Can we categorise violence into honourable and dishonourable actions? In Williams Shakepear’s Macbeth, the audience follows the character Macbeth as he commits various acts of violence to secure his goal of becoming king of Scotland. The play begins with Macbeth being considered a man of great standing and honour, while it ends with him being seen as a tyrant who needs to be removed from the throne. Macbeth commits murders throughout the entirety of the play allowing us to compare the reasoning behind his actions from when he was stable to when he became irrational. The story of Macbeth allows the audience to differentiate between the honourable and dishonourable violence, while also giving an example to how living in a tyranny country can …show more content…
For example, when Macbeth kills King Duncan to assist in his goal of taking the throne and becoming king. Macbeth didn’t have a reason to commit this crime other than his own carving for power. He doesn't care for the Rule of divine right of kings, Macbeth believed that he deserved the crown. King Duncan was staying in Macbeth's own home the night of his death; many noble men had come to celebrate Macbeth as the new Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth knew his actions were shameful and would never be forgiven, he even states himself that he doesn't want to be alone with the truth of the deep he has committed. “To know my deed, twere best not know myself.” (2.2.92) Another death caused by Macbeth was the murder of Macduff's family. Macduff was a nobleman who had suspicions about Macbeth's true intentions. He decided he would go to England to speak with Malcom, King Duncan's eldest son. Together they shared opinions about Macbeth's tyranny over Scotland. Once Macbeth heard of this he considered Macduff's actions as those of a trader. Macbeth’s punishment for Macduff's offence was to kill his whole family. These murders can all be classified as dishonourable, they had no principle, these people didn't do anything wrong. Macbeth was an unjust leader who used dishonourable and deceptive violence to prove who had power within the country of
Following, Macbeth has too much ambition when he kills Duncan, which causes him to betray his moral conscience. Macbeth states, “I have no spur/ To prick the sides of my intent, but only/ Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself/ And falls on th’ other-”(1.7.25-28). This is important because
Throughout the play we see Macbeth continuously dig himself deeper into this hole where he is committing murder and destroying his reputation, sanity, and family. He seeks the throne and succumbs to the ambition sacrificing his morals. It seems Macbeth crafts this character who puts all sense of ambition before any morals or principles to show how dangerous that can be. Throughout Shakespeare’s
He states, “The castle of Macduff I will surprise Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls” (4.1.150-152). At this point Macbeth is out of control and is killing anybody he suspects, showing that he is clearly paranoid and delusional. Once Macduff finds out his family is killed he decides to finally kill
Thus, he murders his friend for his own selfish desires and his crimes verge upon him through his ultimate ruination. Additionally, Macbeth treats his people with cruelty by murdering the innocent to display his authority. Macbeth orders, “The castle of Macduff I will surprise, /seize upon Fife, give to th’edge o’th’sword/ His wife, his babies and all unfortunate souls/ That trace him in his line” (4.1.164-167). Macbeth demands the slaughter of Macduff’s family after learning that Macduff has fled to England.
In act 4 scene 1 Macbeth orders for the murder of macduff's entire family. In act 4 scene 2 the murders take place, and in act 4 scene 3 macduff hears of his family's slaughter. It is then, when it dawns on the reader the true extent of Macbeth's cruelty. He thinks it fit to murder people who play no part in his war for power, simply because it will send a message to those who oppose him. His id allows him to commit such atrocities remorselessly because it has overpowered his ego and superego.
For instance, he commits multiple murders after he gets the title of King. The murder of his own friend Banquo, the attempted murder of Banquo's son Fleance, and the murder of Macduff's family all were committed to fueling his growing obsession with maintaining his status and power. Nearing the end of the play, his determination completely takes over him and leads to his downfall. The witches give Macbeth more insight near the end of the play, communicated through visions and apparitions. The apparitions tell macbeth: “Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth, beware Macduff; / Beware the Thane of Fife.
Macbeth himself is one character in Macbeth who exhibits both inflicting and receiving brutality. The play depicts Macbeth's transformation from a brave and honorable general to a cunning and paranoid tyrant, motivated by ambition and the witches' prophecy. The brutality Macbeth inflicts on others, especially in the killing of King Duncan and the ensuing massacre of Macduff's family, is a prime example of how corrupting power can be and the damaging effects of unrestrained ambition. Macbeth suffers brutality as well, especially at the hands of the witches who use his predictions to control and trick him.
Macbeth! Beware Macduff.” (Macbeth 4.1.74) He succeeded in his plan and began to turn into a corrupt individual. His sense of morality decreased because of his several planned murderous acts and his mind became drenched in intense guilt.
Macduff eventually kills Macbeth because he believes that he unjustly killed the kings and his family. Lady Macbeth is under so much guilt that she throws herself off the balcony and commits suicide. Killing seem as though it is not the way to go, it causes many problems that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth decided to endure after killing. After killing, guilt follows you like a shadow, following you every move, never
Macbeth is presented as incredibly violent person throughout the play this is shown through his act of killing on the battlefield during the first act him having banquo killed during the middle of the play and at the end in which he fights macduff and where he dies this is most likely done by macbeth to show the corruption of the supernatural . Macbeth is presented as incredibly violent and skilled in the first act through the battle scene in which is shown through the quote “like valour's minion carved out his passage”his violence is shown through this quotes context in which macbeth is slaughtering many people in his way for his king.this is shown through the keyword carved which has the implication that he is incredibly skilled and brutal
“The castle of Macduff I will surprise; seize upon Fife; give to the edge o’ the sword his wife his babes, and all the unfortunate souls” (4.1. 165-167). This shows Macbeth’s complete disregard for human life and his willingness to commit crimes to maintain his power. He sees Macduff as a significant threat and is willing to do whatever it takes to eliminate him, including murdering Macduff’s wife and children. His ambition has consumed him, and he has lost touch with morality or compassion.
He had thoughts of killing people and he killed people. It was believed that during Renaissance times, humans could change the world for the common good or for positive effects. A character named Macduff really believed this. When Macbeth became king, he wasn’t really a good ruler and Macduff knew that the next ruler, Malcolm will not benefit Scotland for the better. Macduff really knew that Scotland
The witches, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, and other characters seem to act one way, whether it be good or evil, but their intentions are usually impure and meant to harm others in order to benefit themselves. Macbeth’s guilt is caused by the foul play the witches involve themselves in. If not for their prophecy, Macbeth would have never known of his fate and would have gained the kingship without involving murder, leading to his guilty conscious. The use of Supernatural elements is added to the plot of the play in order to show readers what led to Macbeth’s downfall, and what contributed to his guilt. His guilt arose from the
Frantic, he orders a group of murderers to kill Macduff’s family. Consequently, when the time comes for Macbeth to encounter Macduff on the battlefield, he exhibits a moment of hesitation before proceeding to the duel. Feeling remorse for having Macduff’s entire family violently killed, Macbeth admits that he has a guilty conscience that he does not want to kill Macduff as well. “Of all men else I have avoided thee: / But get thee back; my soul is too much charged / With blood of thine already,” (Shakespeare 5. VIII.
In act four of Shakespeare's "Macbeth" Macbeth murders most of a noble man's family out of impulse and paranoia. He suspected said nobleman of plotting against him, and much like the murder of his friend Banquo, he killed him before he got the chance. But this murder is not like the ones before it, this one is much more sinister. The man Macbeth suspected, Maduff, was suspect because he refused to show up to any events that Macbeth attended, and when Macbeth went to ask the witches they warned him Macduff was to be cautioned. This time Macbeth decides right away that Macduff must go.