Shakespeare presents Macbeth as a victim to many different powerful forces including Lady Macbeth, supernatural forces and his own ambition. These forces are powerful and compell Macbeth to make contradicting decisions.
There are many different viewpoints as to who was the real driving force behind Macbeth and his ascent to power. There is the possibility of outside forces, including Lady Macbeth and the witches but also he could be victim to inner desires and ambitions which is the human condition which he could not control. The contrasting viewpoint is that Macbeth is the villain and that he chose to kill Duncan without much persuasion from any outer forces. It was his choice and he made it in a clear mind with the goal of becoming King. It is my opinion that the second statement is false and that Macbeth was a victim to forces out of his control.
However, evidence to the contrary shows that Macbeth is described as 'brave Macbeth' who in when battle 'redoubled strokes upon the foe'. He fought on undaunted even though a new set of troops on the opposing side appeared. This bravery shows that he is strong willed and brave so he would not easily be swayed by supernatural forces or the word of his wife. When he has doubts about the murder of Duncan Lady Macbeth just encourages him by telling him they won't get caught and he tells her how they cannot show on there faces what they are about to do 'mock the time with fairest show'. He also managed to perform the deed himself without the company of lady Macbeth so he did not have encouragement all through the build up. He may have been thinking about the possibility of killing Duncan before in the back of his mind and the prophecy of the witches along with the gentle suggestion from Lady Macbeth to put these plans into action ' that he seems rapt withal'. He is rapt, spellbound, perhaps with guilt of thoughts he has had about gaining power.
In Act 1 Scene 3 he contemplates to himself the deed he is considering doing and lies to Banquo, his closest friend, about his thoughts ' let us speak our free hearts to each other', Shakespeare could have used heart because later when talking to Lady Macbeth it is used again by Macbeth when they talk of hiding from the other guests their evil intentions 'False face must hide what false heart doth know'. . Macbeth starts to imagine things as he draws closer to Duncan's room. 'Alarumed by his sentinel, the wolf,' the wolf is seen as a symbol of murder and this is Macbeth contemplating what he is about to do and everything he sees reminds him of death. 'it is a knell' When the bell rings he believes it is a funeral bell for Duncan. He is aware of what he is about to do and this is why Macbeth can be seen as a villain. He has the loyalty of this man and is willing to go against it to achieve what he wants,' The service and loyalty I owe'. Shakespeare can emphasize his evil ways by placing him in the same position as a previous traitor, the Thane of Cawdor, this position is tainted by the former Thane and the name could now show the future disintegration of Macbeths morals and principals.
The most obvious of the forces working to make Macbeth kill Duncan is Lady Macbeth. Macbeth is very confused about the prophecy and he almost decided to not go ahead with the deed when Lady Macbeth persuades him to kill Duncan by telling him he is weak and lacks masculinity. 'And live a coward in thine own esteem'. She asks him if he could live like that, knowing he had this opportunity and turned it down because he is too 'feminine'. Shakespeare has shown her doubt in Macbeth's abilities in her soliloquy in Act 1 Scene 5 'It is too full o'th'milk of human kindness'. This related to mothering and nurture, which contrasts to her willingness to kill her own child in Act 1 Scene 7. 'And dashed the brains out'.
During her conversations with Macbeth she uses the more formal version of 'you' in this speech to accentuate his potential rise to power along with her own. She uses it as encouragement because he is sick from the thought of the deed, ' green and pale'. She has more ambition than Macbeth and wishes him to succeed so she may benefit. 'thou esteemed the ornament of life'. Her description of the child she would kill having 'boneless gums' is describing something weak, undeveloped and unprotected. This is her opinion of Duncan's position in the house because he knows no better. 'To find the minds construction in the face.' He cannot tell what they are thinking because he could not tell what the former thane was thinking.
