Emma Roberts
Prof. Veach
English Composition I
January 20th, 2017
A Wicked King
“To see and listen to the wicked is already the beginning of wickedness,”are words from famous philosopher Confucius. They are very applicable through the course of a famous 1606 tragedy named, Macbeth, by William Shakespeare. The main character, named Macbeth, received prophecies from a trio of witches that one day he will become the mighty King of Scotland. These witches, also know as the “Weird Sisters,” had great influence on Macbeth. These fascinating and frightening nymph-like creatures, that Shakespeare created, reflects a wicked, supernatural world. Once Macbeth had crossed paths with the witches, he began to seek them out more and more for
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After battling his conscience, Macbeth took matters into his own hands by violently killing King Duncan. He then chose to frame Duncan’s innocent son for the gruesome murder. This propelled Macbeth to inherit the throne. Unfortunately, this was only the beginning of Macbeth’s killing spree spurred by the witches prophesies. Lady’s Macbeth’s coercion and Macbeth’s choice to listen resulted in restlessness. After his encounter with the witches, Macbeth wasn 't fully ready to murder someone for the sake of getting what he desired, so he turned to his wife for counsel. She persuaded him to murder King Duncan to prove himself worthy of the throne. Wanting to show his strength and please his wife, he murdered Duncan. After committing the crime, Macbeth was instantly traumatized. He went crying to his wife saying, “Still it cried "sleep no more!" to all the house: "Glamis hath murder 'd sleep, and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more; Macbeth shall sleep no more.” (Shakespeare, 2.2.38-40) This was true, from that time on Macbeth couldn 't sleep. He was so overcome with guilt, he became haunted by his decision. As a result of the influences in Macbeth’s life, he was changed from a respectable and virtuous man to someone unrecognizable. Before Macbeth ever listened to others about his future, he was regarded as noble. King Duncan said, “What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won.” (Shakespeare, 1.2.68) Macbeth was respected
Macbeth kills Duncan, after being told to do it from his wife Lady Macbeth. Duncan is than killed. Lady Macbeth than goes insane threw out the play and Macbeth changes compliantly threw out the play. At first he was so very nervous about the killing of Duncan and than he got over that by killing someone else and than he was over it, because he thought it was the only way to keep himself safe.
Macbeth demonstrated his nobility and honor for the country of Scotland, through his loyalty to the king and his valiant fighting against enemies. Macbeth was a loyal friend to King Duncan. The King felt extremely highly of Macbeth and viewed him as one of his kinsmen. King Duncan placed trust and faith in Macbeth, and felt honored to have Macbeth fighting for him and his country. King Duncan announced, “No more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive our bosom interest: go pronounce his present death, and with his former title greet Macbeth” (1.2.63-66).
Macbeth held his fate in his hands since the beginning, but the witches made an appearance and foretold his future which drove Macbeth insane by contemplating whether or not to kill King Duncan. In addition, the revolving thoughts of becoming king corrupted his mind and was quenching for power. Though there were others who helped convince Macbeth to murder Duncan, it was in his control to acknowledge his path in which would grant him the throne or loyalty to the king. Consequently, following others had an aftereffect which resulted in the death of his wife and his own.
After hearing the witches’ philosophy, it was only then that Macbeth had actually decided to think of becoming king, so much as actually pursue such a drastic goal. Macbeth hadn’t initially planned to carry out the murder, but Lady Macbeth had convinced him to after repeatedly questioning his manhood and bravery. Lady Macbeth had said, “That made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man…” (Act 1 Scene 7). In this quote, Lady Macbeth said the Macbeth was a coward and played with his emotions. By taunting Macbeth she took advantage of his insecurities of being a man. Macbeth was unable to produce an heir and as such cannot consider himself to be a real man. Macbeth had been coerced and taken advantage of by Lady Macbeth. She had manipulated him into committing the murder even though he had been loyal to the king. After murdering Duncan, Macbeth spiraled into darkness, and led him to insanity. This insanity was described as the murder of sleep. Macbeth was unable to sleep because of his guilt over killing Duncan. Macbeth says, “Macbeth does murder sleep-the innocent sleep” (Act 2 Scene 2). Macbeth is no longer able to rest peacefully as he can never get over his guilt. Innocent sleep indicates that he can no longer sleep as he is no longer innocent for committing Duncan’s
Macbeth is confused as he is arguing with himself on what he should do. He states reasons not to kill Duncan, because Macbeth is his noble kinsmen and the act would bring dishonor. However, he also states reason why he should kill him, because Macbeth will then become king and fulfill the witches ' fortune. Lady Macbeth, who appears in the beginning as the driving force for the murder of King Duncan, also develops internal conflict. At first, Lady Macbeth seems to be a woman of extreme confidence and will. But, as situations become more and more unstable in the play, guilt develops inside her. For instance, she exclaims; "Wash your hands. Put on your nightgown. / Look not so pale. I tell you again, Banquo 's / Burried; he cannot come out on 's grave" (Shakespeare V, ii, 65-67). Lady Macbeth sleepwalks and frets about her evil wrongdoings because she is extremely guilty of her influence on Macbeth to commit the murder. Lady Macbeth reacts emotionally and dwells on her actions as guilt eats at her soul.
