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Witches Influence On Macbeth

Decent Essays

Wole Soyinka once said “Power is domination, control, and therefore a very selective form of truth which is a lie”. In Shakespeare’s play the Tragedy of Macbeth the lead character Macbeth starts as a humble and good hearted person. Not long after he is influenced by three witches and begins his ambitious journey to fulfill the prophecy and take the throne.

First of all, Macbeth is directly influenced by the witches when they show him he will become the king, because this leads him to believe he is entitled to certain power and his thirst for it grows. Macbeth first encounters the witches early on with his friend Banquo. When Macbeth is with Banquo he thinks ‘’ My, thought whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man …show more content…

The witches tell him beware of Macduff and no man born of a woman shall harm him. Macbeth then claims ‘’ Then live Macduff: what need I fear of thee? But yet I’ll make assurance double sure, and take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live” (IV.i. 82-84). This is important because it shows the witches confused Macbeth into thinking he can kill Macduff. Macbeth then murders Macduff’s family, after Macduff discovers his family was murdered he states ‘’ Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself; Within my sword’s lengths to set him; if he ‘scape heaven forgive him too! (IV.iii. 233-235). This basically means after hearing his fate and trying to change it he caused his own demise and proves the witches are the force that influenced him try and kill Macduff. Causing his …show more content…

Before Macbeth murders King Duncan Lady Macbeth states ‘’ But screw your courage to the sticking place and we’ll not fail… what cannot you and I preform on the unguarded Duncan?’’ (I.vii. 60-70) This shows that Lady Macbeth was planting ideas in Macbeth’s head. She also basically tells him that if he doesn’t do this he is not a man. However even though she seemed to have influenced him the most this is not the case. The three witches had the largest influence because they told him their prophecies which lead to him do things that cause them to come true. Since Macbeth knows no man born of a woman can harm him he ignores the warning beware Macduff. When confronted by Macduff at his castle. Macduff claims ‘’Macduff was from his mother’s womb untimely ripp’d’’ (V.vii. 15-16). This is important because it proves the prophecy is true and Macbeth caused his own death. It also proves without the witch’s prophecy none of this would have

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