What did your character do, or fail to do, to influence the action/events?

When something tragic happens people tend to want to point a finger at someone or something. Sometimes individuals step up and accept the blame themselves; other times, individuals search for another person to pin the blame on. When thinking of the events in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, who (or what) would you say is most to blame?

This assignment is a persuasive, argumentative essay in which you will prove to the reader that a particular character, characters, or fate itself is to blame for the events that unfold in the play Macbeth. You will use textual evidence to support your assessment of blame. Be sure to think about your chosen character’s actions, thoughts, and speech throughout the entire play. You will include a thesis statement that clearly states who is to blame for the tragic events in the play.

Things to Consider:
What did your character do, or fail to do, to influence the action/events?
Would the events have turned out differently if it weren’t for your character’s speech, thoughts, or actions?
What do other characters think about your character?
To what extent was your character or characters influenced by others?
How sympathetic should we be towards the various characters in the play?

You will need to look back through the play to find significant quotes that reveal your character’s blame in order to fully support your paper.

Requirements:
You may choose from any of the characters in the play; the most popular choices would be Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and the witches (you may also choose fate, though this will be significantly more challenging).
You must include at least six parenthetical citations.
One paragraph should acknowledge and REFUTE a potential opposing argument
The paper must be typed in Times New Roman font, 12 pt. font, double spaced, one inch margins, given an original title, and two to three pages in length typewritten.
Essay must be proofread. It should be spell checked, grammar checked, read by you, and read by another person before being turned in.

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