Macbeth’s Role in the Tragic Events That Unfold in Shakespeare’s Macbeth (Essay Example)

In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, there are many tragic events which unfold throughout the play. While multiple characters influence the tragic events that occur, Macbeth himself is ultimately responsible for the events. However, the prime cause was Macbeth himself. In the play, Macbeth first begins as a loyal subject to King Duncan of Scotland. However, Macbeth ultimately transforms into a power-hungry tyrant, who is willing to execute evil plans to gain what he desires. Due to his overconfidence and overambition, as well as his imprudent actions, Macbeth is ultimately responsible for the tragic events that occur throughout the story, despite being aware of his actions.

To begin, after Macbeth visits the three witches for the first time, he begins to question what must be done for him to become king. After learning his prophecy from the witches, Macbeth says, “…why do I find myself thinking/about murdering King Duncan, a thought so horrify/-ing that it makes my hair stand on end and my heart/pound inside my chest” (Shakespeare 1.3.135-138). When visiting the witches, Macbeth hears a prophecy which tells him he will become future king of Scotland. After hearing this, Macbeth begins to contemplate what must be done in order for the prophecy to become true. He ultimately begins to contemplate murdering King Duncan. While he is terrified by his thoughts, he continues to think about murder. This proves how the tragedy that occurs is Macbeth’s own fault because he is aware of his thoughts and actions. The witches’ prophecy is that Macbeth will become future king, but they do not mention murdering King Duncan. Macbeth himself, associates the idea of murdering King Duncan to become king. While he is horrified for his thoughts of murdering, Macbeth continues to keep these ideas in the back of his mind. While the witches may have influence on Macbeth by telling him the prophecy, Macbeth is in control of his own inner desires.

Secondly, Macbeth is responsible for murdering King Duncan along with his servants. After murdering King Duncan, Macbeth tells those who found the king:

The/violent rage inspired by my love for Duncan caused/me to act before I could think rationally and tell/myself to pause…then right next to him I saw the murders/dripping with blood, their daggers rudely covered in/gore. (Shakespeare 2.3.105-113)

 During this scene, Macbeth has murdered King Duncan and framed his servants as the true killers. When the people realize that Duncan is dead, Macbeth acts as if he is heartbroken and upset. He then murders the servants because his love for Duncan was so great, that his anger clouded his judgment. However, truthfully Macbeth kills the servants to coverup his own actions. This shows that Macbeth was aware of his own actions since he took drastic measures to coverup his own heinous deeds. While Lady Macbeth convinced Macbeth to kill Duncan, it is Macbeth himself, who commits the act of murder on both King Duncan and his servants. He murders Duncan, of whom he is supposed to protect, all because of his desire to become king of Scotland. This is the first time of many, that Macbeth allows his ambition to truly gain control of him. 

Furthermore, as Macbeth continues to gain power, he becomes paranoid of Banquo and his son, Fleance. While contemplating about his newfound power, Macbeth says during his soliloquy:

…I’m not safe as the king. /I’m very afraid of Banquo. There’s something noble/about him that makes me fear him. He’s willing to take/risks, and his mind never stops working. He has the/wisdom to act bravely but also safely. I’m not afraid of/anyone but him (Shakespeare 3.1.49-54).

 During this scene, Macbeth has become king, but he is still not relaxed in his position. He is paranoid of those who can take his place. When the witches gave Macbeth his prophecies, they also declared that Banquo’s descendants will be future kings. Macbeth is paranoid of this prophecy and decides to try and prevent this from occuring. He hires three murderers to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance, so that no one can take his throne. Although the murderers fail to kill Fleance, they succeed in murdering Banquo. This further proves how the tragedy that unfold is Macbeth’s fault, because he begins to murder people to make himself feel safe in his position of power. He hires murderers to kill Banquo and his son, so that there will be no descendants to replace him. Macbeth allows his ambition and paranoia to control him and commits unspeakable crimes. Throughout this, Macbeth is aware of his actions, and is not being influenced by any secondary source. 

Next, as Macbeth continues being a tyrant, he has Macduff’s wife and children murdered. In England, while breaking the news of his family to Macduff, Ross says, “Your wife and children were/savagely slaughtered. If I told you how they were/killed, it would cause you so much pain that it would/kill you too…” (Shakespeare 4.3.206-209). From the beginning of Macbeth’s rule, Macduff is the one person who has been suspicious and wary of him. At first, Macbeth wants to murder Macduff, however, Macduff is in England gathering an army to take down Macbeth. Since he cannot reach Macduff, Macbeth kills the people that matter the most to him. He hires murderers to kill both Macduff’s wife and children. Macduff only learns this when Ross confronts him in England to tell him the news. This news ultimately increases Macduff’s anger towards Macbeth and fuels his desire to kill him. This shows how the tragedy is Macbeth’s fault because he allows power to influence him to murder innocent people. Macduff’s wife and children had done no harm towards Macbeth, but he decides to have them killed anyways. Macbeth is attempting to get rid of those who disagree or threaten his reign as king. Not only does he have Banquo murdered and attempts to murder Fleance, but he also kills those who are closest to Macduff. Throughout all of this, Macbeth is aware of his crimes, and is not influenced by other people. Since the murder of King Duncan, Macbeth has become obsessed with the power he holds, and is willing to murder those who stand in his way. 

Lastly, after Macbeth visits the witches for the second time, he allows himself to become overconfident, which ultimately leads to his downfall. As Macbeth is facing Macduff in the final battle, he believes he is invincible because of the witches’ prophecies, and tells Macduff, “You’re wasting your time trying to wound me. You/might as well try to stab the air with your sword. Go/fight someone who can be harmed” (Shakespeare 5.8.9-11). When Macbeth visits the witches for the second time, they give him prophecies which make him believe that he is invincible. However, unbeknownst to him, the witches have given him these to make him feel overconfident. While battling Macduff, Macbeth does not believe that he can be killed. He believes that the witches’ prophecies protect him, and Macduff cannot kill him. However, Macbeth’s confidence runs out when he learns that Macduff was not born from a woman, so he can kill him. This ultimately results in Macduff succeeding in killing Macbeth and freeing Scotland from his tyranny. This proves how the tragedy that unfolds in the play is Macbeth’s fault because he ultimately caused his own death. Throughout Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth allows his ambition to control him. He is so caught up in the power that he gained, that he commits heinous crimes against innocent people. His tragic flaw of being too ambitious and overconfident ultimately leads to his own downfall, as well of the tragic murders of others.

In conclusion, while other characters contributed to the tragedies that occurred in Macbeth, Macbeth’s actions primarily caused the events. After visiting and receiving his first prophecy from the witches of becoming future king, Macbeth begins to contemplate the possibility of murdering King Duncan to gain his position. He ultimately murders King Duncan, as well as framing and killing Duncan’s servants to coverup his own crime. Additionally, Macbeth hires murderers to kill Banquo and he attempts to murder his son, Fleance, as a means to secure his throne. He also hires murderers to kill Macduff’s family since Macduff is rebelling against him. Following his second visit to the witches, Macbeth becomes overconfident and believes he cannot be killed, which ultimately leads to his demise. As you can see, despite Macbeth’s awareness of his actions, he is ultimately responsible for the tragic events that occur throughout the play due to his excessive ambition and overconfidence.