Literary Essay Sample. Theme of Pressure in Macbeth

In Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, the main character is struggling with internal and external pressure related to murdering Duncan for personal gain. Manipulated by his wife, he uses this as the final piece of motivation he needs to kill Duncan. Even though he is fated to be king, he uses his own free will he decides to murder The king. This battle between free will and fate is shown countless times throughout. Macbeth, though fated to be king,  is manipulated and deceived by those around him to his untimely demise.

The Three witches meet in secret to discuss their next meeting to greet Macbeth so that they can tell him their prediction to manipulate him into killing the king. The witches talk amongst one another to decide on their next meeting, “When the hurlyburly's done, When the battle's lost and won”(I. I, 3-4, 323) after Macbeth has lost and won the battle, only then will they meet again to greet him. Before departing all say “Fair is foul, and foul is fair, hover through the fog and filthy air” (I.i.12-13, 323). This foreshadows Macbeth's fall, it gives an example of how things can seem good they can turn bad very quickly. This is shown through the play he began off in a good place but quickly spiraled down into his own demise. In a brief interaction between the wyrd sisters,we learn that they wish to meet upon the heath before sunset to meet Macbeth “Upon the heath, there to meet with Macbeth '' (I, i, 6-7, 323) . The weird sisters meet at this location to speak with Macbeth about his fate, they do this to deceive him and to nudge him in the direction that leads to his fall. The witches, evil in nature, want to trick and ruin Macbeth into causing his own untimely demise. This is a very important part of Macbeths fall, he is tricked by lies and decet to destroy those around him, leading him further down the path of insanity and murder.

The witches greet Macbeth with the intent of deceiving him into killing the king and turning against Banquo. Banquo and Macbeth Return from a battle and enter a dark cavern on the heath, where they see the three wyrd sisters who previously had planned to meet them there in hopes of giving Macbeth their prediction of his fate. Though confused by their presence Macbeth orders them to state who they are and to speak if possible. The three wyrd sisters begin to speak of a prediction, “All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, Thane of Glamis. All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor. All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (I, iii, 58-50, 327) They want to put these thoughts into his head so even if he doesn't believe it to be so, it will sit in the back of his mind and fester. They also Speak of Banquo, “Lesser than Macbeth, and greater. Not so happy, yet much happier. Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none so. So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo”  ( I,iii , 65-69, 328). The witches tell Banquo of his fate, they do this to drill the idea that Banquo would be a threat to the throne into Macbeth's head. Doing this leads to Macbeth's choice to kill Banquo and Banquo's death. The witches hail the two men pushing this thought into Macbeth's head, but when questioned by Macbeth about their predictions, they disappear into thin air. Macbeth is fated to not only be thane of Cawdor but as king, Macbeth though intrigued does not believe them. Banquo and Macbeth speak to one another before Ross and Angus enter. They praise him for his successes and dress him in the robes of Thane of Cawdor “And, for an earnest of a greater honour, He bade me, from him, call thee thane of Cawdor: In which addition, hail, most worthy thane! For it is thine” (I, ii, 104-106, 329)

There is a constant struggle for the main character, with outside sources influencing the choices he makes, he is stuck between what is right and what is wrong. Though he wants to kill Duncan, he is troubled with his morality and that Duncan has honored him by promoting him to Thane of Cawdor. This is shown between his interaction with his wife Lady Macbeth. When approached by his wife, she questions him as to why he left, he simply brushes it off asking if he was called upon. She, confused, says no, Macbeth then stated “We will proceed no further in this business; he hath honored me of late, and I bought golden opinions from all sorts of people. Which would be worn now in their news gloss”(I, vii, 30, 338). He does not want to go through with it, in response his wife insults his manhood because of his choice and proceeds to insult him, calling him a coward. The pressure from his wife convinced him to go through with it, and though she pressured him, he could have simply ignored her and moved on. He has demonstrated his free will.

Macbeth, now filled with the proper motivation, sets out to kill Duncan. He says for Banquo to let his wife know when his drink is ready and strike upon the bell. In cold blood he slaughters Duncan, leaving just after to fetch his drink. The deed has been done, fate has played out as it must in order for Macbeth to be king. He fetches his drink only to be greeted by his wife, he states that he has done the deed but has not planted the evidence and talks of how it was a sorry sight to see. His wife further irritated by his guilt, plants the evidence, smearing the blood of Duncan on the sleeping guards and placing the daggers beside them in order to frame them for his murder. She returns to a still distraught Macbeth and tells him to get ready for bed in case anyone comes to see if they are up.

Macbeth has killed the king Duncan but Banquo stands in his way to obtaining the throne. Macbeth is worried that Banquo would be a threat to his throne. This is shown when he is by himself when all of the lords leave. He is in fear that Banquo could be next in line, Banquo has certain kingly-like qualities that could make him a potential threat to his throne. His fear is based around his interactions with the witches where they not only hailed for him to be king, but Banquo to father kings. Macbeth, fearful of Banquo's potential, hires a band of murderers to kill Banquo; they successfully do so only to find out that Banquo's son has fled.

Macbeth is struggling with his morality and descends deeper into madness, Macbeth slowly falling deeper into his own trap seeks out the help of the witches. Macbeth goes to the witches, paranoid of losing his position as king for others finding out about him killing Duncan and Banquo. He seeks answers from the wyrd sisters who go about their business making positions and casting spells. He tells them of how he would like to learn more of his future and in response they tell him that he is to be wary of Macduff.