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Who Is To Blame In Macbeth

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Who’s to blame?

The supernatural soliciting of the witches’ is partially, but not fully, to blame for the events in William Shakespeare Macbeth. While the witches give Macbeth concepts, the events that determine the course of the play are the fault of his actions caused by his desires, influences and ignorance. Macbeth perceives the witches’ predictions as dependable sources of information on which to make decisions. It may be argued that the witches’ first appearance causes all of the events in the play that follow, however they are just a catalyst for these events. The ultimate downfall of Macbeth is caused by his faith in the witches, a fallacious sense of invincibility and the unanticipated consequences of his actions, all of which are …show more content…

These ramifications and this belief that he is indestructible lead to Macbeth’s ultimate downfall. After the first apparition warns Macbeth to ‘beware Macduff’ (Act IV, Sc I, .69-70) Macbeth plans to ‘Seize upon Fife; give to th’edge o’th’sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line’ (Act IV, Sc I, .150-53). Having Macduff’s family murdered has the unexpected consequence of causing Macduff, a man who ‘was from his mother’s womb untimely ripped’ (Act V, Sc VIII, .15-6) making him the only man able to kill Macbeth, to wish to have him ‘Within my sword’s length’ (Act IV, Sc III, .237) or else ‘My wife and children’s ghosts will haunt me still’(Act V, Sc VII, .16-7). After a bloody child tells Macbeth to ‘be bloody, bold, and resolute; laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth’ (Act IV, Sc I, .77-80) and a child holding a tree proclaims ‘Macbeth shall never vanquished be until great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him’ (Act IV, Sc I, .91-3) Macbeth fails to question these apparitions, as he has complete faith in them. Consequently, Macbeth believes he ‘bear a charmed life which must not yield to one of woman born’ (Act V, Sc VIII, .12-3) thereby causing him to have a lack of concern for personal his safety. This lack of apprehension is seen by Macbeth remaining in Dunisnane Castel, and not being ‘taint with fear’ (Act V, Sc III, .3) by Malcolm’s army allowing Macduff to enter Dunisnane and murder him. Macbeth’s decisions after encountering the witches for the second time contribute to his

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