Fair is foul and foul is fair Essay Example for Free

Fair is foul and foul is fair Essay Fair is foul and foul is fair.(1,1,190) The total theme of Shakespeares play Macbeth. The three sisters, also known as, witches begin what will later unravel into many deaths and a concluding tragedy. Who is at fault for this domino-killing spree? No other then a pure evil mixture of the witches and their undercover sidekick Lady Macbeth. Hecate held a very important role in the murders of an innocent family, but then again its expected of evil. Macbeth proves that evil does have more power then good, but in the end what goes around comes around. All Hail Macbeth, that shalt be Kind hereafter. (1,3,194). This is the single line ignites all of the horrors throughout the play. Macbeth, before he met the witches was not a bad person. Macbeth was actually fighting rebels for the kings protection, not to mention in a very honorable position of Thane of Glamis. Macbeth, in the beginning had all of the qualities of an honorable gentleman who could become anything. This is all shattered with his ambition overrides his sense of morality (What are the influences). The witches made him feel that he will be kind and that it was his destiny. (Power). Macbeths life turned a total three sixty into the evil direction. The witches manipulated his thoughts, and images worked his mind. (Power). Of course they were only words that the witches gave, but keeping in mind what powerful beings they were presented to be in the era of Macbeth, they were considered to be able to: see into the future, make people fall ill with the use of spells and potions, as well as to kill anyone at any distance. They were also known to cause bad weather and storms, which the play had begun with, (Macbeth: Witchcraft). Duncans death was entirely the witches fault, they told Macbeth hed be king, basically giving Macbeth permission to kill. Obviously Macbeth felt that since it was in the future then it didnt matter how exactly he would become king. Macbeth decided to take action on himself and not wait around for his prize. Although Macbeth has considered killing Duncan in the past it is not certain that he would have actually committed the murder were it not for the witches fortune telling. (Response to Brians Paper). The downfall of Macbeths fortune is the witches never told him once you start, you will never be able to stop the killings. They didnt seem to mention that everyone is responsible for his own destiny, and once he kills for his first time, he has no choice but to continue to cover-up his wrong doings, or risk losing everything he has worked so hard for, (What are the influences). If the witches would have told Macbeth that king would cost him killing his best friend Banquo who give him the best advice when he said Were such things here as we do speak or have we eaten on the insane root that takes the reason prisoner? (1,3,195). He also refers to the witches at instruments, The instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betrays in deepest consequence. (1,3,196). Banquos basically smarter then Macbeth, obvious to why the witches referred to him as happier and greater then Macbeth. He noted that, why would these evil witches want to tell you things that will help you out. Its obvious that they will benefit from the situation somehow. Having Macbeths trust is one way, where they will be able to have great power. Banquo believes that evil brings consequences. A few of the consequences were partly Macbeth having to kill the drunken guards to cover up Duncans murder, then killing Banquo. Of course the witches werent all at fault, Macbeth had a very powerful Id on his hands as well. Her name is Lady Macbeth, someone who Macbeth considered his equal. They were happily married and living an ordinary life. Lady Macbeth could however possible be a witch herself. Its a fact that in a major textbook for witch hunters, Malleus Maleficarum, describes how witches are able to make men impotent, or even make their penises disappear. (Riedel). The reality of Macbeths penis disappearing at that time would most likely cause him suspicious of Lady Macbeth as a wife, but it is true that they did not have any children, thank god, and in those days, for a woman to not be able to child bare was very unacceptable. Lady Macbeth proves her evilness remarking I have given suck, and know how tender tis to love the babe that mils me. I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out, has I so sworn as you have done to this. (1,7, 206). Lady Macbeth was right beside Macbeth in every action he took, urging him and playing on his insecurities. Lady Macbeth plays the key role as she removes her feminine caring feelings so she can push Macbeth to carry out the murder. (Power). Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth that hes not a man if hes cant do it. She almost challenges his masculinity and bravery. If Macbeth wants to make her happy he would do as she says, which is Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent undert. (1,5, 202). The supernatural world will aid her in the hardening of her heart and make it possible for her to carry out her malicious plan. (Wyn). Lady Macbeth is more of a forceful push towards the murder. The witches are the security behind the murder, for they tell Macbeth that he will be kind, and Lady Macbeth acts more of a catalyst, harassing Macbeth and forcing him to carry out the murders. (Power). There is only one witch that has a name. She is Hecate which means she who works from afar. (Something Wicked This Way Comes) Hecate, playing only a small role in Macbeths play is at fault for Macduffs familys murders. Hecate, being displeased with all of the negative actions Macbeth has been causing, especially since she was not apart of the evil that was going around. How did you dare to trade and traffic with Macbeth in riddles and affairs of death; and I, the mistress of your charms, the close contriver of all harms, was never called to bear my part or show the glory of our art? (5, 1, 237). Hecate decided to give Macbeth some new apparitions. These apparitions were to bring Macbeth to his tragedy and downfall. Hecate, even in the rise of bringing evil to someone evil, still caused harm and death to the innocent. Beware Macduff; Beware the Thane of Fife. (4,1,244). Of course taking everything the witches say one hundred percent seriously the first thing Macbeth did was get revenge on Macduffs family since he was not to be found to kill. It is all Hecates pure joy for the game of evil that that unfortunate scene happened. Other then Macduff, Hecate did help to put an end to Macbeth with apparitions that allowed him to let down his guards and making him very accessible to death. In conclusion all of the deaths in Macbeth were at the faults of the witches, and his wife. The witches prophesies were intentionally ambiguous, and their alliteration and rhymed couplets with which they spoke their omens, contributed to the effect of instability and confusion in their words. (ClassicNote). Thus having Macbeth believe that he was to be kind in the first place. They could have meant something totally different, that he may have been a different type of king, in a different country. Macbeth didnt really positively know what kind of king or where or anything, he just jumped on assumptions, and did what he had to do to get there. Macbeth stepped on everyone in the play below himself and deceived everyone around him. Macbeths wife played on the role of a powerful woman figure in the household, she was only thinking of herself and everything she would gain by being married to the king, but underestimated the power of guilt. Guilt played the key role in another small factor, which lead Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to their graves. The theme of this play foul is fair and fair is foul ends in death.