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Examples Of Who Is To Blame In Macbeth

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Thinking before acting leads to greater wisdom and better outcomes while acting before thinking yields regret. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, many characters are murdered as a method of solving existing problems. Throughout the play, it is noticeable that these deaths can all be related back to two malevolent beings. These characters in their horrific minds are to blame for the deaths of innocent people. Macbeth, in his willingness to commit severe crimes for personal benefit, and the witches, in their desire to toy with Macbeth through their ambiguous prophecies, are equally responsible for nearly all the murders in the play. In Macbeth’s first encounter with the witches, he is provided with crucial information that triggers his ideas for the …show more content…

As Macbeth asked for more information from the witches, in their second encounter, he is flustered with riddled sentences that comfort him and give him a false sense of security. The apparitions that the witches summon each give Macbeth a piece of information that changes the way he thinks about his throne. One of the apparitions tells Macbeth that “none of woman born shall harm [him]” (4.1.102). The other apparition tells him that “[He] shall never be vanquished until Great Birnam Wood to Dunsinane Hill shall come against him” (4.1.115). With these prophecies Macbeth begins to think that none will be able to harm him and that he is for the most part invincible. He believes that he can rule as a king however he wants and that no one will be able to replace him. Macbeth feels comforted and releases some of the stress and nightmares he was previously having. His newly gained comfort gives Macbeth a false sense of security that leads to Macbeth’s poor preparation to resist the English troops. Thinking that he cannot be harmed, Macbeth does not take the necessary steps to protect Scotland and his life. When he finally encounters Macduff on the battlefield, he believes it will be an easy fight as he deems himself invincible, but he is slaughtered. Although he was falsely led by the witches, Macbeth was not cautious enough to protect himself. The witches made him believe that he was safe from all, which he was not. Macbeth did not recognize the ambiguity of the prophecies, which led to his demise. The dubious prophecies paired with Macbeth’s lack of caution and his false sense of security resulted in his own

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Who Was Responsible For Macbeth’s Downfall? In "Macbeth," there are a few characters who share responsibility for the tragedy that happens. Though, Macbeth himself takes the most responsibility for his actions, as his own actions lead to his own downfall. “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on th' other.”

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330 Words | 2 Pages

In Act 2 Scene 3, Macbeth attempts to shift the blame for the crime away from himself. He had just murdered Duncan the night before, and he was desperate to avoid suspicion on himself, saying some things that would raise questions normally. Macbeth’s actions start fairly mundane, with him acting as if he didn’t know the murder occurred, saying, “What’s the matter?” (2.3.75). Macbeth acts as if he had no idea about Duncan’s death, which is a logical step to cover up his involvement in the murder.

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463 Words | 2 Pages

Who is to Blame Have you ever read or heard of the tragedy of Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, if so who do you think is to blame? There are three main people who could be to blame first, the three witches, second Lady Macbeth, and third Macbeth. Macbeth is a great war hero and helps win two major wars. After these wars he meets with three evil witches who tell him that he will be king someday. The witches planted this thought of being king in his head leading him to act upon it.

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357 Words | 2 Pages

Macbeth's unwavering belief in his invulnerability deceives him of the true capabilities of his opponents, leading him to underestimate them and make reckless decisions. The quote can also highlight Macbeth's desperation to cling to power. He desperately clings to the witches' words as a source of reassurance, seeking reassurance that he is impossible to harm. However, this turns out not to be accurate as he ends up defeated by Macduff, as his overconfidence becomes his

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651 Words | 3 Pages

The witches gave Macbeth a false sense of security because they convinced him that he would be safe from Macduff. In Scene 1 of Act 4, the witches showed Macbeth three apparitions. The first apparition was a helmeted head, which told Macbeth to beware of Macduff. The second apparition was a bloody child, which said Macbeth does not have to fear anyone born from a woman. The third apparition was a child crowned, which said Macbeth won’t be killed and shouldn’t be worried until the forest moves to his castle.

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363 Words | 2 Pages

Mason Mattson Mrs. Stephens Soph english 1st hour Macbeth Essay Who Really Is To Blame? In the book “No Fear Macbeth” by Shakespeare.

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1057 Words | 5 Pages

When Macbeth goes to the witches for the second time, they bring to him three apparitions. One was an armed head, the second was a bloody child, and the last was a child drowned with a tree in his hand. When the apparitions appear the first and second tell Macbeth to beware the Thane of Fire, and that the power of man for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth (4.1 75-89). When the third apparition appears it told Macbeth,“Be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care whos chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him” (4.1 100-104). The witches mislead Macbeth by bringing him these apparitions, making him think that he could not be harmed by a man not born from women not knowing that Macduff was exactly that.

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499 Words | 2 Pages

Who’s responsible for the murderous acts, and death of Macbeth? Throughout the play, the flaws of each character slowly begin to unravel. Macbeth becomes this naive and selfish man, Lady Macbeth encourages him to commit these horrendous crimes, while scolding him for his mistakes, and The three Witches, being the root of all evil, encourage Macbeths behavior in an indirect way. Now, some may think that both, the Macbeths, and the Witches are equally at fault, but I disagree. The witches had the most impact on Macbeth, and should take responsibility for everything that followed.

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666 Words | 3 Pages

We hear how women are affected by archetypes set up for them, but have you ever heard about a masculine archetype? The archetype of a man constructs a view on how males should behave, and any male that doesn’t behave or follow the archetype is subject to emasculation. The pro-feminist take on Shakespeare’s Macbeth expresses that having masculine archetypes are harmful to men. Macbeth, a character who struggles to prove his masculinity, highlights how the masculine archetype is overall damaging to his life.

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1139 Words | 5 Pages

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)

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994 Words | 4 Pages

The witches function as the instigator of chaos, compelling Macbeth to follow his desires. His mindset

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647 Words | 3 Pages

In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth’s visions and hallucination’s play a role and contribute to the development of his character. Macbeth starts to see hallucinations the night he kills Duncan. The first thing he sees is a dagger floating in front of him. Once he sees the dagger he gets it and kills Duncan on his room. They make the guards get drunk so they could be able to get into Duncan’s room.

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629 Words | 3 Pages

In the play Macbeth there was a lot of stuff that went on that could keep the reader interested. One of these things are all of the murders in the play. With all these murders happening, there has to be someone to blame. In the play Lady Macbeth is to blame for the murders because she called evil upon herself, influenced Macbeth to be a murder, and she wanted power.

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537 Words | 3 Pages

The witches within the entire play and especially in act IV hold a significant amount of power over Macbeth. During this act, the witches conjure up many apparitions with different characteristics. Each apparition gives a prophecy that satisfies what Macbeth wishes to hear and gives awareness to threats he might come across. The first apparition which is a head with an armored helmet counsels Macbeth to “Beware Macduff. Beware the thane of Fife (IV.

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999 Words | 4 Pages

From honored soldier to murderous tyrant, Macbeth killed his way into power. He was informed of his “destiny” and stopped at nothing to achieve it. He had multiple chances to rethink his actions. He didn 't however, he kept on his march to power leaving only himself to blame. Macbeth is the only one to blame for his actions and ultimately, his death.

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