1. Ambition and Power:
Macbeth is a highly ambitious and power-hungry individual. He desires to become king, and the prophecies given by the Witches that he could be "Thane of Cawdor" and "King hereafter," fuel his ambition and drive him to take extreme measures.
2. Influence of the Witches:
The Witches' prophecies play a crucial role in shaping Macbeth's actions throughout the play. Their predictions plant the idea of becoming king in Macbeth's mind and stir his ambition. He begins to believe that destiny has chosen him for greatness and that he can control his fate through their prophecies.
3. Lady Macbeth's Manipulation:
Lady Macbeth is even more ambitious than her husband and actively encourages him to murder Duncan. She uses flattery, manipulation, and emotional pressure to convince Macbeth that killing Duncan is necessary to secure their power and positions as rulers of Scotland.
4. Fear and Insecurity:
After the Witches' prophecies, Macbeth becomes increasingly paranoid and insecure about his position. He fears that others, such as Banquo, pose a threat to his claim to the throne. This insecurity leads him to commit further murders, including the killing of Banquo, to remove potential rivals.
5. Guilt and Moral Decline:
Once Macbeth commits the murder of Duncan, he experiences intense guilt and psychological distress. He hallucinates and is haunted by visions of the bloodstained ghost of Banquo, symbolizing his inner turmoil and moral decline.
6. Isolation and Tyranny:
After becoming king, Macbeth becomes paranoid, autocratic, and detached from his subjects. He rules with an iron fist and becomes a tyrannical ruler, which eventually leads to his downfall and defeat.
In conclusion, Macbeth's desire for power, influenced by the Witches' prophecies and Lady Macbeth's manipulation, ultimately leads him to commit the heinous crime of murdering King Duncan. This sets off a chain of events that result in Macbeth's tragic demise.