Macbeth: A Tale Of Two Theories :: essays research papers fc

Macbeth A Tale of Two TheoriesMacbeth(c.1607), written by William Shakespeare, is the tragic tale ofMacbeth, a virtuous world, corrupted by power and greed. This tagedy could in factbe called "A Tale of Two Theories". One theory suggests that the tragic hero,Macbeth, is led bring an unescapable road of doom by an outside force, namelyfate in the form of the three witches. The second suggests that there is nosupernatural force works against Macbeth, which therefore makes himresponsible for his own actions and inevitable downfall. It must be rememberedthat Macbethis a literary work of art, and as a peice of art is open to many diametric interpretations, none of them right and none of them wrong. But thetext of the play seems to imply that Macbeth is indeed responsible for his ownactions which are provoked by an unwillingness to harken to his own conscience,the witches, and his ambition.First, Macbeth ignores the voice of his own psyche. He knows what he isdoing is wrong eve n before he murders Duncan, but he allows Lady Macbeth andgreed to cloud his judgement. In referring to the idea of the murder of Duncan,Macbeth first states,"We will proceed no further in this business"(I.vii.32).Yet, after spea baron with Lady Macbeth he recants and proclaims,"I am settled,and bend up/Each corporal agent to this terrible feat"(I.vii.79-80). There isnothing supernatural to be found in a man being swayed by the woman he loves, asa matter of fact this action could be perceived as quite the opposite.Second, the witches have to be dispelled as a source of Macbethsmisfortune before the latter theory can be considered. It is admittedly strangethat the weird sisters first address Macbeth with," each(prenominal) hail, Macbeth hail tothee Thane of Cawdor"(I.iii.49), a title which not even Macbeth is aware he hasbeen awarded. Even stranger is the third witch calling to Macbeth,"All hail,Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter"(I.iii.50). However as stated byBradley,"No connection of these announcements with any actions of his was evenhinted by the withches"(232). Some are still not convinced(p) though of thewitches less than supernatural role nevertheless, Macbeth appears throughoutthe play to be completely aware of his actions, as opposed to being contolledby some undercover force. The effect of the witches on the action of the play isbest summarized by these words...while the influences of the Witchesprophecies on Macbeth is very great, it isquite clearly shown to be an influnce andnothing more.(Bradley 232)Most Copernican to the theory that Macbeth is reponsible for his own actions