The Third Murderer in Shakespeare's Macbeth Essay example

Macduff’s burning desire for revenge towards Macbeth was encouraged by many forces. As it is known, Macbeth murders Duncan which causes Malcolm to flee to England because he fears for his life. Following Duncan’s death, Macduff was the first to discover Duncan dead, and it can be inferred that he was so angry and mortified that it sparks apprehensiveness towards Macbeth’s acquiring the throne. As he realizes that he does not agree with Macbeth’s reign, he decides to leave his family behind in Fife to go to England to find Malcolm, the true heir to the throne. His plan is to conspire with Malcolm to build an army against Macbeth. Macduff was so loyal to Scotland and the true ruler that he was willing to abandon his family in the process of freeing Scotland from tyranny. As he meets with Malcolm, Ross delivers the news that

Once successfully carrying out one murder, Macbeth begins to carry out more. He murders Banquo and Macduff 's family, each time becoming easier. Macbeth didn 't even talk to Lady Macbeth about killing Lady Macduff and her children, it was a pointless and reckless thing to have done,

Macbeth is the “bravest” soldier, very noble, courageous. He is also the honorable Thane of Glamis, but he is not a virtuous one. Macduff is very loyal Scottish nobleman, courageous and is also a Thane of a city. Banquo is a brave, courageous noble general who like Macbeth thinks ambitious thoughts. MacDuff and Banquo are very loyal to their King. When King Duncan was killed they do everything that they possibly can to find out who murdered the King and to properly hand the killer the consequences.

In the beginning of the play, we see that Macduff is barely mentioned in Act I, but his intelligence can be noted when he hears about King Duncan’s death. When the Scottish nobles are going to welcome Macbeth as the new king of Scotland, Macduff is skeptical of how King Duncan’s death will change the story throughout the play. At first, Macduff agrees with the fact that Malcolm and Donalbain are most likely suspects in the murder of their father because someone saw them fled the scene

After he had attained his destiny, Macbeth felt that Banquo would become a serious threat. He did not like the fact that Banquo was destined to be a father to a whole line of kings. "Our fears in Banquo stick deep, and in his royalty of nature reigns that which would be feared...If `t be so, for Banquo's issue have I filed my mind; for them the gracious Duncan have I murdered..."(85). The path Macbeth chooses to take in order to stay at the throne was to have Banquo killed. But, Macbeth was never destined to kill anyone. Killing Duncan, Banquo and Macduff's whole household were all his decisions to attain his destiny.

Furthermore Guilt surrounds Macbeth for the third time when he sends out the murdered to kill Banquo, his old friend. Macbeth had no other choice but to get rid of Banquo and was also determined to get rid of Macduff’s family as Macduff fled back to England to join Malcolm. Banquo had witnessed the three witches and the disclosing of the

Lady Macbeth also feels that Banquo was a threat to their rule. She asks, "Is Banquo gone from court?" (3.2.1). Lady Macbeth also thinks that it is necessary to kill Banquo and Fleance (3.2.38). Later on in this scene, she wants to know her role when she asks Macbeth, "What's to be done?" (3.2.44). Her intentions of joining the other two murderers are so that the plan is carried out and no mistake is made in the process. This explains why Lady Macbeth could be a possible candidate for being the third murderer.

Later on the novel another crime occurs in order to keep Macbeth’s throne safe. Banquo and Fleance are two of the next victims in Macbeth’s hit list. He had murderers to execute his job. The three murderers come back with the news that only Banquo was dead and that Fleance had escaped. Macbeth receives the news during a dinner that was held on the castle, where all members of the royalty were present except Macduff, Banquo, and Fleance. But Banquo was only absent for those who couldn’t see, Macbeth was having illusions with Banquo

Macbeth shows his desire for power, he was friendly to Banquo before he became the king, but after he became the king, he let three murderers to kill Banquo and his son. “So is he mine, and is such bloody distance That every minute of his being thrusts against my near ‘st of life”(3.1 line 116-118). Macbeth sent three murderers to kill Banquo and his son since they ran away. All he thinks about is to kill more people in order to gain more power. Macbeth didn’t just kill Banquo only, he also killed Macduff’s whole family. “Murderer. What your egg! Stabbing him. Young fry of treachery! Son. He has killed me, mother: Run away, I pray you”(4.3 line 84-87). He killed Macduff’s whole family, he just wanted to make sure he doesn’t lose his power, so he just killed anyone who against him, he’s obsessed with his power, he never cares about breaking other people’s family.

Not only did attempt to kill Banquo and Fleance with murderers, but Macduff’s family. Like Banquo, Macduff’s family received a knife to the body. All this was done to make sure Macbeth kept his spot on the throne, but it was done like a weakling, not face to face like a strong and proud man would.

Soon after Macbeth murders Banquo and Fleance fleets, the three weird sisters make a second appearance to Macbeth, and they present to Macbeth three apparitions.

They poison his mind with these prophecies, making him greedy and bringing out the evil qualities in his soul. When the first of the prophecies is proven true, Macbeth then considers the idea of murdering Duncan for the first time. This is his first step on the journey to his downfall, as the Three Witches had planned. The Three Witches plan has succeeded, they had brought out the greed in Macbeth, allowing him to make the most important decision - to kill King Duncan. Macbeth's malevolence and deceptiveness are sown further when he becomes so obsessed with the witches prophecies to his own friend Banquo, that he decides to hire men to kill him and his son Fleance. After Macbeth went through the murder of Duncan and Banquo, he slowly lost his sanity, it is at this point that the witches were easily able to control his mind. They have succeeded in bringing out the Evil qualities in Macbeth and are ready to finish their game and make sure Macbeth continues to spiral downward. With Hecates' lead, the witches plan to bring Macbeth to his death by making him overconfident, they do this by presenting him with three apparitions. The first appears as an armed head that speaks,

In the Bible, the number three is a significant number and is seen throughout – Christ rose on the third day, the Holy Trinity, the three kings, et cetera. Macbeth follows along the same lines with many occurrences happening in threes. Character

After Macbeth becomes king he became worried that his position would be compromised by a traitor. He is increasingly worried about Banquos prophecy and has Banquo murdered to protect his power. “My lord his throat is cut, that I did for him” (Shakespeare III.iv.41) Macduff one of the nobles leaves the county to organize a revolt against Macbeth. Macbeth has Macduff’s family and castle staff killed to protect against further betray. “The castle of Macduff I will surprise; Seize upon fife; give to the edge o’ the swords his wife, his babes and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line. (Shakespeare IV.ii.56). This choice to kill Macduff’s family led to Macbeth’s fall.

Laurence Sterne once wrote, “No body, but he who has felt it, can conceive what a plaguing thing it is to have a man’s mind torn asunder by two projects of equal strength, both obstinately pulling in a contrary direction at the same time.” This passage embodies one of the over arching themes of Macbeth. The character Macbeth, in Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, could easily identify with this passage due to the fact that he is pulled in opposite directions by both his desire to do what is right and his desire for power.