In the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, Macbeth was a Scottish noble who was transformed into an unfaithful tyrant through the influence of three main sources. The first and most important influence on Macbeth, were the witches. They equivocated with him to damn his soul. Another important influence was Lady Macbeth. She was able to control him by questioning his manliness. The final thing that influenced Macbeth was his ambition. His desire to be king overcame all his virtues and made him into a ruthless tyrant. Ambition is his flaw.
             The witches were able to lead Macbeth to damnation through their lies. The witches first met with him after the battle with Norway. Macbeth and Banquo were talking after they both fought in the battle when the witches appeared. The last two witches said "All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter!" (Act 1, Scene 3, 49-51). The two witches told him that he was to be the Thane of Cawdor, and eventually king. When Macbeth was named Thane of Cawdor later, he started to have some interest in the witches' predictions. Another instance where the witches equivocated with him is with the apparitions. Macbeth had trust in the witches, and he wanted to know more about what the future had in store for him. So he went to the witches and demanded that they tell him about the future. When the witches showed him the second apparition, it said, "Be bloody, bold, and resolute! Laugh to scorn, The pow'r of man, for none of woman born. Shall harm Macbeth." (Act 4, Scene 1, 78-81). Then, the witches showed him another apparition which said, "Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him" (Act 4,Scene 1, 91-93). These two apparitions told Macbeth that he wouldn't die of any man born, and that he wouldn't be overthrown until Great Birnam Wood came to Dunsinan...