What Makes Macbeth Become A Murderer?

4 Pages 998 Words

Macbeth is considered to be the most brilliant tragedy written by the greatest playwright William Shakespeare. The story is rich and complex in many aspects, thus it can be read from different angles. One controversial issue is that what makes Macbeth, a loyal general of the king, become a murderer? Some people believe it is the witches and Lady Macbeth that tempt Macbeth to do the evil and finally lead to the fall of Macbeth. But I do not agree. The witches and Lady Macbeth only speak out the true idea of Macbeth, which he yearned but dare not to speak it out. I believe it is his ambition that destroyed himself and Macbeth should be responsible for his own action and his own destine. In the following part of my essay, I would try to explain this idea.

First, at the very beginning, Macbeth and Banquo were both given the witches’ prophecies. Macbeth was inclined to believe it despite Banquo’ s anxiety of the validity of these prophecies: “But ‘tis strange! And oftentimes, to win us to our truths, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s In deepest consequence.”(Act1, Scene 3) Obviously, Macbeth was not willing to listen to Banquo’s advice, he was absorbed in the thinking of his own splendid future: “Two truths are told, As happy prologues to the swelling act Of the imperial theme.” (Act1, Scene 3) At that time, he had already thought of murder although it was not proved to be necessary. He clearly knew that only through maddening guilt and evil would he gain the throne but he still hoped it did come true: “Come what come may, Time and the hour runs through the roughest day.” (Act1, Scene 3) In this sense, the witches only foretold what would happen before Macbeth realized his true thoughts. If they did not tell him all this, Macbeth would probably committed the murder all the same only with the difference of time.

Second, although Macbeth knew it was wrong to kill Dun...