She describes the killing of the child as the killing of Duncan, he is unaware and in the belief he is in safe hands. 'while it was smiling in my face'. She persuades him by telling him how they will do it, with a practical plan and he admires her for this and her desire for the crown so he agrees. ' Be so much more than man'. Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as the driving force in their conversations, which shows her control over him, and she speaks more which shows her over powering him and dominating large portions of the conversations they have. In Act 1 Scene 7 she is talking for a large part of the conversation, having nearly twice as many lines than Macbeth. Shakespeare shows her power through her trying to outwit him by using more complex language and ideas. In Act 1 Scene 7 she progresses through the three tenses of time in 12 lines, perhaps in an attempt to confuse Macbeth and to bend him to her will. She takes a long time to explain simple ideas because of her use of elaboration. ' Will I with wine and wassail', this is her use of alliteration which is rhythmic and complex which weakens him by its repetitive nature. It could also be used to confuse Macbeth because it sounds like an incantation. This could show she has been planning this and it is not improvised.
Lady Macbeth's connections to the witches and the supernatural force of this play are that she uses spells to 'unsex' herself and she calls for help from spirits to aid her in her plan. She uses her own spirits in an effort to persuade Macbeth into doing something he does not want to do. ' may pour my spirits in thine ear', this is a discrete, gradual and secret process, suggesting that this is without Macbeth's knowledge or consent and this is how she will urge him to do it. This relationship between Lady Macbeth and the witches could also be seen that Lady Macbeth is a victim to the supernatural forces and they are using her as their tool. ' what will these hands ne'er be clean"' She is perhaps over powered by her allowing herself to be overtaken by spirits in the first act and it has driven her mad.
These supernatural forces seem to have a force over Macbeth and he could be victim to these forces. Shakespeare opens the play with the witches and as it was believed at the time there were real witches who could see into the future. This adds to their power and their strength over Macbeths will. His contemplation begins after their prophecy at the beginning and he is intrigued, ' Stay, you imperfect speakers'. The prophecy they tell to him begins to over power him as he believes it is fate and that he must adhere to it. At first he believes that because it is fate that he will be king he won't have to do anything,
'If chance will have me King, chance may crown me
Without my stir'
Lady Macbeth soon persuades him that murdering Duncan is the quickest way to being the king.
The Introduction of Hecate in Act 3 Scene 5 adds new dimension of evil. She has power of the witches who have been the main influence over the majority of Macbeth's decisions. Shows her control over Macbeth and the three witches involvement. The witches' familiars are always around and the 'nature' is often described as strange. it could be affecting Macbeth as it parallels his struggle against the setline of Kings.
A very influential force over Macbeth is his own will to power, the human condition, he could be victim to his own desires. This is shown through his constant indecision and inner arguments when contemplating murder, 'Cannot be ill, cannot be good' He doesn't know whether he can trust the information he has been given due to the source. However he wants to trust it because it is positive and can't see a reason for them to lie about such a good thing. Act 2 Scene 2 he is afraid of what he has done, he becomes a victim of his conscience. 'I could not say 'Amen". He becomes controlled by this thought and becomes anxious and obsessive over his inability. This could be due to the fact he has no control over it complimenting his lack of control over what he is doing. Act 1 Scene 3 he is spellbound ' rapt' with the thought of power. His is taken over by the thought of power and becomes victim to it. This is the description given to him by the other characters and shows him during his conflicting thoughts about the witches' prophecy. He is 'rapt' with the thought of it and unable to control his face and cannot hold a conversation with the other characters, making up excuses later. 'give me your favour'. The supernatural forces are shown as a power over Macbeth but they could also be manifestations of his subconscious desire to rule and have power. 'Is this a dagger which I see before me,'. He is unsure of what is real and what is his imagination and then is subject to its power and is more likely to become victim to it.
In conclusion I believe that Shakespeare is presenting Macbeth as a victim to many different powerful forces including Lady Macbeth, supernatural forces and his own ambition. These forces are so powerful over Macbeth they confuse him and compel him to make contradicting decisions and change his mind frequently. He has villainous qualities in the latter stage of the play but the powers overwhelming him exceed his evil deeds. He is a noble and dutiful man weakened and susceptible to power. He shows his quality through his loyalty to Duncan and his passion to defend his country but other villainous characters easily select his weakness. This is how I believe Shakespeare wished Macbeth to be portrayed and I think he was successful in that respect.
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