Essay on Who Is Responsible For Duncans Death?

Upon discovering the witch’s prophecy, Macbeth’s ambitions rise. Nevertheless, he didn’t know that he would be committing a murder in order to gain power. According to the play, Macbeth says, “If th’ assassination could trammel up the consequence, and catch, with his surcease, success; that but this blow might be the be-all and the end-all…” (Shakespeare 1.7.2-5). This quote shows Macbeth’s

   Shakespeare's "Macbeth" holds many hidden themes within its already exuberant plot.  The first of these surrounds the murder of Duncan and the role that both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth himself played.  However, the true guilt of the murder can fall on either character.  Although Macbeth physically committed the crime, it was Lady Macbeth that pushed him to his limits of rational thought and essentially made fun of him to lower his esteem.  With Macbeth's defenses down, it was an easy task for Lady Macbeth to influence Duncan's murder and make up an excuse as to why she could not do it herself.  The guilt of Duncan's murder can be placed firmly on the head on Lady Macbeth.

They invited Duncan to their home and planned to murder him then. Once Duncan had arrived, Macbeth began to have doubts about killing his upstanding leader. Lady Macbeth did her best to convince Macbeth to go through with the murder. She succeeded in convincing him. It makes sense that someone would think this part made it Lady Macbeth’s fault, but despite Lady Macbeth ‘strongly suggesting’ that he kills Duncan, Macbeth could still have chosen to say no and keep Duncan alive. Lady Macbeth did not control him, she may have persuaded him but in the end it was his choice to kill King Duncan.

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.

If Macbeth didn’t know about this prophecy he would have happily took his position as Thane of Cawdor, but knowing he will be King drove him to commit murder. Macbeth was rapidly changed from an honorable general to an evil tyrant. “The witches did not tell him to commit murder; all that was necessary was for them to suggest the fact of the crown, and they could trust Macbeth to overcome the obstacles in his way just as they would have him” (Wiley, 45). This emphasizes the fact that the play is shaped by the supernatural. This lead to the murder of Duncan, then to get rid of his obstacles he kills the guards. The Witches also reveal “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none” (1.3.67) to Banquo. This knowledge leads Macbeth to send Murderers to kill Banquo and his son. This is more evidence to show that the words of the witches construct the plays events.

“When Lady MacBeth receives the letter from MacBeth telling her that he wants to kill Duncan, she fears that he would not have the courage to go through with it” (Shakespeare 31). She brings out the worst in him and encourages him to kill King Duncan. She persuades him by constantly telling him negative things to get MacBeth to believe that he is doing the right thing. “Look like th’ innocent flower, but be the serpent under ’t” (Shakespeare 35). Lady MacBeth is the one who tells MacBeth to be this vicious creature and makes him think that killing King Duncan is okay. Because of Lady Macbeth’s behavior, MacBeth was led to become a murderer. Macbeth should not be held accountable for his actions since Lady MacBeth is the one who convinced him to commit the crime that started his madness and turn him into a monster.

The three witches or “weird sisters”, are only one of the contributions to Macbeth's destruction and downfall. The prophecies that the witches make are merely temptations for Macbeth. The weird sisters never tell Macbeth what to do with these suggestions, leaving him curious and in disbelief about what the witches have to say. The witches make predictions about the future of Macbeths kingship: "All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor” (I.III.50). Macbeth becoming Thane of Cawdor increases his thirst for ambition and eventually drives him into demise. They also tell Macbeth that no man born of woman can kill him, making Macbeth believe that he is invincible. "The power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth" (lV.I.81-83). Macbeth and Lady Macbeth take the prophecies too rigorous and try to put them into action immediately. The prophecies predicted by the witches do result in the end, however not exactly how either of them imagined.

The witches tell Macbeth and Banquo of their premonition of Macbeth becoming King and Banquo's sons being future Kings of Scotland. While Macbeth and Banquo pretend to not believe what the witches have told them, Macbeth becomes obsessed with wanting to know more information about him becoming King. The witches are responsible for delivering the prophecies that led to the master plan to murder King Duncan. “ These Weird Sisters had, in sooth, no control over macbeth; their prophecies no more annihilated his free-will than the oracles of the Delphic

Macbeth killed five innocent people to get to the top. He then met the downfall of his wife and himself. He wanted to be king so Lady Macbeth helped him get there and doing this would allow him to take on the position of ruling. Macbeth is the husband of Lady Macbeth who has made some not so good decisions in order to take on this position.This both drove them to complete insanity. The thought of killing King Duncan crossed Macbeth’s mind, Lady Macbeth’s persuasion techniques are ultimately responsible for Macbeth’s decision to follow through with the murder.

Lady Macbeth was the whole antagonist in this play. She was the only reason that Macbeth killed the King. Macbeth would of just thought about killing the king once. He thought about it after

The witches and their prophecies are the first major influence on Macbeth's actions. Macbeth seems happy and content with himself until the witches tell him he will be king. He begins immediately to consider murdering Duncan. "If good, why do I yield to that suggestion / Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair / And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, / Against

     Later on (Act 1 Scene 7) Macbeth started to have some serious doubts about the dreadful deed he was planning. He still very much wanted to be King, but his conscience was getting in the way of his "vaulting ambition". However, his wife managed to reassure him that all will be well, and he weakly submits. Nevertheless, it is absurd to suggest that Lady Macbeth was responsible for Macbeth’s decision to kill the King. If Macbeth had not wanted to kill the King, he wouldn’t have, regardless of any amount of bullying from his wife. He knows that he really wants to kill Duncan, it was his initial thought when he first encountered the witches. However, he didn’t like to think he was capable of such atrocities.

To conclude, I believe that Macbeth is responsible from the murders and to his own ambition and lust for power. A man is not born evil, but is created evil. Macbeth was told by the witches of these prophecies and was pushed by his wife but it came down the last decision. Macbeth had one last opportunity to let Duncan live, but he was corrupted by his own ambition and became a emotionless

King Duncan was killed in his sleep. Of this we hold no doubt. I will establish that Macbeth is our murderer. He had the means, motive and opportunity to commit this ugly crime. A crime of free will. Nothing can alter someone’s nature. Except a man’s own choice. For this I call for the sentence of no less than death for Macbeth.

Analysis: Macbeth ultimately killed Duncan. Terrified of what he has done, he accidentally left the evidence of the murder behind, forcing Lady Macbeth to take action and covering up the murder, and willing Macbeth to feel as if he did the right