Margot Supple 2/12/15
ELA Reading Response 811
Critical Thinking Question: What were the main causes that caused the main character’s behavior change? How are they shown?
Fear, manipulation, and ambition can lead many innocent people to perform terrible actions. This was the tragic fate of Macbeth, in William Shakespeare's play Macbeth. In the play, Macbeth is a young Scottish thane that has recently led his army to victory over Norway and Sweden with his best friend Banquo. Soon after, he meets three witches that tell him he will be king and that Banquo’s children will be kings. With help from his wife, Lady Macbeth, he manages to kill almost all that are close to him in order to obtain and keep his power as King of Scotland before his downfall. The main reasons behind his bloody murders are fear, manipulation, and ambition.
While Macbeth is king he kills all characters who might be a threat to his rule. Since the three witches told Banquo his children would be kings, Macbeth fears Banquo’s son, Fleance, might overthrow him. Out of fear, he sends murderers to execute Banquo and Fleance. When expressing his feelings to Lady Macbeth, he cries
‘ “O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!
Thou know'st that Banquo, and his Fleance, lives.” ’(Shakespeare,12)
This quote shows that the fear of losing his throne led Macbeth to kill Banquo. Also, directly after killing Banquo, Macbeth holds a great feast. In the middle of the meal, he hallucinates, seeing the ghost of Banquo sitting on his throne, glaring at him. In this scene, Macbeth is haunted by guilt and fear of what he has done.
‘ “Avaunt! and quit my sight! let the earth hide thee!
Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold;
Thou hast no speculation in those eyes
Which thou dost glare with!” ’ (Shakespeare,15)
This scene shows that Macbeth is fearful of not only losing his throne, but the crimes he has committed.
Lady Macbeths first appearance in the play depicts her character throughout the rest of the story. She is seen as a dedicated woman, who is hungry for power. In her first scene, she reads a letter sent by Macbeth that tells of the three witches and their prophecy. Lady Macbeth is the first to suggest the idea of killing the present king, King Duncan. Macbeth refuses, but Lady Macbeth calls him a coward, and uses different tactics to manipulate him to kill the king.
‘ “Was the hope drunk
Wherein you dress'd yourself? hath it slept since?
And wakes it now, to look so green and pale
At what it did so freely?” ’ (Shakespeare,8)
This shows the effect manipulation had on Macbeth, and how it may have been the main cause of the killing of Duncan.
It is told throughout the play that Macbeth only cares about power. Although fear and manipulation were causes of many deaths, Macbeth always was ambitious and his ambition was the leading cause of all murders he committed. His feeling of a need for power led him to Duncan, Banquo, and others that stood in his way of becoming king. In this quote he expresses his hidden desire to become king.
‘ “Stars, hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires” ’ (Shakespeare,8)
This shows the “deep desires” Macbeth has to become king.
Fear, manipulation, and even ambition can take over someones brain. Throughout Macbeth, Macbeth is a victim to all reasons.
