Macbeth Essay by Adam R.

Many people believe in superstition and will alter the way they act because of it. People will go to fortune tellers and psychics for a look into their future or get advice for a situation they need help with. Some people will be so paranoid or confident because of a fortune, they believe despite what happens it will always be the final outcome. But in the case of Macbeth he believed in the witches tales, so much that he went to the brink of insanity. This caused him to change his whole outlook on life and completely alter his behavior.

While on the way back from a battle with his best friend Banquo, Macbeth runs into the three witches for the first time. They foretold he would be thane of Glamis, then thane of Cawdor, and later on he would become king (1.3.50-53). These fortunes had Macbeth excited and scared of what is to come. He didn’t know what to do when he got back to the North castle and King Duncan made him thane of Glamis. Soon after becoming thane of Glamis he was soon appointed thane of Cawdor. With all of the events the witches predicted coming true, Macbeth was worried and excited that their prophecy of him becoming king would be true.

Lady Macbeth throughout the entire play seemed as though she wore the pants in the family. Every time she wanted more power she convinced Macbeth to kill someone in order to climb up the ropes and eventually have the title of king. “I go, and the murder will be done. The bell calls for me to do it. Do not hear it, Duncan, for this ringing summons you to heaven or hell” (2.1.70-73). The witches third prophecy had come true and proved Macbeth’s superstitions. Macbeth was now King, and Lady Macbeth was finally satisfied. He finally did everything she had asked of him and because of it had power over the entire kingdom.

Seeking guidance Macbeth entered the woods looking for the witches. After a while he finally came upon the witches and the apparitions that they had conjured up. “Be strong like a lion and proud, and do not worry about anyone who angers or troubles you, or where conspirators might be. Macbeth will never be defeated until great birnam woods marches to fight against him.”(4.1.98-103) Macbeth, because of what they said, had no dought in his mind that this was true, seeing that the rest of the prophecies had been. This eventually led to his downfall and ultimately destroyed him.

People will believe in superstition whether it’s good or bad. They will use the information they get from fortune tellers or anyone that says they can see into the future. Sometimes it’s a good thing but more times than not people will go too far and go crazy because of these glimpses into their future. In Macbeths case they where all good, but all good things must come to an end. Macbeth tried too hard to make all of the prophecies come true and that eventually killed him. In the case of Macbeth superstition did alter his usual behaviors.