Macbeth Consequences

Consequences of One’s Decisions Decisions all individuals have significant impact on their lives; and in Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, we see how choices made by three pivotal characters lead to tragic consequences. Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Macduff all illustrate the cause and effect relationship between one’s actions and the consequences that impact one’s life the life of others. While these three characters make decisions for different reasons, the result is a tragic and significant impact on their lives.

As the play develops, Macbeth faces decisions to do the right and just thing but continually chooses actions that eventually lead to his demise. In Act 1, Scene 3, Macbeth meets the witches who tell Macbeth that he will become the

Macbeth views this as a sign that the witches’ predictions may be truthful but questions whether they are the result of good or evil. Upon hearing the news Macbeth says, “Can the devil speak true?” (I.iii.87) Macbeth becomes obsessed with the witches prophecies and despite his feeling that they are suggesting he do evil to his beloved king, his ambitions wrongfully guide his actions. Further on in Act 1 Macbeth discloses that he is afraid that his actions will come back to haunt him. He says, “But in these cases we still have judgement here, that we but teach bloody instructions, which, being taught, return to plague th’inventor.” (I.vii.7-10) Macbeth knows his decisions will lead to betrayal and murder but

In the end, these choices have deadly consequences for Lady Macbeth. She fears Macbeth will not be courageous enough to seize the throne. In Act 1, scene 5 she says that Macbeth is “"too full o’ the milk of human kindness." (I.v.16-17) Lady Macbeth questions her husband’s maleness throughout the play in hopes of driving his actions. Her decision to exert this pressure on her husband helps set into motion the tragic events. She devises a plan for Macbeth and even plants the knife on the sleeping guards. Ultimately however, Lady Macbeth’s treachery leads to immeasurable guilt. She is seen washing her hands over and over again trying to clean herself of the evil deeds she has committed. Her actions cause her to go mad with guilt until she can no longer live with it and she takes her own