Lowe argues that Macbeth constantly pushes the witches to reveal more and acts on his own initiative to commit the act of murder. The witches simply state that Macbeth will become king; they don't order him to kill Duncan. Lowe concludes that Macbeth is a guilty human, acting on his ambition with the help of the witches. Macbeth, causally, reveals that the initial encounter with the witches caused Macbeth's downfall. Lowe states, “Metaphorically speaking, the witches give a flame to Macbeth, but Macbeth set himself on fire and continued to fan that fire until it was completely destroyed. Therefore, it can hardly be argued that Macbeth is a pawn of fate, a victim of circumstances. Rather, Macbeth creates his own tragic circumstance, killing freely until he dies” (Lowe, 2005). Lady Macbeth also imposes her will on Macbeth, calling him a coward who should sting him in the sides. The threat of being considered a coward in the eyes of his lover is more important than the problems and implications of committing murder. Macbeth values his own self-worth and personal gain over the lives of his friends and allies. Banquo's murder is what ultimately leads to his death, Lowe says. Macbeth's guilt takes the form of a ghost, forcing him to admit his involvement in Banqou's murder. This leads to the separation of Macbeth's troops, who then come to kill him in the final act. The witches' "prophecy" of kingship and greatness, Macbeth's senseless murders, and, ultimately, his sense of guilt and remorse, are enough to make Macbeth believe he is enacting his
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