English Macbeth

640 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The role of lady macbeth in macbeth

To What Extent is Macbeth pushed into killing king Duncan?

Numerous people and factors push Macbeth into killing the king. The main factors are:
 Lady Macbeth
 The Witches and Fate
 King Duncan
 Banquo
 Himself (Macbeth)

I start with probably the most influential character upon Macbeth, his wife, Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth believes what the witches have said and therefore believes that she will become the queen.

‘Have I thought good to deliver thee’

She obviously has a great ambition and will do almost anything to fulfil her ambition. This shows a great evilness in her

‘And dashed the brains out’

She is also reluctant to accept Macbeths original thought of leaving the idea alone

‘What beast was’t then that made you break this enterprise to me’

She appears supremely confident about murdering Duncan even though Macbeth is not which also shows of her great ambition to succeed and become queen of Scotland.

‘We Fail? … But screw your courage… and we’ll not fail’

Lady Macbeth plans the murder from a very early stage even when Macbeth is unsure of what he is to do

‘When Duncan is asleep… his spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt of our great quell?

Overall Lady Macbeths ambition, confidence and naivete is perhaps the major factor in pushing Macbeth into the murder of Duncan. She does not think of the consequences of the murder so she is 100% behind Macbeth killing Macbeth, which makes it difficult for Macbeth to go against her.

Another factor is Banquo. The fact that Banquo knows of what the ‘imperfect speakers’ said is a major factor pushing Macbeth away from killing the King. If the King were to be murdered Banquo would be suspicious and would most likely suspect Macbeth of doing the evil deed of killing the king. This would obviously put Macbeth off.

Another factor is that of the Witches. Without them Macbeth would most likely not think twice about killing the king.

‘All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king thereafter’

If someone were to just tell him this he would most likely not believe it but it was the fact that the witches had forecasted that he would be Thane of Cawdor and Thane of Glamis correctly.
The witches forced him to think about being king but at first he expected to be made king without doing anything for it but he then realises there is only one way, to kill the king. This encounter with the witches has put him in two minds.

Show More
Related

  • A Case Study Of Audrey Shamblee's Case

    1050 Words  | 3 Pages

    Foster parent, Audrey Shamblee, expressed that the bags which were observed in Earnest, Albert, and Timothy’s bedrooms are filled with items that will be placed in the trash receptacle. Ms. Shamblee expressed that she is caring for three teenage boys and refuse to clean their rooms for them. Ms. Shamblee indicated that the cable wires observed in the home are positioned out of Jade’s reach. As for the bathroom situation, Ms. Shamblee explained that they have documentation which depicts the repairs which were expected to occur in her apartment and are currently outstanding issue. Ms. Shamblee submitted several civil court documents which orders NYCHA to correct multiple concerns reported within Ms. Shamblee’s residence.

    Read More

  • Macbeth Comparison Essay

    568 Words  | 2 Pages

    Lady Macbeth shows more ambition then Macbeth does in terms of gaining power regarding kingship. When Macbeth finds out about the witches’ predictions and the first two coming true “Glamis, and thane of Cawdor: The greatest is behind” (1.3.124-125) meaning that he got a taste of power, making him thane of Glamis and thane of Cawdor making him more ambitious for the power to become king. Proving that he will do anything for power he decides that he is going to murder Duncan. When Lady Macbeth receives the letter from Macbeth learning about the witches’ predictions and that two of them came true already, she becomes very ambitious towards gaining power. She doesn’t believe that Macbeth will murder Duncan, so she makes a plan for the murder.

    Read More

  • Macbeth

    791 Words  | 2 Pages

    On his way home from war three witches tell him his future. “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! All Hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” Macbeth was already thane of Glamis, and wondered why they would say that he would be Thane of Cawdor or even king, so he blew it off as tomfoolery, and impossible. However, he was later told by the king that because of his valiant fighting against MacDonwald that he was to be given the title of the Thane of Cawdor.

