Macbeth kills Duncan, but he feels guilty and is not sure about framing and killing the servants. He says, “I have to spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’other” (1.7.25-28). Macbeth does not think that he can kill again. The only thing that keeps him going is his ambition or desire to become king. He even admits that ambition…
When his wife first informed Macbeth that he was a coward who wouldn’t be able to kill in order to gain power, he was in shock. He was skeptical of the thought of even having to kill Duncan to obtain the power he sought for. “First as I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed; then, as his host who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself” (Act 1 scene 7 line 13). In this quote Macbeth is looking inside himself for the killer Lady Macbeth called upon. When he can not find it he comes across rational thought as to why he shouldn’t kill King Duncan: He is Duncan’s loyal man as well as allowing him to stay in Macbeth’s house, he should be protecting Duncan’s life not putting it in danger.…
The murder of King Duncan is an inciting event in many ways, it helps Macbeth become King, it begins the Macbeth’s sleepless nights “Glamis hath murder’d sleep, and…
His paranoia is what brings him to commit numerous more murders all to save a crown he realizes wasn’t even worth it to him in the end. Macbeth uses killing as a way to clear his conscious. Anyone who he suspects to know of his secrets, must die. We slowly watch the human side of Macbeth disappear. At the end when Macbeth even admits that he can no longer live this life he’s brought onto himself.…
He remembers that Banquo’s bloodline is what will take the kingdom after him, and for some reason, this triggers a thought in him that they would try to overthrow him during his reign. As a result of all of this, Macbeth decides that Banquo and his son must die. An important component of the play is the fact that both murders, of Duncan and Banquo, occur within the walls of Macbeth’s castle. Banquo is murdered just before a huge feast in honor of Macbeth’s new title, except his son escapes. When Macbeth learns this, he begins to suffer from another fit of paranoia.…
Written by William Shakespeare, Macbeth is a play that highlights one common theme: the gradual loss of sanity. Macbeth progressively becomes plagued by intense, consuming guilt as his desire for power drives him to attain his goals by any means necessary, including the act of committing murder. Feeding his hunger for dominance, he murders King Duncan in cold blood in order to become the King of Scotland, has Banquo killed by three murderers to maintain his position as royalty, and finally, he has Macduff’s family slaughtered out of rage and fear. Although all of these occurrences take place because of Macbeth’s eagerness to be King, they all result in him being overtaken by shame and dismay. Realizing that every move that he makes is completed of…
The protagonist of a story is traditionally the brave and valiant hero of the story. This is not the case in William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth. In Macbeth the protagonist, Macbeth, starts out as a brave soldier as well as the thane of Glamis in Scotland, who is relatively content. But after he and his brother in arms Banquo encounter three witches, called the Weïrd sisters, who tell them that Macbeth is to become the thane of Cawdor and later king of Scotland, Macbeth wonders if the Weïrd sisters are right, although Banquo is skeptical. Later that same day, King Duncan of Scotland appoints Macbeth the new thane of Cawdor.…
Sharing his plan with Lady Macbeth, the would-be queen, shows he hoped “it would find welcome lodgement with her,” and she would encourage his greed for more power (Flathe 2). Realizing it is against his morals, Macbeth tries to back out of the murder plan but he is “charged with cowardice” by Lady Macbeth (Richardson 1). She scolds him for being too frightened to achieve his goal to become king and not being “the same in thine own act and valor as thou art in desire” (1.7.40-41). This accusation spurs his ambition and his greed, so he murders Duncan, knowing the prophecies are on his side. By committing this crime, Macbeth destroys a bond with a parent-like figure and violates the “powers of [his] own superego, or conscience” (Reid 5).…
After some time has passed on the nigh of a royal supper that Banquo is invited to, Macbeth hires two men to kill Banquo and his son because Banquo grows slightly suspicious of the king and so they can inherit the throne. Banquo is slain by the murders, but his son lived. Later that evening when all the guest arrives for the…
Engaging in evil leads to further evil; “Violence begets violence.” Shakespeare’s 17th century play, Macbeth, exemplifies this ubiquitous theme. One act of violence escalates into many others, ultimately leading to the protagonist’s demise. Lady Macbeth and the three witches strengthen Macbeth’s initial thought to kill Duncan, which later provokes him to continue committing more acts of evil.…
After murdering Duncan, Macbeth becomes strangled with thoughts that Banquo’s children will overthrow his rule. As a result, Macbeth persuades two farmers to kill Banquo and his son in order to eliminate all possible threats shown in the prophecy. Then, he takes it upon himself to plot the right time to take Banquo out by inviting Banquo to his coronation and asks for details on Banquo’s whereabouts. While speaking with Lady Macbeth about his worries in maintaining his power, he states that no matter how hard he tries to eradicate the menaces, he will never be able to feel happy. Consequently, he is jealous that Duncan, the previous ruler that he killed, is living in a better condition than he is as he is not subject to any threats.…
All of the killing that Macbeth had done was just to cover up for his first mistake of killing the king. Macbeth 's lust and greed destroyed to families, and killed many innocent and helpless people. Before his rise to power Macbeth would have died fighting to stop the bloodshed of innocent people, but now he was contributing to it. Macbeth had become so accustomed to the power, that he was unwilling to let it slip away. Due to the witch 's prophesy Macbeth sees himself as a god.…
Macbeth feels that when he murders someone he has power, but really he is still weak. His weakness and vulnerability is shown right after the murder of Duncan when he says “One cried, “God bless us!” and “Amen” the other, As they had seen me with these hangman’s hands. List’ning their fear I could not say “Amen,” When they did say “God bless us!”(Act II Scene II). Macbeth feels so guilty about killing the king that these holy things that the servants cried upset him.…
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” In this quote by author Helen Keller, Keller claims that the only way to further reveal your true personality is to make decisions in the scene of conflict. Keller claims that the only way to develop your character is to get through the roadblocks of life. Evidence of this this claim can be found in Shakespeare 's play, Macbeth.…
Right when he tells Lady Macbeth of his fate, she instantly desires to be a part of making it happen, solidifying his uncertain decision to kill Duncan, putting himself one step closer to the throne. After the completion of the murder by Macbeth’s own hands, and the subsequent breakdown of his composure, Macbeth becomes desensitized to murder in a way, ordering others to off those who stood in his way. He states to the murderers hired to accomplish the task: “And though I could with barefaced power sweep him from my sight and bid my will avouch it, yet I must not…” (III.i.121-123). These extremely immoral doings show that once Macbeth experienced to the “thrill” per se of murder, there lie nothing to stop him from letting his evil ambition eat upon his…