There are three major influences in the play "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare. The three major influences are the witches, Lady Macbeth, and Macbeth but only one of them is responsible for the downfall of Macbeth. .
At first it would appear that Lady Macbeth and Macbeth's marriage is an equal partnership. But as the play continues it is evident that Lady Macbeth was the dominant of the two characters, she could have persuaded Macbeth to do anything if she so wished. And though she does not openly exercise her power over him in public, in private she often uses humiliation and emotional bribery to manipulate Macbeth to execute her will. Lady Macbeth is not a typical woman of Shakespearean time in this play. In that time a woman would just be at home cooking, cleaning and looking after the children. They wouldn"t have an active role in public life. However Shakespeare has created Lady Macbeth as untraditional. She talks to Macbeth about his problems, insults him, doubts his honor and courage. A woman might have been badly beaten for saying something like it but Shakespeare has made Macbeth tolerate that and it has great effects on him. Because of Lady Macbeths influence it can be argued that Lady Macbeth is responsible for Macbeth's downfall. Her actions certainly help him decide on his deeds. Lady Macbeth's relationship with Macbeth goes deeper then that of the witches. The witches act only as a trigger to start the events in the play and Lady Macbeth herself is the driving force behind Macbeth's actions.
Macbeth takes actions that lead to his downfall. Although he takes the actions, he would not have done this if the witches had not told him that he would be king in Act I Scene III. The witches introduce Macbeths's fate. At the beginning of the play they plan to meet with Macbeth and they say Fair is foul, and foul is fair. This line shows foreshadowing; it makes the audience know that something unfair and evil will occur.