Macbeth's Downfall
How Macbeth Met His End
Pointing Fingers At Macbeth's Demise
What To Blame
It's a warm and sunny day. You're traveling through a forest where you meet threecreepy, shifty, old women. Those women then tell you details about your life, and even details of your future. Would you listen to them? Probably not. Macbeth may have been a strong hero known throughout the land, however, he was not a very deep thinker. If Macbeth had used his common sense, he'd probably have not landed in such a deep hole of a predicament. People use common sense to keep from making terrible decisions; some people are obviously not very good at using basic thinking when compared to others.
Living in a time where witches, the undead, and evil magic are considered some of the darkest omens around, surely one would think to never listen to them. Let alone take action based on what one such creature would speak of to an individual. Macbeth and Macduff were told that royalty would soon spread to the family by three witches that had crossed paths with them. Macduff's sons were to become kings, while Macbeth himself would become king as well. Macbeth wondered how and when his royal status would take place, so he decided to take matters into his own hands, " I go, and it is done. The bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell" (Macbeth 2.1.71-72) Macbeth believed that murder was the only way to become king. If he'd have just sat down to ponder for a minute, perhaps her would've thought differently. He could have realized how crazy it would be to listen to witches (a very evil force) and to then think of killing the king so that he could become the king.
The witches may have told Macbeth of his future, however, spirits told Macbeth of what would cause his end. The spirits used vague descriptions and riddles to reveal the cause of Macbeth's death. Surely one would sit and ponder the full extent of vague terms as to not become part of a trap, " Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff; Beware the thane of fire" (Macbeth 4.1.79-81) as well as, "The pow'r of man, of none of woman born shall harm Macbeth" (Macbeth 4.1.91-92). Also, " Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him"(Macbeth 4.1.106-108). These warnings are actually easy to consider and ponder. Too bad Macbeth didn't realize this until soldiers wearing branches invaded his castle, and his friend who was a c-section came after him.
If evil forces hint and crooked wives tell that murder is the only way to get what they want, perhaps one should do the opposite. If Macbeth had taken a moment to think that he was going to take lives of friends just because untrustworthy people are telling him to, perhaps he would've tried to take a different route, " All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter" (Macbeth 1.3.56-57). Imagine begin told by creeps that someone was going to be famous. Would they kill to make that predicted future come true? Or would they try harder to become known to others to have the dream reach them rather than slicing down those in their way for it. Macbeth probably should've waited for the future, or even have doubted it since witches told him of the news. But murdering others because that's what a loved one is telling him to do? Not at all.
Art Piece
Art Piece
The Murder by Paul Cezanne Is a good depiction of the actions committed by Macbeth as well. Macbeth had hired murderers to kill Macduff's wife and son, much like the two men stabbing the woman's corpse in The Murder, " He has killed me, mother. Run away, I pray you" (Macbeth 4.3.62-63). Of course, Lady Macduff didn't escape. And when Macduff found out, he was most certainly less than pleased. The painting manages to capture the dark tone and horrendous crimes that take place in Macbeth, which is why it is such a good representation.
Music Connection
The song, Midnight Creeper by Eagles Of Death Metal heavily underlines acts of murder- much like the ones Macbeth committed, "Well my steel is sharp and silent- the devil guides my hand- well I just love to slit them throats- and creep all around this land" Macbeth murdered Duncan on his own with a dagger at night, and then had to return to his room in the castle that he lives in, "I see thee still; And on thy blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, Which was not so before" (Macbeth 2.1.55-56). Macbeth had killed his first victim, King Duncan. The dagger he used was now covered in Duncan's blood. Midnight Creeper captures the eerie and murderous event and mindset that Macbeth had to take on in order to become king as the witches told.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1-ldizoxDY 50-1.04 (The rest is instrumental after this)
Literary Devices
Lady Macbeth is a good example of a dynamic character. A dynamic character is a character who changes by the end of a tale. Throughout the story, her personality goes from headstrong to mentally broken. She even went as far as sleep walking from guilt if Duncan's murder, which could've given away the couple's dark secret, "What, will these hands ne're be clean? No more o' that, my lord, no more o' that" (Macbeth 5.1.42-43). Lady Macbeth later killed herself in the story from pure insanity and regret. Surely this would've been a good sign to Macbeth that he was following the wrong path to leadership.
The story of Macbeth also has great symbolism. Symbolism being a metaphorical sign or hint. The spirits told of Macbeth's defeat in mysterious sayings. However, Macbeth didn't return thought of the spirits warnings until they were becoming true. " Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him"(Macbeth 4.1.106-108). This spirit was speaking of the soldiers ascending the hill to his castle in branches to hide. " Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff; Beware the thane of fire" (Macbeth 4.1.79-81). This spirit spoke of how Macduff was going to be the one to kill Macbeth. as well as, "The pow'r of man, of none of woman born shall harm Macbeth" (Macbeth 4.1.91-92). Macduff was cut from Mother rather than born, which was mean't to make Macbeth think no one could hurt him since all humans are born from a woman.
Macbeth may have some lighter moments, however, the majority of the play is tragedy. Tragedy is serious drama, normally caused by a serious event. Macbeth had blood on his hands from many crimes, pretty much all of which were murder. Which is considered especially crude and gruesome from many crimes. Macbeth murdered Duncan, hired murderers to kill Banquo, and then slaughtered Macduff's wife and son: also at the hands of hired murderers, " He has killed me, mother. Run away, I pray you" (Macbeth 4.3.62-63). Macbeth's evilness almost seems highlighted by having others do his dirty work for him. Almost as if he couldn't be bothered to slay Macduff's wife and child himself.