Who Causes Chaos In Macbeth

Mr. McLaughlin

World Literature

April 19, 2023

Who Causes Chaos? The Works of Mind Control in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Context Shakespeare starts the play with three witches, also known as the Weïrd Sisters. They search out Macbeth and Banquo to tell them their vision of Macbeth’s kingship and Banquo’s children’s succession to royalty. Soon after, Macbeth sends a letter to his wife, Lady Macbeth, of this news. Lady Macbeth is determined to get Macbeth in control, Convincing Macbeth to murder the current king, King Duncan, removing him from his position and making Macbeth the new king. All at once it seems Macbeth is suddenly super guilty, having thoughts and hallucinations that Duncan was haunting him. It was up to Lady Macbeth to

“ ‘All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee! Than of Glamis’… ‘All hail Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter’ ” (Shakespeare Act I.5)! The witches willingly seek out Macbeth and tell him this news. If we can accept that the witches are “all-knowing” then we can accept the fact that they knew the destruction that Macbeth was capable of. They could have avoided the disorder that Scottland would soon undergo. The witches further prove their knowledge by showing Macbeth three apparitions. “ ‘Come, high or low; Thyself and office deftly show!’ Thunder. First Apparition: an armed Head” (Shakespeare, Act IV.1). This is when the first apparition comes to tell Macbeth of his future and warn him of what is to come. Which also proves their “all-knowing”

“ ‘Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line’ ” (Shakespeare, Act IV.3). Here Macbeth had no influence from Lady Macbeth. The witches had gone up to this point. Macbeth decided to do this out of sheer fear of his demise. This decision was made to protect himself and his reign, it was a personal decision. This could prove that even if Lady Macbeth never pushed him, Macbeth would have ultimately protected his royalty.

Evolved Thesis (3) Though the witches and Lady Macbeth were integral parts of Macbeth’s decisions, he never had to do what others influenced him to do. Has his own set of morals, and whether he was influenced by the witches, Lady Macbeth or not, he still could have caused just as much chaos by himself. Ultimately, Macbeth never made decisions for other people. Just protecting his royalty.

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