This is an essay on the play Macbeth by Shakespeare. It discusses how internal and external factors influenced Macbeth's actions.

Essay by chica_bonitaHigh School, 10th gradeA-, May 2004

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A person's actions are determined by both internal and external forces. In Shakespeare's play, "Macbeth", the main character, Macbeth is easily influenced in the things he does, mainly by external forces such as the witches, and his wife, Lady Macbeth, but also by internal forces such as his character and personality.

The witches influenced Macbeth by telling him things he would eventually find out on his own. This knowledge made him impatient and he wanted to speed up events. For example, the witches predicted his future by telling him that he would become king. "All hail Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter!" (I, iii, 50). Macbeth was confused; he didn't know how this could happen since Duncan was already king. This made him realise that Duncan had to die in order for him to become king, so it made him want to kill Duncan. The witches also told him equivocations, lies that have some truth behind them, in order to trick him into believing he's safe, so that he continues to do things that are potentially dangerous to his life, like fighting Macduff.

"...none of woman born shall harm Macbeth". (IV, I, 80) Macbeth thought he was safe from Macduff, because he thought everyone is born of a woman. What he did not know was that Macduff was born through a C-sections. Also, he didn't think of the fact that by telling him all the predictions and equivocations, the witches were harming him, and they were not born of a woman. The last thing that lead the witches into influencing Macbeth's actions is that he trusted the witches. They are sent by the devil, Macbeth should have known better than to associate himself with evil. Macbeth got over-excited about what the witches say and tried to take things into...