In the allegorical play Macbeth, writer Shakespeare presents Macbeth as an ignorant character whom firmly believes in the witches’ prophecies, allowing unchecked ambition to build up within him, ultimately becoming the catalyst of his downfall. Through the dramatic psychological changes in Macbeth as he seeps further into the moral downfall in hell, Shakespeare warns the Jacobean audience of the dangers of supernatural beings, and focuses on their deceitful nature and their willingness to cause mass destruction. In the beginning of the play, Act 1 Scene 1, Shakespeare immediately establishes the witches as eerie and peculiar. The paradoxical phrase “Fair is foul and foul is fair” conveys the theme of deception in the play from the beginning. Here, the witches are foreshadowing how people are capable of concealing sinful lies, and that trust is rather dangerous. Moreover, before the conversation with the witches, Macbeth’s first words were “So fair and foul a day I have seen”, immediately linking him towards the witches, in particular his ambition. In the extract above, after the prophecies told by the witches, Macbeth questions them in a curious manner, where he quotes “Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more”. Here, the use of the lexis “imperfect” could infer how even Macbeth’s acknowledgement of the witches being evil, he still finds interest in their “lies”. Shakespeare foreshadows how Macbeth’s encounter with the supernatural has led him to become further interested, which leads to the murder of Duncan. Furthermore, Macbeth’s desperation to know more illustrates his hidden flaw – his ambition for higher power, which ultimately becomes his hamartia. While Macbeth firmly believes in the witches’ prophecies, his partner Banquo evidently opposes the words of the witches. The quote “Instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray’s in deepest consequence” shows this. Here, the use of “instruments” could symbolise playing. This is important as the witches tell Macbeth truths, but only to betray him by setting him up to believe in something that he cannot be capable of. Therefore, he is “played” by the witches. Like Banquo, Shakespeare tries to warn the audience not to attempt to communicate with the supernatural, as they are the epitome of evil. Perhaps Shakespeare has done this to please King James I, who was obsessed with witchcraft. As the play continues, we can see Macbeth struggle constantly; the ambition that is ready to be exploited, especially by Lady Macbeth. In Act 2 Scene 2, during Macbeth’s soliloquy, he describes himself as having “a heart oppressed brain”. Here, the symbolism of “heart” alludes to the witches’ prophecies and builds in controlling him. As the witches are seen as evil in Jacobean society, Shakespeare highlights this closely with hell, again alluding to how Macbeth’s consequence after life have already been decided by God himself, due to the fact of “heart” linking to the witches’ evil. Furthermore, the use of “oppressed brain” could further explain Macbeth’s mental instability, as he doesn’t have space in his brain to allow rational thoughts to make good actions. After Duncan’s murder, Macbeth’s guilt and trauma has completely overwhelmed him, and after many more murders he seeks the witches again. However, before he is told even more prophecies, the witches address him as “something wicked this way comes”. The phenomenon of “something” implies how even the witches, a symbol of evil, has recognised the drastic moral change that occurred within the so called “king”. This emphasises how Macbeth’s belief in the prophecies have led him to be morally corrupt, as a consequence of the ambition he chased during his reign of rule. Finally, in the end of the play Shakespeare encapsulates Macbeth’s fate in hell, where he finally realises his wrongdoing in believing the prophecies, and his ambition ultimately catalysing the start of his moral downfall. The quote “Life is but a walking shadow” alludes to Macbeth always falling short of his ambitions, as it is like a shadow where you can never chase. Shakespeare uses this ideology to refer to the Jacobean audience of the gruesome consequences people will suffer if they believe in the supernatural or attempt to commit regicide. In conclusion, Macbeth’s morally wrong acts throughout the play have been caused by the temptation of the witches, which Shakespeare ultimately warns the audience. As in the end of the play, the references of Macbeth being a “devil butcher” and Lady Macbeth as a “fiend-like queen” finalises how unethical ambition can cause eternal consequences on themselves.