The Downfall of Macbeth
By Taylor Bell
Because of the witches telling Macbeth about his future, the prophesies are what lead Macbeth into trouble. A witch says that Macbeth is the master, "Her husband's to Aleppo gone, master o' the 'Tiger...'" (Shakespeare 15). Macbeth is the master of the Tiger ship, and their prophesy says he will be king too. Then a letter is written to Lady Macbeth. She reads the letter from her husband and recounts his meeting from the witches, "...these Weird Sisters saluted me, and referred me to the coming on of time with 'Hail, King that shalt be'..." (Shakespeare 31). The letter informs Lady Macbeth about what her husband is going to do to King Duncan. Lady Macbeth is determined that her husband will be king, but she is concerned about his courage. Later, the witches make a stew trying to trouble humanity, "Round about the cauldron go..." (Shakespeare 115). The witches are making this potion for future use. The magic stew is not for Macbeth to drink, but to ensure his future as king.
Foreshadowing
Throughout the play, the witches are hinting that something bad will happen to Macbeth. The goddess of witchcraft said to the witches, "How dare you trade and traffic with Macbeth in riddles and affairs of death…" (Shakespeare 109). This indicates that the witches are foreshadowing Macbeth's death with riddles he did not understand.
Dramatic Irony
Because of Lady Macbeth inviting King Duncan to the honorary feast, King Duncan thinks that Lady Macbeth is being kind, even though she secretly wants him dead. Lady Macbeth is being extremely generous to Duncan, "Against those honors deep and broad wherewith Your Majesty loads our house…" (Shakespeare 39). Duncan does not know that Macbeth, himself, is going to kill him that night; Duncan thinks that he and his wife are being polite.
Dynamic Character
Without the witches prophesies, Lady Macbeth's husband would have never killed King Duncan; therefore, she would have never wanted to feel the unfeminine emotions or guilt from King Duncan's death. Lady Macbeth calls for the spirits to give her a manly personality, "Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here…" (Shakespeare 35). By Lady Macbeth calling out to the spirits, this shows that she wants to kill King Duncan herself. Lady Macbeth is overcome with guilt, and she begins to go into shock. She is regretting that she persuaded her husband to kill King Duncan, "What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our pow'r to accompt…" (Shakespeare 155). Lady Macbeth sleepwalks and reveals her guilt to the doctor as he observes her. She is recalling the events from King Duncan's death which cause her to go insane.
In regards to the song "Witchcraft" by Elvis Presley in 1957, the woman in Elvis's life is his downfall, just like the witches are to Macbeth. "Witchcraft" is about a woman who drives Elvis crazy. The woman broke up with him and now he cannot stand her. Elvis refers to this woman's actions as "witchcraft" which is similar to the witchcraft in Macbeth. Elvis says, "Your witchcraft has got me Keep goin' down and down". The events that happened to Elvis are like those in Macbeth. Their lives are changing and getting worse -- either by the 3 witches or by the woman in Elvis's life.
Witchcraft By Elvis Presley (with lyrics on the screen)
Like the movie, "The Wizard of Oz", the witch(es) in Macbeth are the downfall of Dorothy and Macbeth. Margaret Hamilton, the Wicked Witch of the West, follows Dorothy in search of retrieving her sister's ruby slippers. The Wicked Witch of the West tortures her with her words, captures her, and takes her to her castle. Just like the witches in Macbeth, both witches are getting into Macbeth's and Dorothy's head. In the play Macbeth, 3 witches tell Macbeth his future with their prophesies, and it leads Macbeth to make his decisions that the witches have predicted. Eventually, both witches in Macbeth and "The Wizard of Oz" keep appearing in Dorothy's and Macbeth's lives causing them to make decisions they might regret.
The Wizard Of Oz IMAX 3D Official Trailer #1 (2013) - Judy Garland Movie HD