Just to take a bit of a different angle concerning
Shakespeare's Macbeth, first, no evidence really exists in the play
that Macbeth was nurturing evil, corrupt thoughts before he hears the witches'
predictions. It seems logical, but it's difficult to definitively declare that.
Second, if he was, then Shakespeare doesn't show a fair mind being corrupted subtly and
gradually over time, since Macbeth was already corrupted when the play opens. You might
be able to argue one or the other, but you can't logically argue
both.
That said, again, looking at this issue from a
different angle, the witches predict only that Macbeth will be king, not that he should
assassinate Duncan to get the crown. Macbeth creates that idea on his
own.
Once Duncan names Malcolm as his heir, however,
Macbeth has little choice, if he ever wants to be king. Malcolm stays behind the lines
during the opening battle with his father while Macbeth does the fighting--Macbeth could
hardly expect to outlive Malcolm, and even if he does, there's always
Donaldbain.
If Macbeth is obsessively ambitious, he has
little choice but to kill the present monarch.
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