Macbeth Essay“Macbeth has only himself to blame: he chose evil and the path of destruction.” Discuss.

In the play Macbeth, Macbeth undoubtedly chose the path of evil and destruction. He chose evil at the highest level by killing Duncan, and ordering the death of Banquo and Macduff’s family. However, not only does he have himself to blame, but also Lady Macbeth, who encourages his evil, and the witches, who lure Macbeth and whet his ambitions.

Macbeth is first lured by the witches at the beginning of the play, with their prophecy, “All hail, Macbeth! Thou shalt be king hereafter.” Macbeth is rapt with this, and questions them further, but the witches refuse, giving him no details of when and how Macbeth will become king. This puts Macbeth in an uneasy mindset, and is too obsessed with the idea to abandon it. The witches also set up suspicion between Macbeth and Banquo by proclaiming that Banquo “shalt get kings, though thou be none”, which eventually leads to the murder of Banquo by Macbeth’s instruction, in an attempt to destroy any possibility of Banquo’s sons becomi...