Is Macbeth Really Blame For Duncan 's Murder?

Macbeth is a dramatic play which tells the story of the downfall of a ‘Nobleman’ who becomes a ‘tyrant’. In Act one Shakespeare introduces the characters Macbeth and Lady Macbeth using a range of dramatic devices.

Also, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are both strong conveyors of deceit. From the onset on the play, Macbeth is characterized as strong and loyal to his king and country. However, once the witches’ prophecy is planted in his head, his thirst for King is so intense that it cannot be quenched and slowly his admirable traits are erased. When Macbeth is preparing for the King’s arrival at his house, he starts to question his murderous thoughts. He states that the King will be here in “double trust” , for Macbeth will be his hostess and will also be acting as a subject of the state. How can he possibly do such a grim task? The answer is Lady Macbeth. She lusts after becoming Queen and living a life of fantasy and does everything in her power to persuade her husband to kill the King. She questions his courage, she feeds his ego and she emasculates poor Macbeth all in an effort to get what she wants disguised as what is best for him. When he agrees, she tells him to “look like th’innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t” in order to commit this regicide. Lady Macbeth, such a beautiful woman, is actually a cunning, strategic and determined lady – so determined that she’s willing to risk everything and make her husband lie to the king and betray him. It’s funny how things are not always what they appear to be.

In spite of this they decide to play create a false sense of security with Macbeth, “security is mortals’ chiefest enemy”. To do this they made the aspirations that Macbeth sees, sound like nothing can hurt, kill or dethrone him, “none of woman born can harm Macbeth”. The witches are responsible for Macbeth’s downfall because they make it seem that he cannot be killed by anything, thus enhancing his sense of security. This heightened sense of invincibility causes Macbeth to kill MacDuff’s family, and then fight with the thought that no one can hurt him. Macbeth is not totally responsible for his downfall, the witches twisting of words cause Macbeth to misinterpret the message, which causes his eventual death.

The audience’s initial perception of Lady Macbeth is of a confident and evil women. In her first scene she is reading a letter from her husband telling her about the witches predictions. Upon reading the letter she instantly decides to

Lady Macbeth is the one who instigates most of the mischief in the play. Near the start of the play, we know that Lady Macbeth wants to be queen, and it is evident that her ambition for her husband to become queen is the reason she persuaded her husband to commit all of the terrible crimes. It is obvious that Lady Macbeth is going to manipulate Macbeth when she says, “That I may pour my spirits in thine ear”. (1.5.26) Lady Macbeth baits Macbeth to kill the king. She questions his manhood, and calls him a coward. Lady Macbeth tries to make Macbeth feel guilty by saying,

The Shakespearean play "Macbeth" follows what is expected in a Shakespearean tragedy by containing characteristics similar to all Shakespearean tragedies. These are the fatal flaws in Macbeth, the fall of noble, respectable man with great qualities, Macbeth, and Macbeth's terrible murder of the King in order to obtain the crown, which causes absolute chaos.

In Macbeth, Duncan, a king, is killed by Lady Macbeth and Macbeth himself. Many argued, and still do, whether or not Macbeth really killed Duncan. In other words, did he even have a choice? From what is told in the story, it seems pretty clear that both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are responsible for Duncan’s death, though one may have had more cause in it than the other.

In the tragedy of Macbeth, by WIlliam Shakespeare, one can blame characters for what occurs in the play. Although we are influenced by others in life it is our choice in the end the really makes the difference. We cannot pass the blame entirely on another for the actions that we have done. That is why in my opinion it is Macbeth's fault for the death of the king.

Macbeth killed kingKing Duncan and many others, however Lady Macbeth is as much to blame as Macbeth is for the murders . Lady Macbeth set Macbeth on the wrong path. She wanted the witcheswitch’s prophecies to come true quicker than they would naturally, so she convinces Macbeth to kill kingKing Duncan in order to make him become king. Because he killed kingKing Duncan, he starts to go crazy thinking people will find out what he had done and orders their murders. Lady Macbeth made Macbeth murder King Duncan and this act set him down a path of crime and destruction.

Macbeth just could not shake Lady Macbeth’s manipulative words or the three witches promising prophecies. He knows what he has to do next. The only question is, can he really commit murder? Or will he fold at the last minute? Lady Macbeth is a very manipulative and greedy woman. On the other hand, her husband, Macbeth, is the complete opposite. Macbeth was a very loyal and well respected general in the beginning of the play. Also, the three witches in this play are incredibly conniving and powerful. Lady Macbeth, the three witches and Macbeth are all ultimately responsible for King Duncan’s murder due to each one of their personalities and actions throughout the play.

Throughout the progression of the play, Lady Macbeth proves to be exceedingly manipulative with no qualms about achieving her ambition. She cleverly influences Macbeth by exploiting his vulnerability and skilfully using it as a weapon. This is apparent when she accuses him of not loving her “From this time/ Such I account thy love” and criticises him of cowardice “Art thou afeard…’; “And live a coward”. Similarly in Act 1, Scene 7, Lady Macbeth insults and humiliates Macbeth by questioning his manliness; “What beast was’t than/ That made you break this enterprise to me?

Macbeth is one of William Shakespeare’s most powerful and emotionally intense plays. Macbeth, once known for his courage and bravery is transformed into a ruthless tyrant. His wife, Lady Macbeth, once known for her strength and great ambition is soon engulfed by guilt and sensitivity greatly weakens her. As the tragic hero Macbeth is overcome by tensions in his criminal act and the reactions by his conscience (Nix).

When we are first introduced to Lady Macbeth she immediately starts to plan the murder of Duncan.” Lady Macbeth's career in the play is one long mental civil war; and the strain ends, as such a strain could only end, in madness.” (Moulton). She does this after discovering the news that her husband is now next in line for the crown of Scotland. Her husband acquires thane of Cawdor at the very beginning of the play and that’s where the down fall of Macbeth begins. “In the mind of Lady Macbeth, ambition is represented as the ruling motive, an intense, over-mastering passion, which is gratified at the expense of every just and generous principle, and every feminine feeling. In the pursuit of her object, she is cruel, treacherous, and daring. She is doubly, trebly, dyed in guilt and blood; for the murder, she instigates is rendered more frightful by disloyalty and ingratitude, and by the violation of all the most sacred claims of kindred and hospitality.”(

Lady Macbeth, in contrast is never depicted as a soft tender female figure, instead Shakespeare makes her ambitious character apparent from the start, after reading the letter from her husband, telling her about the Witches’ predictions, the seed of ambition grows within her and immediately a plan forms in her head, her first speech is one full of strong metaphors, “come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me, from the crown to the toe, top full of direst cruelty.” This initial speech is so powerful and strong, as she summons spirits to give her the strength of a man, so that she has the vigour to plot Duncan’s murder, and convince Macbeth to form an alliance with her, ensuring he will become king, just as the Witches predicted. Although the Witches

account thy love. Art thou afeard To be the same in thine own act and