The title character of Macbeth, by William Shakespeare has strong desires to become the king of Scotland and ultimately commits regicide to obtain this position. However, along his journey to becoming king, Macbeth is influenced by outside forces that fuel his desires. These outside forces include the constant taunting of his wife, Lady Macbeth, the prophecies as told by the Three Witches, and simply by his own ambition. Although all three of these things do affect Macbeth, the immediate cause for Macbeth to murder for kingship is the prophecies.
             The immediate force that causes Macbeth to commit regicide is the Weird Sisters' prophecies. If they had no met with Macbeth and told him of their predictions, Macbeth would have never felt compelled to make them happen. The Weird Sisters address him as "Thane of Glamis!" (I.iii.51), "Thane of Cawdor!" (I.iii.52), and finish with "that shalt be king hereafter!" (I.iii.53). After Macbeth hears these words, he convinces himself that the future holds a crown for him. When the witches meet with Macbeth the second time, they tell him that "The power of man, for none of whom woman born/ Shall harm Macbeth" (IV.i.91-92) and that "Macbeth shall never be vanquished until/ Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill/ Shall come against him" (IV.i.105-107). This information gives Macbeth a sense of fearlessness for "The mind [he sways] by and the heart [he bears]/ Shall never sag with doubt nor shake with fear (V.iii.10-11). With the feeling that nobody can hurt him, that he is invincible, he is able to have Lady Macduff and her son murdered and to go into battle with Macduff.
             Lady Macbeth's influence affects Macbeth from the moment he tries to become King. She manipulates Macbeth into killing Duncan by questioning her husband's manhood. She is able to provoke her husband to commit the murders by questioning h...