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Prophetic Words In Macbeth

Decent Essays

The prophetic words of the three witches: “Fair is foul and foul is fair,” resonate throughout William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and are especially apropos to Macbeth’s own actions. However, Macbeth’s slide to debauchery is not caused solely by the ‘instruments of darkness,’ Lady Macbeth’s role is also pivotal in determining Macbeth’s actions. Furthermore, Macbeth’s innate ambition fuels his immoral deeds. While the ‘weird sisters’ provide the spark which lights this ambition, Lady Macbeth’s incitive comments and Macbeth’s inbred ambition are equally responsible for Macbeth’s course of action.

The witches’ prophecy sparked a previously undetected ambition in Macbeth, and, through the medium of ‘fate,’ lured Macbeth into a dismal spiral to his demise. This is apparent through the effect the witches’ words had on …show more content…

It is through this unholy marriage of witchcraft and ambition that the thought of regicide is implanted in Macbeth’s mind, and an immoral path to achieving his ‘destiny,’ is opened to Macbeth. The witches, and their mistress Hecate, further Macbeth on this abysmal path with their second prophecy. Hecate summons ‘artificial sprites’ that shall cause Macbeth to “scorn death, and bear his hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear.” By colluding with otherworldly powers Hecate lures Macbeth into the clutches of ‘man’s chiefest enemy,’ overconfidence. This

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