Goran Mateiasevici 12/10/12 Macbeth Essay

Pollicino/English Period 1

William Shakespeares Macbeth is a story of mystery, tragedy, and treachery. Throughout the book, Macbeth, a noble (Thane of Glamis) gets his mind poisoned and is responsible for much evil. He receives a prophecy speaking of the throne in his future and it turns him corrupt. He is in a downward spiral from beginning to end and no one else is to blame. Macbeth himself is to blame for his downfall because he hastily reacts to what the witches say, grows too big of an ego, and becomes too jealous which all come back to haunt him. When Macbeth hears this great news of his future royalty, he reacts too hastily and in a childish manner. He doesnt think it through and simply acts on impulse. When he realized he is going to be king, he wants that moment to come sooner. King Duncan is praising his son and saying that the Prince of Cumberland is the next king. This causes Macbeths mind to start stirring and fill with evil thoughts. He felt that to become king now, he needed to kill Duncan now. This is the beginning of his demise. He and Lady Macbeth will get the guards drunk and blame them for Duncans Death while Macbeth is the true culprit. Once Macbeth kills Duncan, Shakespeare writes, I go and it is done, the bell invites me. Here it not, Duncan, for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven or hell(2.1.75-77). This clearly shows that Macbeth has done his deed and is saying that he is sending Duncan to God or the devil and he isnt really remorseful about it. He chose to kill him. He could have chose not to and lead a moral life to his last day, but he didnt. He made his choice and he is to blame for the consequences that follow.

As the story progresses, Macbeth continues his reign of cruel deed and turns his attention to his great friend, Banquo. He realizes that he will be king, but Banquos sons will follow him. Why not his own sons? He figures that to rid him of this issue, he assigns three men a job; kill Banquo and his son, Fleance. Macbeth tells the murderers know Banquo was your enemyso is he mine and I such bloody distance that every minute of his being thrusts against my nearst of life (3.1.130,132-133). He feels that if Banquo is still breathing, it threatens his existence on the throne. He orders Banquo and his son dead. He makes these decisions himself. No one else is to blame. His own childish decisions and greedy jealousy lead to the final stage of his downfall. To complete his trifecta of actions that destroy him, Macbeth deals with Macduff in a cocky, self-righteous way that costs him. According to the prophecy, the only way Macbeth will fall from the throne is if Birnam Woods comes to Dunsinance. Also, he cannot be killed by anybody born of woman. Knowing this, he grows an enormous ego and feels that he is invincible and nobody can stop him. Shakespeare writes, Bring me no more reports...Till Birnam Wood remove to Dunsinance I cannot taint with fear Whats the boy Malcolm? Was he not born of woman? (5.3.2-4). Macbeths egotistical mindset causes him to not fret about Macduff and his army coming to defeat him. He chooses to not care and is too full of himself to realize the possible consequences. How can anybody else be to blame? What he didnt know was that that army took branches from Birnam wood so it appears that Birnam Wood has got up and is coming to Dunsinance. Also, Macduff was untimely ripped from his mother so he technically wasnt born. This is the loophole in the prophecy that results in Macbeths death.

Macbeths death was one that could have been avoided had he not ruined himself with jealousy, poor actions, and an enlarged ego. Macbeth was a noble, respectable man. A brave honorable soldier he was, but he didnt die one. He corrupts his mind and makes poor decisions. He wanted to improve his life by ending others and isnt the way to do it. His actions as described above lead to his own demise and later death. No one else is to blame. Macbeth killed Macbeth