The Internal Thoughts and External Influences of Macbeth

Pressure is inevitable – it is something that is felt by all, whether the source is from within or as a result of other people and events. Throughout Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the main character is faced with many pressures, both internal and external. Although his pressures are external at first, they later become internal and affect his character as well as his sanity. Macbeth feels externally pressured by his wife and the three apparitions given to him by the witches. Consequently, he begins to feel mentally pressured by his fear to secure the throne, his paranoia, and his sense of tyranny and blood lust. These pressures cause his character to change, which leads him into greater downfall. When one is faced with pressure, both from within†¦show more content†¦Upon hearing this, Macbeth feels the pressure of the third apparition and begins to grow tired, saying, â€Å"There is nor flying hence nor tarrying here. I’gin to be aweary of the sun/And wish thà ¢â‚¬â„¢estate o’th’world were now undone† (5.5.47-49). In this quote, Macbeth realizes that there is no point in either running away or staying in Dunsinane because he will end up dying either way. He accepts defeat when he says, â€Å"At least we’ll die with harness on our back† (5.5.51). Later on, when the Birnam Wood finally reaches Macbeth’s castle, he says that, â€Å"They have tied me to a stake; I cannot fly, But bear-like I must fight the course† (5.7.1-2). Macbeth is pressured even further and feels that the English Army has trapped him. He realizes that he has no choice but to fight them. With the pressures felt by Macbeth as a result of the apparitions, Macbeth is drawn closer and closer to his destruction. As a result of the external pressures Macbeth feels throughout the play, he begins to feel forced internally, which further leads to the changing of his character. One of Macbeth’s earliest internal pressures is of his fear to secure the throne. During a soliloquy in the first scene of Act 3, Macbeth reveals that he is scared of Banquo because he does not want his children to inherit the throne from him. As a result, Macbeth hires some murderers toShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth - The Good And Evil2122 Words   |  9 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. Primarily, the thoughts that come to one’s mind, and the choices they make, causes many people to change from evil to good, or vice versa. A degrade in personality because of a series of unwise decisions is observed in the play as Macbeth, a noble and heroic character at the beginning of the story, changes into a tyrant hated by all. 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