by Alex Storey

Created on: April 04, 2009   Last Updated: October 13, 2011

THE DEMISE OF MACBETH is accountable through a combination of factors, influence and people. Should this title not read, "Who or what is responsible for Macbeth's ruin?"

Macbeth is the protagonist in Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and greatly admired by his peers to begin with. Unfortunately, he does not follow his conscience, but his desire for power instead!

LADY MACBETH

Her desire to be queen means she provokes her husband into mindless violence, by questioning his manhood. This escalates and underpins Macbeth's tyrannical rule of Scotland.

Once involved in this cycle of terror, it is impossible to stop and ends for Macbeth in his downfall. He could not get away with serial murder forever, the same way Saddam Hussein, Hitler and Idi Amin did not.

Without this evil woman - Macbeth's indispensable advisor - he may have avoided a life of crime, which only pays until you get caught!

MACDUFF

Under the command of Malcolm, Macduff avenges the murder of his family and claims Macbeth's scalp in Act 5 Scene II, returning with his head.

Macduff was a Scottish nobleman and hostile towards Macbeth from the start. This final slaying and evidence provided, tells us the evil ruler had fallen down and gone for good.

WEIRD SISTERS

Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft, helps the 3 witches work their mischief, telling Macbeth he will be king. Macbeth was quite happy before meeting these old hags!

The weird sisters set Macbeth off on his road to ruin and this supernatural element must be held partly liable for his collapse.

MACBETH

Live by the sword, die by the sword! MACCA was a professional soldier, trained to fight. Though it is his own fault for giving in to his demons - believing the prophecies and pressure from his wife - he only has himself to blame.

Thankfully, there are a lot more good kids out there these days who say NO to knife crime and encouragement from modern day witches. Those, like Macbeth who succumb and fall foul, deserve their punishment!

BANQUO

He was there that dark night with Macbeth and the witches. Banquo could have dissuaded Macbeth. The nighttime signifies evil in the play and Banquo was surely aware Macbeth's path of destruction had begun and still let him continue unhindered. Cost Banquo his life as well!

Banquo would father kings according to the weird sisters and this fear of lineage forced Macbeth to have his mate murdered and prevent it happening. However, he then subsequently falls to pieces with guilt thereafter representing part of his demise.

MALCOLM

Duncan's eldest son leads Lord Seward and the English Army to invade Macbeth's castle and ultimately usurps the throne back to his family, restoring order and justice to Scotland. This gave Macduff his chance to set the record straight!

Summarizing this piece, I think hallucinations signpost Macbeth's downward spiral as the guilt and body count increase, they point him towards his bitter end!

Bad weather destroys a great many things in life. Thunder, lightening and storms seem to accompany Macbeth and surely contribute to sending him on his road to ruin from the outset.

If we have some answers for Macbeth - and he lasted longer than his wife - who was responsible for Lady Macbeths downfall?

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