murder because of the thought of being king. It is the ambition in his mind that is crucial.

The three witches, or “weird sisters” are they are referred to throughout the play, it could be said that they are the instruments of malevolent forces, which seek to lead men away from goodness. As representations of mischief and evil, they are often accused of being responsible for Macbeth’s destruction and the murder of many innocents. However, when first introduced in Act I, Scene I, they seem to be ridiculously clichй that they could even be said to be comical. This is how they appear to us now, in this day and age, as they no longer create significant fear in our society. In Shakespeare’s time however, the audience would have been really afraid. Could such characters of really been responsible for the tragedy of Macbeth.

Shakespeare prompts the audience to ponder whether the witches are crazed hags who are excluded from society whom only speak what they know or are they manipulative. It comes apparent that they can tell the future when one of the witches says

Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care

Who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are;

Macbeth shall never vanquished be, until

Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsaine Hill

Shall come against him.”

Act IV, Scene I

This of course being a prediction of the attack from England. This was misleading information because they tell Macbeth that the only threat he has is if Great Burnam Wood comes to Dunsaine Hill, which doesn’t sound possible.