William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth explores the fall of a tragic hero who is influenced by the supernatural into committing regicide and evil deeds, resulting in destruction and severe consequences. Shakespeare wrote Macbeth to support King James I and to demonstrate to his audience the importance of being supportive to the reigning monarch and abiding by the natural order of society. Shakespeare demonstrates that Macbeth is partly responsible for his downfall, however it is the influence of evil individuals that are mostly responsible for his tragedy. Although, it is due to Macbeth’s ambitions that causes him to first consider committing regicide, Shakespeare emphasises that it the impact of the three witches and Lady Macbeth’s manipulation …show more content…
Initially, Macbeth chose to remain loyal to Duncan and no longer wished to “proceed... further in this business” of the plotting and planning to murder Duncan. However, Lady Macbeth ridicules Macbeth by attacking his masculinity and calling him a “coward” who is “afeard to… [act] in desire”. Preying on his courage to become “so much more the man”, Lady Macbeth suggests that his masculinity and strength as a man would grow if he were to continue as planned. Through their dialogue, Shakespeare reveals Lady Macbeth's evil personality as she is strong and more ambitious than Macbeth. She controls Macbeth as she knows that Macbeth would “not play false”, to commit the murder to prove that he is capable of doing such a “deed”. It is the manipulation of Lady Macbeth that cause Macbeth to commit the act of regicide, in order to prove his masculinity and bravery to his wife. He is convinced that by doing the act, he will be able to succeed his and Lady Macbeth’s desire to become the king and queen of Scotland. However, it is this evil deed that causes Macbeth to experience peripeteia, where he is now “in blood/stepped in so far” where “returning” would be harder than continuing. Resulting in his downfall as he continues to commit evil deeds to order to accomplish his ambitions and desires. Therefore, it is Lady Macbeth’s impact on Macbeth which is mostly accountable for his