    Read More

  • Macbeth

    1239 Words  | 3 Pages

    Lady Macbeth plays an important part in Macbeth’s spiral downwards into becoming a butcher by persuading him to commit his first murder. Macbeth doesn’t want to kill Duncan and has strong doubts about what he should do, as shown by what he says in act I, scene vii,’He’s in double trust here…..i am his kinsman strong against the deed , then as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife himself’

    Read More

  • The War Inside The Character of Macbeth

    1104 Words  | 3 Pages

    Before the murder of King Duncan, Macbeth was a brave, noble warrior. “For brave Macbeth well he deserves that name… Till he unseamed him from the nave to th’ chop and fixed his head upon our battlements” (Act I, Scene 2, lines 2). He was one of the last people anyone would expect to kill King Duncan. Shakespeare chooses a noble character such as Macbeth, to emphasize how greed and power can alter a person’s good morals. In Act one we start to see Macbeth’s desire for more power rise. “Stars, hide your fires; Let no light see my black and deep desires. The eye wink at the hond yet let that be which the eye fears, when it is done to see” (Act I, Scene 4, lines 52- 55). His desire for power is at war with his good morals. He wants to become king but does not want to kill Duncan.

    Read More

  • The Influence Of Lady Macbeth In Shakespeare's Play

    1060 Words  | 3 Pages

    Lady Macbeth has become obsessed with the idea of her becoming the Queen of Scotland. She starts to act relentless about her plan to become Queen and she is willing to kill anyone in her way to the throne. She knows that she needs to get her Husband on her side for this plan and she does so by telling him that they have an incredible opportunity. Macbeth is somewhat intrigued of

    Read More

  • Free Essay on Macbeth - The Guilt of Lady Macbeth

    617 Words  | 2 Pages

    At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a trusted soldier, who is honest and noble. Unfortunately, he meets three witches who tell him three prophecies; that he will become thane of Cawdor, that he will become king and that Banquo’s sons will become kings. These three prophecies slowly change his opinions on life and turn him into a greedy, dishonest, tyrant, full of ambition. Lady Macbeth’s thoughts change as well when she is told about the three prophecies that were told to Macbeth. In the beginning of the play, Lady Macbeth is ambitious, controlling and domineering. She is the one who encourages him to kill the king, she not only encourages him, she makes all the plans herself, which shows her determination and persistence."Yet I do fear thy nature, it is too full o’th milk of human kindness. To catch the nearest way thou wouldst be great. Art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it." (Act 1, scene 5). Lady Macbeth is the force behind Macbeth’s sudden ambition and she tries to manipulate him into feeling guilty and unmanly for not following through with the murder, by using her husbands emotions, she manages to convince Macbeth to murder Duncan.

    Read More

  • The Needs of Our Society's Neglected Kids Discussed in Fisher's Finding Fish: A Memoir

    2458 Words  | 5 Pages

    Social agency and the court authorizing the placement, and caregivers are responsible for the continuing monitoring to ensure that the child in placement receives adequate care and supervision (Downs, Moore and McFadden, 2009, p.275). Services for children in foster care are a teamwork effort of the different parties involved (Downs, Moore and McFadden, 2009). Unfortunately in Antowne’s situation the agency and the court system failed him because although he was removed from his mother, the abuse and neglect continued. The systems involved did not provide the safety net Antwone needed.

    Read More

  • Macbeth

    640 Words  | 2 Pages

    Reality is how the world really is, however an illusion is a false interpretation of reality.

    Read More

  • How Does Shakespeare Show a Change in Lady Macbeth

    728 Words  | 2 Pages

    She also asks them to give her the strength to kill Duncan, she just wants to get on and do it without feeling guilty. At the end of the scene she takes full control of the situation, and Macbeth seems glad to let her have the responsibility.

