Oh, Macbeth... Don't Be Scared
Meghan Clark
Cabined, Cribbed, Confined, Bound to Saucy Doubts and Fears
Because of Macbeth’s anxiousness, uneasiness, and fear, he is to blame for his own downfall. Macbeth, was afraid that he would not become king or stay king. He was terrified that someone would kill because of his wrong doing. Macbeth would kill anyone who he thought could get in the way of him being king. These three things led to Macbeth’s downfall
Although the “weird sisters” promised Macbeth that he would be king, He still felt the need to kill Duncan in order to seal his prophecy. As soon as Macbeth saw that some of the witches prophecy was coming true, he couldn’t wait to become king: “Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires. The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be, Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see” (1.4.58-61). In this excerpt, Macbeth wishes that others do not look in his eyes and see that he hopes to be king. He also says that he does not want to do the killing, that someone else should kill Duncan, then Macbeth should become king. Macbeth really was a good guy in the beginning. He didn't want to kill Duncan. Infact, Lady Macbeth gave the idea to kill Duncan. As soon as Lady Macbeth suggested that he kill Duncan in order to become king, Macbeth’s downfall began.
Since Macbeth killed Duncan, he was always afraid that someone would find out and kill him for his treason. Macbeth killed Duncan in order to be sure that he would become king. Since it is treason to kill a king, After Macbeth killed Duncan, he was worried that someone would find out and kill Macbeth for Treason. Macbeth never stopped worrying that someone found out what he did. He said, “It will have blood, they say: blood will have blood.” (3.4.54-55) Macbeth thought that because he killed Duncan, it is inevitable that someone will kill him. Macbeth was s anxious that someone would find out about Duncan’s murder that he made himself go crazy.
Due to Macbeth wanting to be king so bad, he was afraid someone could take it away from him, but he would’ve killed anyone who could get in the way. Macbeth thought that being king was no good, unless there was absolutely no one else that would try to take it from him: “To be thus is nothing, But to be safely thus”(3.1.52-53). This makes since, but Macbeth took it too far. Anyone that he thought could possible take from him the throne, he would kill. First, Macbeth killed Duncan, to receive the throne. Then Macbeth had Banquo killed because he had suspicions of Macbeth killing Duncan, and that would get Macbeth dethroned and killed. Then Macbeth killed Macduff’s family as an example to anyone who may want to fight against Macbeth to get him dethroned. All of this killing deteriorated Macbeth’s mind as well as made people hate him, Leading to his downfall.
Macbeth’s own actions led to his downfall. Because of Macbeth’s constant worrying and continual mistake making, Macbeth caused his own downfall and death. Macbeth wanted to be sure he would be king, so he killed Duncan, which began his downward journey. Macbeth was willing to kill anyone who may have known of his murders. Finally, Macbeth would have killed anyone that could get in the way of him being king.Fear Became Him
This piece of art is symbolic to the blame of Macbeth's downfall: fear. The piece shows a man sleeping while his "inner demons' in his dream come out. The face looks terrified, which is what Macbeth was. Macbeth makes a reference to his fears, “Ere we will eat our meal in fear and sleep In the affliction of these terrible dreams That shake us nightly. Better be with the dead, Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace, than on the torture of the mind to lie in restless ecstasy” (3.2.20-25) This fear led Macbeth to becoming crazy, like how the face, in the picture above, looks.