Macbeth Mid Unit

Hannah Joy Cruz
Ms. Figueroa
Senior English
February 19, 2019
Macbeths Downfall
The play of Macbeth is the perfect example of a tragic hero’s downfall. Macbeth is a play
of a hero who made poor choices with the influence of different people. He allows the witches
prophecies to make him crave power. Also, his wife, Lady Macbeth, is constantly manipulating
him, such as plotting the murder of the king. At first, Macbeth was doing what he wanted to do
and was glad he had the opportunity to be Thane of Cawdor, but with his wife manipulating him
of doing bigger things, he changed dramatically. Lady Macbeth is responsible for Macbeth’s
downfall, due to the power she has over him and she started her own crave of power.
Ever since Lady Macbeth heard of the witches’ prophecies, she has had power over
Macbeth to do what she thinks needs to be done. She devised a plan for Macbeth to kill Duncan,
King of Scotland, but when he wanted to back out, she did not let him. Lady Macbeth tells
Macbeth, “Hath it slept since? An wakes it now, to look so green and pale At what did it so
freely ... And live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I would,” Like
the poor cat i’ th’ adage “(Shakespeare 1. 7. 36-45)? When they first made the plan, Macbeth
agreed to it, but started thinking about it and wanted out. Lady Macbeth being the greedy person
she is, did not let him out of the plan to become King. She had him wrapped around her little
finger and had no intention of letting him go because she wanted to live a great life and make
Macbeth king to rule over everyone. So, after Macbeth killed King Duncan, he walked out,
thinking crazy thoughts and Lady Macbeth yells at him about it. Macbeth says,” Still it cried
‘Sleep no more!’ to all the house. ‘Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor Shall
sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more.’” In which, Lady Macbeth responds,” Who was it
that thus cried? Why, worthy thane, You do unbend your noble strength to think So brainsickly
of things. Go get some water And wash this filthy witness from your hand. - Why did you bring
theses daggers from the place? They must lie there. Go carry them and smear The sleepy grooms
with blood” (Shakespeare 2. 2. 39-48). Lady Macbeth had so much power over him, even if he
was freaking out, she ordered him to smear Duncan’s blood all over the servants. She wanted
Macbeth to become king, so she did whatever she needed to do to not get caught. Since Macbeth
did not want to get caught, he followed what she said and kept quiet. Overall, Lady Macbeth had
a lot to do with Macbeth’s downfall. She pushed and manipulated him to make poor decisions
and now, all that power she thought was for her husband, is now getting to her. She was able to
make him feel powerless and was able to push him around because he was not able to think for
himself anymore.
All this time, she thought she was making these plans for her husband, but deep down,
she is craving the power for herself. So, overtime, they came up with a plan to kill Banquo and
Fleance because he thinks they are threat to Macbeth staying King. Macbeth tells Lady
Macbeth,” O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife! Thou know’st that Banquo and his Fleance
lives.” Then Lady Macbeth responds,” But in them Nature’s copy’s not eterne” (Shakespeare
3.2. 35-37). According to the witch's prophecy about Banquo’s children, Macbeth did not want
anyone to take his place as King. So, when he talked with Lady Macbeth, she reassured him that
it is not like they are immortal. She did not want him to go even more crazy then he already is.
She tried to persuade him that everything will turn out fine and that they will die anyways. When
they planned for Duncans murder, Macbeth asked Lady Macbeth what if they fail and their
conversations did not please her. Macbeth says,” If we should fail?” The Lady Macbeth says,”
We fail? But screw your courage to the sticking-place, And we’ll not fail” (Shakespeare 1.7. 58-
61). Lady Macbeth is to confident that they will not get caught and reminds him of what needs to
be done. With all this power over him, she has him right where she wants him, and Macbeth lets
her manipulate him because he is not in the right state and is scared of being caught. All in all,
Lady Macbeth thought she was doing what was best for her and her husband, but in the end, she
ended up craving all that power.
Lady Macbeth is accountable for Macbeth’s downfall, reasons being she had so much
power over him and that she started her own crave of power. In the play Macbeth, there were
many poor choices that were made by Macbeth with the influence of Lady Macbeth. It all started
with the witch’s prophecies and ever since Lady Macbeth found out about it, she had this whole
plan and it all went down after Macbeth killed Duncan. Macbeth started hallucinating and
hearing things that made people think he was crazy. No one would have thought that, if it was
not for Lady Macbeth’s plans. She has called him a coward and did not make him back out on
her plans. Macbeth’s downfall pushed him to change his character and become a whole different
person. He went from just being the Thane of Cawdor, to be the King of Scotland, but with
secrets.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William, and William Shakespeare. Macbeth and Related Readings. McDougal
Littell, 1997.

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Hannah Joy Cruz

February 19, 2019

ended up craving all that power.

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