In Act II, Macbeth’s guilt and paranoia begin. He decides to follow through with the plan he and Lady Macbeth formed to murder Duncan. After he leaves the crime scene, he returns to Lady Macbeth and tells her how guilty he feels. He tells her, “Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor, /
It is then with his delusional ambition that he proceeds to murder his king and his best friend, all for power. Although Macbeth ruthlessly commits the murders in his strive to be king, he is not without remorse. His vision has been clouded by power, but deep in his heart he knows what he did was wrong and subconsciously he suffers for it. “Macbeth hath murdered sleep” (Shakespeare, ). Macbeth suffers from lack of sleep because his good nature, although buried deep inside him, keeps him from shrugging off the murders as if they were but a trifle. His conscience shall forever let him feel the consequences of his treasonous and sacrilegious actions.
Macbeth’s conscience is further tormented after he kills Duncan. He begins to get paranoid and hallucinates, hearing voices saying, “Sleep, Sleep no more! For Macbeth has murdered sleep”.
After obtaining kingship through the murder of King Duncan; we start to perceive Macbeth’s behaviour to completely change; from a man full of moral awareness, to one whom goes against the morals and reality of life. Macbeth’s behaviour has significantly changed or been altered from the beginning of the play right to the end. Initially, Macbeth attained a well-behaved and loyal demeanour, in which is indicative through the manner in which he honours King Duncan; "The service and the loyalty I owe, In doing it, pays itself." (I.iv)
In the story of Macbeth by Shakespeare, the main character Macbeth kills King Duncan out of his own greed. Macbeth had wanted so desperately to be king, that nothing would stop him. Macbeth is solely guilty of killing King Duncan, with everything going against him and very little going for him. He had the choice not the kill Duncan, but still went through with it because of stories told by witches, his wife talking him into it, and his thirst to be king.
In the play Macbeth by Shakespeare I found at the beginning the character Macbeth was a portrayed as a noble, honest and brave man. As said by the captain in the second scene, ‘For brave Macbeth – well he deserves that title’ (I.2.16). This gives the audience an indication that Macbeth was highly respected by the king’s men and the king himself. His desire for power grew throughout the play from when he had his first encounter with the witches.
Macbeth’s ambitious ways takes over his whole inner self throughout his time of first wanting to be king. Macbeth was thought to be a great leader and war hero before he was king. Macbeth was hatched an idea by three suspicious witches in whom he had never come in contact with before. They told him that he would one day become King of Scotland. After the witches disappeared, he got to think a lot about what they told him and pondered the words they spoke. Macbeth sends a letter to his wife about his feelings of what he had heard. When Macbeth returned back to his castle his wife wanted to lead him down a dark path and feed his ambition. Macbeth decides he wants to go after the crown after consulting his wife. "I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself, and falls on th'other...." (Act I, scene vii) This shows that Macbeth’s only reason to kill Duncan is for his ambition. Macbeth ends up killing Duncan. The way Macbeth killed Duncan made it a great crime scene. Macbeth still
After going through with the murder with Lady Macbeth 's support and help, Macbeth starts talking about hearing people crying out 'Murder! ' in their sleep. He soon comes to the realisation that he will never be able to sleep innocently again. At the thought of this Macbeth begins to lose control but Lady Macbeth manages to keep him sane. Lady Macbeth appears as if she is in control of the situation, but she is already showing signs of weakness especially as she needed supernatural assistance and alcohol to help her get through the crime.
After Macbeth had slaughtered King Duncan, he was filled with a guilty conscience, regretting his wrong. His wife however, thought he was infirm of purpose. This was the first murder that Macbeth had experienced, however after the first murder, killing seemed to be the only solution to maintain his reign as king. Therefore, it was Lady Macbeth who introduced Macbeth to murder, turning him into a murderous villain and leading him to his decadence. Macbeths ambition influenced his declining character and led to his demise. Although Macbeths ambition had not been strong enough to carry the motive to kill King Duncan, with the added contribution of Lady Macbeths influence, his ambition was intensified enough to drive him to obtain and maintain his title as King of Scotland at no matter the cost, even the life of his good and loyal friend, Banquo. Although Macbeth did not have the mental strength to murder King Duncan on his own, he had the black and deep desires hidden in his heart. It was this fuelled ambition that ultimately led to his downfall. All in all, it was the combined factors of the witches prophecies, Lady Macbeths manipulation and plan, and ultimately, Macbeths intensified ambition that all contributed greatly to the degeneration of his character, resulting in his downfall. Macbeth was never a tyrant to begin with, although as his desires and wickedness grew, so did he develop the
Lady Macbeth seems confident that they will not be caught nor feel any guilt because they will be lavished as king and queen. At first, she stated that water would wash the blood off of their hands, yet her guilt over the murder of one man was enough to drive her to insanity. Lady Macbeth begins to sleepwalk and the doctor overhears her muttering to herself, “Out, damned spot! Out, I say! What, will these hands ne'er be clean? (Act 5, Scene 1, Line 25, 31).” This quote shows that she never could escape the guilt of murdering sleep and it troubled her even during her slumber. After many sleepless nights, Lady Macbeth eventually commits suicide before the fall of Macbeth from power. Because of her tortuous last days and obvious regret, it is believed that Lady Macbeth was adequately punished for her actions.