    Read More

  • Alcoholism Essay

    1073 Words  | 3 Pages

    Alcoholism is an addiction to the consumption of alcohol or the noetic illness and compulsive demeanor resulting from alcohol dependency. Heavy drinking causes considerable damage to the body including cancer, heart problems, and liver disease. Alcoholics have deep rooted problems associated with alcohol abuse such as trying to keep families together as well as personal relationships. Alcoholics have a tendency to lie about their addiction and are mostly in denial as they cannot acknowledge or recognize that their is a problem with their alcohol consumption. In the event of people that depend on liquor to capacity or feel physically constrained to drink they are considered an alcoholic. Alcohol abuse is the most extreme manifestation of issue drinking. Substance masters make a refinement alcohol and alcohol abuse (likewise called alcohol reliance). Not at all like heavy drinkers, liquor abusers capacity as far as possible on their drinking habits. In any case their liquor utilization upset toward oneself and hazardous to themselves or others. Regularly, relatives and close companions feel committed to blanket for the individual with the drinking issue. So friends tend to tackle the load of cleaning up wreckage, heaps, lying or working more to make a decent living. Imagining that nothing isn't right and concealing without end the sum of their apprehensions and feelings of disdain can take a huge toll. Kids are particularly touchy and can endure significant trauma when a guardian is a heavy drinker or overwhelming consumer. It also makes families totally resent and hate being accompanied by the person with the alcohol problem. (www.helpguid.org 1).

    Read More

  • The Negative Effects Of Alcoholism

    1173 Words  | 3 Pages

    Alcoholism is a mental illness that is very destructive not only to an individual that has it, but also to the people that surround him or her and the community. It is a “chronic disease, progressive, and often fatal”, according to James D. Torr, author of the book called Alcoholism (19). Alcohol, when consumed, causes the person to feel pleasure and other desired effects, because of the chemicals it contains. The continuation of consuming alcohol causes the brain and the body to develop tolerance or addiction which leads to alcohol dependence or alcoholism.

    Read More

  • The Evil Macbeth

    836 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the beginning of the play Lady Macbeth has the opportunity to kill Duncan herself, but refuses to do it. Although she grows impatient with her husband and does not have confidence in his ability to commit the murder, she is not the one who carries out the crime. “If the king hadn‘t looked like my father while he slept, I would have done it myself.” (2.2.14-15) These words spoken by Lady Macbeth are clear; she could not kill the king because Duncan reminded her of her father. This gives a perceptible trace of good within her because her excuse for not being able to murder Duncan is baseless. She could never have done it; her compassionate and sentimental side took over. One could argue that Lady Macbeth manages to manipulate her husband with remarkable effectiveness to kill the king. She overrides all his objections and morals. She repeatedly questions his manhood in order to make Macbeth feel that he must kill Duncan. Her remarkable strength of persistence does induce her husband's actions until the crimes have been perpetrated, but in the end Macbeth is the one who decided to proceed with th...

    Read More

  • The Power Struggle in Shakespeare's Macbeth

    1230 Words  | 3 Pages

    The struggle for power and control in Macbeth is present from the very beginning, as Shakespeare portrays Lady Macbeth as a ruthless, overpowering woman who dominates her husband and his actions. She makes Macbeth's decisions for him without giving him any say in his own actions, and she orders her husband to do what she determines to be best for him. It is Lady Macbeth who contrives the plan to kill King Duncan, because she knows that Macbeth would never commit such an act on his own without her prodding. She develops the plan and organizes the details while expecting Macbeth to merely follow her orders. This becomes evident when she says to him, "Only look up clear,"(1.5.70) and "leave the rest to me"(1.5.72). She intends to keep him under her control by making decisions for him and not allowing him to think for himself.

    Read More

  • Alcoholism Essay

    1695 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout history people have drank alcohol as a means of wealth, just to pass the time, or as an escape from reality. In today’s modern world, people use alcohol as a means of having a good time or just love the taste of alcohol. For the individuals who love alcohol and drink a surplus amount of alcohol every week is considered an alcoholic, also known as alcoholism. Alcoholics are known to destroy their futures drinking liquor, so to prevent such cases Alcoholics Anonymous was created. Alcoholism is given many broad definitions, but the one thing that all the definitions have in common are that alcoholism is a disease and an addiction. Alcoholism is considered a disease that not only harms the alcoholic, but the family of the individual as well.

    Read More

More about English Macbeth

Open Document