FREE ESSAY ON MACBETH/ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS DOWNFALL

MACBETH/ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS DOWNFALL

William Shakespeare's Macbeth is a tragedy about a war hero named Macbeth, who follows his
ambition with evil and who is repaid with evil. Macbeth has influenced many works of
literature through its conflicts between good and evil; heroes and villains; loyalty and
treachery; and ambition and morality. In the story, Macbeth is ultimately responsible for
the actions that lead to his fate. Although the witches' predictions are responsible for
influencing Macbeth's thoughts, no one tells Macbeth to kill Duncan. Macbeth is
responsible for putting power into the hands of Lady Macbeth and letting her influence
him. Finally, Macbeth acknowledges his guilt of wrongdoing and is thereby responsible for
his actions. Macbeth's ambitions spur him on to follow an unstated yet clearly understood
plan to kill Duncan.
Although the witches' predictions initiate Macbeth's desire to become king, no one tells
him to kill Duncan. When the second prophecy becomes a reality, Macbeth immediately
thinks of murdering Duncan. "I am of Cawdor: / If good, why do I yield to that suggestion
/ Whose image doth unfix my hair" (I, iii, 143-145). For the first time in the story, we
see a dark side to the brave and courageous Macbeth. Macbeth sees himself kill his ruler.
Macbeth is horrified by the idea but his thoughts of going after his destiny still
remain. Another example of Macbeth's early thoughts of treachery occurs when Duncan
formally names his son Malcom as his successor. "Stars, hide your fires; / Let not light
see my black and deep desires: / The eye wink at the hand! yet let that be, /" (I, iv,
57-59). Macbeth is vexed at the Duncan's choice of successor and wishes to overleap the
situation with murder. No one helps Macbeth's thoughts to prepare for the murder of
Duncan. It is Macbeth and Macbeth only who is responsible for his own ambitions. Macbeth
is eager to become king and wishes to reach his goal by any means, even if this means
letting himself be influenced by others.
Macbeth is responsible for putting power into the hands of Lady Macbeth and letting her
influence him. Lady Macbeth tries to persuade Macbeth to kill Duncan but it is Macbeth
who listens to her demands. "This night's great business into my dispatch; / Which shall
to all our nights and days to come / Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom" (I, v,
75-77). Macbeth could have told his Lady to stop her plans. Instead, he lets himself be
influenced. Macbeth puts power into the hands of Lady Macbeth by letting her arrange
Duncan's murder. "Will it not be received, / When we have mark'd with blood those sleepy
two / Of his own chamber, and used their very daggers, / That they have done't?" (I, vii,
82-85). Macbeth agrees with the plan, determined to win the throne. If Macbeth truly did
not want to commit evil, he could have refused his Lady's arrangements. Instead, Macbeth
accepts the plans and goes further by asking Lady Macbeth to "mock the time with fairest
show" (I, vii, 91). Although sometimes Macbeth wants the murder of Duncan, other times
his thoughts show the contrary. 
Macbeth recognizes the thoughts of killing Ducan are immoral. Macbeth's is conscious that
is thoughts are evil, yet he does nothing to correct the situation. "My thought, whose
murder yet is but fantastical, / Shakes so my single state of man that function / Is
smother'd in surmise; and nothing is / But what is not" (I, iii, 149-152). If Macbeth
were mentally deranged he would not be responsible for the outcome of his actions.
However, Macbeth shows that he has a conscience and that he can differentiate good from
evil. In privacy, Macbeth re-thinks his plans to kill Duncan. Macbeth, reveals that he
knows what he is about to do is immoral, and that justice will be repay him with evil. 
"We still have judgment here; that we but teach 
Bloody instructions, which being taught return
To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice 
Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice
To our own lips. He's here in double trust:
First, as I am his kinsman and his subject,
Strong both against the deed: then, as his host,
Who should against his murderer shut the door,
Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan
Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been
So clear in his great office, that his virtues
Will plead like angel, trumpet-tongued, against
The deep damnation of his taking off;" (I, vii, 8-20). 
Macbeth lists several reasons for going against the plan to kill Duncan. Therefore,
Macbeth has time to think over his intentions and to take direct action. Macbeth is fully
aware of the consequences of his actions and is thereby liable to be blamed for his
fate.
Spurred on by is own ambition Macbeth is responsible for his destructive fate. Through
his thoughts, actions, and decisions Macbeth demonstrates his overwhelming guilt.
Macbeth's desire to become king drives him to introduce plans for Ducan's murder. Macbeth
puts power into the hands of Lady Macbeth by sending her the letter that informs her of
the prophecies. Lastly, Macbeth acknowledges his guilt in several places in the story.
Macbeth is aware that his thoughts are corrupt and he knows that justice will somehow
punish him. However, even with all his power, Macbeth makes no attempt to reverse the
situation and is thereby responsible for his tragic fate.