English 12 2/27/2023 William Shakespeare's Macbeth is a tragic play that explores the themes of ambition, guilt, and the consequences of one's actions. The main character, Macbeth, is a tragic hero whose ambition leads him to commit heinous crimes, which ultimately lead to his downfall. Throughout the play, Macbeth attempts to control the future and bury the past in various ways, which ultimately contribute to his tragic fate. One way in which Macbeth tries to control the future is through his attempts to control the future is through his interaction with the witches and manipulation of the prophecies given to him by the three witches. The witches prophecy that Macbeth will become the Thane of Cawdor and later the King of Scotland. Instead of letting fate take its course, Macbeth becomes obsessed with these prophecies and tries to ensure that they come true. He first becomes the Thane of Cawdor through a combination of chance and manipulation, and later kills King Duncan to ascend to the throne. …show more content…
Macbeth's guilt and paranoia following the murder of King Duncan lead him to see apparitions and hallucinations, which he interprets as omens of his impending downfall. Rather than confronting his guilt and confessing to his crimes, Macbeth attempts to bury his past and dismisses his conscience as a sign of weakness. He becomes increasingly ruthless and paranoid, ordering the murder of innocent people, furthermore, he orders the murder of Banquo and his son, Fleance, and later orders the massacre of Macduff's family in an attempt to eliminate anyone who may pose a threat to his reign. Macbeth believes that by burying the past and eliminating his enemies, he can secure his position as king and ensure his legacy. Macbeth's attempts to control his conscience and bury his past only serve to exacerbate his guilt and paranoia, ultimately leading to his