Parallels: The Influence of Lady Macbeth and the Three Witches that Changed Macbeth

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Parallels: the Influence of Lady Macbeth and the Three Witches that Changed Macbeth

Throughout a person's life, there are many things, like strangers or the media, that influence how a person will behave. The main factor in this influence tends to be the people in their lives that they are closest too. Sometimes the influence of people can significantly change a person - whether in a good way, or a bad way. In the play Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, there are many examples of bad influences changing someone for the worst. Through the influence of the three witches and Lady Macbeth, Macbeth is changed into a bad person. By the three witches and his wife, Macbeth is influenced through his unquestioning trust in them, and the manipulation of his thoughts.

Placing too much trust into the three witches and Lady Macbeth is what helped change Macbeth into a bad person.

When Macbeth first meets the witches with Banquo, Macbeth is told three prophecies by them. The first he already knew to be true. Later on, he finds out that the next prophecy also comes true for him. This then makes him sure that the third prophecy - that he shall become king - will also come true. It can be seen that he trusts the witches words when he says, "Two truths are told, / As happy prologues to the swelling act / Of the imperial theme." (I.iii.137-139) However, the next time Macbeth goes to see the witches for more prophecies, Macbeth proves that he is putting too much trust into the witches. This time they give him another three prophecies. After hearing these prophecies Macbeth says, "Whate'er thou art, for thy good caution, thanks;" (IV.i.79) When Macbeth hears the prophecies he does not even question them,