Macbeth Essay Essay

Throughout William Shakespeare’s play The Tragedy of Macbeth, A revered general of the King of Scotland’s army makes multiple decisions which destroy his life. Macbeth is set during a period of civil war and political turmoil. Macbeth poorly places his trust in people during the course of the play causing him to make decisions without him knowing the full extent of his actions. Macbeth’s ambition throughout the play often goes unchecked causing him to destroy his life through making multiple enemies as the only way to achieve his ambition is through murder. The final attribute that adds to Macbeths demise is his emotions, The majority of Macbeth’s actions can be linked to these three emotions: pride, fear and anger.

Throughout the play Macbeth places his trust poorly in people. This is most explicit with the witches prophecy “All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!”, The witches also prophesies that he will become King of Scotland. Immediately after he leaves the witches a courier informs Macbeth that he is the Thane of Cawdor this causes Macbeth to trust the witches’ prophecy. Once Macbeth believes that he is going to be king he starts to slowly change this can be seen through Macbeth being envious of Malcom when he is announced the Prince of Cumberland. Due to Macbeths decision to trust the witches he gains a belief that he is entitled to become king which causes him to kill King Duncan and blame it on innocent people. Once Macbeth makes this decision he has crossed the path of no return causing him to kill more innocent people.

Macbeth’s decision to murder Banquo and his son Fleance is due to Macbeths ambition to become king. Macbeth is distressed about the Witches premonitions “Though (Banquo) shalt get kings,”. This prophecy causes Macbeth to be perpetually envious of Fleance due to the fact that Macbeth does the dirty work of killing King Duncan whilst Fleance reaps the rewards. Another reason why Macbeth tries to kill Fleance is to provide some hope to himself that the witches weren’t entirely correct this can be deduced through Macbeths thinking of killing Fleance breaks the prophecy meaning any chance Banquo has at fathering a line of kins is gone.

Throughout the play Macbeth makes decisions purely on his emotions, the main emotions that cause him to make rushed and ill-advised decisions are pride, fear and anger.  Macbeth is perpetually fearful of his security of being King “To be thus (king) is nothing; But to be safely thus.” Macbeth fears Banquo and Fleance as they succeed him according the witches. Macbeth tries to change his fate by sending murders to assassinate Fleance and Banquo. This in return seals Macbeths fate as he gains enemies and loses his mind after realising that he has killed his friend and comrade. Macbeths decision to kill Banquo seals his downfall due to the damaging mental effects it has on him. Causing other Lords to question his sanity and decision making. His remaining Lords loose trust in him as a leader and other lords turn against him.