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 rehearsal ofMacbeth, a virtuous man, corrupted by power and greed. This tagedy could in itembe called "A Tale of Two Theories". One theory suggests that the tragic hero,Macbeth, is led d give an unescapable road of doom by an outside force, that is to sayfate in the form of the three transportes. The second suggests that there is nosupernatural force working against Macbeth, which therefore makes himresponsible for his own actions and required downfall. It must be rememberedthat Macbethis a literary work of art, and as a peice of art is open to manydifferent 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 listen to his own conscience,the witches, and his ambition.First, Macbeth ignores the part of his own psyche. He knows what he isd oing is wrong even originally he murders Duncan, but he allows Lady Macbeth andgreed to cloud his judgement. In referring to the subject of the murder of Duncan,Macbeth first states,"We will proceed no further in this business"(I.vii.32).Yet, after speaking with Lady Macbeth he recants and proclaims,"I am settled,and bend up/Each corporal agent to this terrible transaction"(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 rather 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 preternatural sisters first address Macbeth with,"All hail, Macbeth hail tothee Thane of Cawdor"(I.iii.49), a title which not even Macbeth is conscious(predicate) he hasbeen awarded. Even stranger is the third witch calling to Macbeth,"All hail,Macbeth, that sha lt 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 though of thewitches little than supernatural role nevertheless, Macbeth appears throughoutthe play to be completely aware of his actions, as opposed to being contolledby some mystic force. The nub 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 of the essence(predicate) to the theory that Macbeth is reponsible for his own actions