Macbeth Dbq Essay

As individuals, we have a certain degree of control over our own lives and the decisions we make. While external factors such as social pressure, cultural norms, and personal circumstances can influence us, ultimately, we have agency in choosing how we respond to those factors. This is portrayed through William Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth, the titular character Macbeth is the protagonist, a Scottish general who receives a prophecy from three witches that he will become king. Consumed by ambition and spurred on by his wife, Lady Macbeth, Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the throne for himself. However, his guilt and paranoia lead him to commit more murders in order to maintain his power, and he becomes increasingly tyrannical as his

Thus, he's the one making the final decision of his course of action. As stated in Document A, Macbeth aside expresses, “The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step/ On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap,/ For in my way it lies.” This reveals Macbeth's true intention, showing that he sees Malcolm as an obstacle and has the choice of eliminating his obstacles to achieve the position of King. Simply because the prophecies disclose the information of his foreseen future he chooses to take things into his own hands. Nowhere in the witch's prophecies was the idea of murder indicated to achieve the positions he was predicted to get. Yet that is what Macbeth was thinking of before committing the murders. He himself made the ultimate decision to agree to Lady Macbeth's merciless plan. Moreover, in Document C, Macbeth communicates, “ I’ll go no more./ I am afraid to think what I have done;/ Look on’t again, I dare not.” He feels guilty because he is aware of the severity of the crime he has committed. “Think of what I have done” shows his mental anguish that is holding him back, he cannot deal with the evil of his actions and he understands how immoral it is. Even if he was pressured into killing Duncan he did it anyway. After he has committed the murder of Duncan, Macbeth is plagued by guilt and remorse. This suggests that he recognizes the gravity of his actions and is

In Document D, Macbeth states, "Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee? But yet I'll make assurance double sure, ...thou shalt not live…” In this quote, Macbeth is expressing his confidence that he does not need to fear Macduff, a Scottish nobleman who he suspects may be a threat to his reign. However, even though he believes he has no reason to fear Macduff, he wants to eliminate any potential threats to his rule. Macbeth's desire to "make assurance double sure" by having Macduff killed reveals his paranoia and his willingness to use violence to maintain his power. Macbeth believes that by eliminating all possible threats to his reign, he will be able to sleep peacefully and without fear. However, this ultimately leads to his downfall, as his violent actions bring about his own demise. Additionally, as declared in Document E, "I bear a charmed life, which must not yield to one of woman born." This augments Macbeth's character flaw of overconfidence because despite the many warnings and signs that his reign is coming to an end, Macbeth remains overconfident and complacent. He believes that he is invincible and that he cannot be defeated. This overconfidence blinds him to the reality of the situation and ultimately leads to his downfall. Another character flaw is his unchecked ambition. One of the primary factors that drives Macbeth's actions throughout the play is his unbridled ambition. From the moment he hears