How and Why does Macbeth Turn from War Hero to Murderer? Essay

The tragedy â€Å"Macbeth† was written by William Shakespeare at the beginning of the seventeenth century. In that period, people were highly preoccupied by witchcraft. It was a controversial topic, as King James himself was interested in the issue. This Zeitgeist given, it seemed like a good way for Shakespeare to start his play in the spirit of three witches making predictions, as it would guarantee the tragedy’s appeal to the general public and the king. We are therefore presented, in Act 1, scene 1, with three witches in a deserted place. They plot to meet Macbeth and make predictions about the future. Some of the representative lines which potentially lie behind the further action are â€Å"Fair is foul, and foul is fair: / Hover through the fog and filthy air,† (Act 1, scene 1). One interpretation of this is the imminent change set to happen in the universe, the transition of the good into bad and the bad into good. The play is set during the battle between the Scottish army and Norway, around the beginning of the eleventh century. Some of the main characters of the play are real. Duncan I was King of Scotland in that period, one of his generals being Macbeth. What actually hapenned in the real world back then is very similar to the storyline. Macbeth killed the king, but eventually got murdered himself by Malcom, who was one of the king’s sons. The elementary difference between the play and history is the personality of the characters. The actual Duncan wasn’t very popular, while Macbeth ruled Scotland well. Initially, the character of Macbeth is introduced as a war hero, well respected by his fellows and as a man of honour, appreciated by the king himself who was at the same time his first cousin, â€Å"O valiant cousin! / Worthy gentleman!† (Act 1, scene 2). As the three witches make predictions about Macbeth’s future, that he will become thane of Cawdor and then king, he is reluctant and can’t believe his ears, challenging the witches’ reason, â€Å"But how of Cawdor? the thane of Cawdor lives / A prosperous gentleman; and to be king / Stands not within the prospect of belief,† (Act 1, scene 3). Despite this, he is interested to find out more, â€Å"Speak, I charge you,† showing that he is prepared to believe in the supernatural and deceive his own knowledge and conscience. After the earliest prophecy becomes true, the thought of murder crosses Macbeth’s mind for the first time, â€Å"If good, why do I yield to that suggestion / Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair, / And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, / Against the use of nature? Present fears / Are less than horrible imaginings: / My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, / Shakes so my single state of man that function / Is smothered in surmise, and nothing is / But what is not,† (Act 1, scene 3). Macbeth is scared of his own thoughts and what his conscience might make him do. Trying to escape the horrible situation of making a decision, he thinks that, if it is meant for him to be king, he doesn’t have to do anything himself, â€Å"If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, / Without my stir,† (Act 1, scene 3). Struggling with his conscience, Macbeth asks the natural elements to hide his ambitions, â€Å"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,† (Act 1, scene 4). When lady Macbeth receives a letter from her husband, announcing his new title and the witches’ predictions, her reaction is cold and unexpected, portraying her as a villain of particular dimensions. In the subsequent soliloquy, she somewhat accuses Macbeth of being too good, by the notorious line, â€Å"†¦ yet do I fear thy nature; / It is too full o’th’ milk of human kindness,† (Act 1, scene 5). She then promptly decides to influence Macbeth to commit murder, â€Å"Hie thee thither, / That I may pour my spirits in thine ear,† (Act 1, scene 5) as she believes that what the witches have said is going to become true and is destined for the main character, â€Å"Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem / To have thee crowned withal,† (Act 1, scene 5). As soon as Macbeth and lady Macbeth meet, she presents him with her ambitious plans. Initially, he’s firm about not willing to go on with the deed of murdering Duncan, â€Å"We will proceed no further in this business,† (Act 1, scene 7) realising that the king has honoured him very recently and it would be a good idea to take advantage of the respect he has earned from many people, rather than ending it so brusquely, â€Å"He hath honoured me of late, and I have bought / Golden opinions from all sorts of people, / Which would be worn now in their newest gloss, / Not cast aside so soon,† (Act 1, scene 7). It is impressive how little it takes for Macbeth to change his opinion. His wife plays the love, promise and manhood cards which prove to be winning, â€Å"Was the hope drunk / Wherein you dressed yourself? [†¦] From this time / Such I account thy love. [†¦] And live a coward in thine own esteem, / Letting â€Å"I dare not† wait upon â€Å"I wo uld†,† (Act 1, scene 7). Eventually, lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to murder Duncan, â€Å"I am settled,† (Act 1, scene 7). Both the witches and lady Macbeth are extraneous elements from Macbeth’s point of view. He can’t control their existence and influences and, finally, he’s left with himself to decide what to do next. Only a weak mind could be manipulated by the witches and lady Macbeth, and having a weak mind is hardly an acceptable excuse for a respected character like Macbeth. Therefore, I believe it is ultimately his own fault for committing the deed and it was his corrupted mind that lead him from a prosperous gentleman to a horrid criminal.