Vincent Amidei Mrs. Starnes English II 8 February 2023 Forced Into Guilt In William Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, the character of Macbeth is guilty because he ruthlessly killed and disregarded many of his fellow friends and leaders. In Act 4, Scene 1, A young Thane named Lennox reports to Macbeth that Macduff has fled to England. Since Macduff fled, his family stayed so Macbeth will kill them. As Macbeth is mentally gearing up to go attack Macduff’s family, Macbeth says to himself, “The firstlings of my hand. And even now/ To crown my thoughts with acts — be it thought and done” (Shakespeare.4.1. 164-165). To sum the quote up, Macbeth says to himself that since he's gotten so immune to killing he’s now not thinking about killing an innocent …show more content…
But because his thoughts immediately turn into actions it show’s he is guilty and has no issue ruthlessly killing an innocent family of a coward that fled to another country. In Act 2, Scene 2, when Macbeth was confessing to Lady Macbeth of the killing of King Duncan. In Act 2, Scene 2, when Macbeth was confessing to Lady Macbeth of the killing of King Duncan. He was deeply regretting what he did. Here Shakespeare writes,” But/ wherefore/ could not I pronounce 'Amen'?/ I had most need of blessing, and/ 'Amen'/ Stuck in my throat” (Shakespeare.2.2.30-32).In this snippet of Macbeth, Macbeth is guilt-ridden after killing King Duncan and is confessing his regret to Lady Macbeth and is trying to say how he needs a blessing and he doesn't deserve to live. If Macbeth had been innocent, then he wouldn't have killed king Duncan But because he killed a King out of his despise, It shows he did it for …show more content…
In Act 1, Scene 5 Lady Macbeth wants Macbeth to kill King Duncan she is getting so eager and desperate that she begins to say, ”That tend on/ mortal thoughts, unsex me here,/ And fill me from the crown to the toe, top-full/ Of direst cruelty. Make thick my blood;/ Stop up the access and passage to remorse” (Shakespeare.1.5.40-43). Lady Macbeth is saying to Macbeth that if he doesn't kill King Duncan, she wants to be a man to be able to kill him herself instead of Macbeth doing it. Throughout the whole play, Lady Macbeth is a ruthless killer even though she doesn't think she is herself. This is one way Lady Macbeth pushes her husband to do all of the dirty work for her, making her guilty. In Act 1, Scene 7, when Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are planning to kill King Duncan, they envision how the Macbeths could get away with the kill. Shakespeare writes, What cannot you and I perform upon/ The unguarded Duncan? What not put upon/ His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt/ Of our great quell ?¨(Shakespeare.1.7.70-73). Lady Macbeth is scheming with Macbeth that they could do whatever together and get away with it. By Lady Macbeth heavily convincing Macbeth that they could do anything together Lady Macbeth will end up having convinced and executed King Duncan. This is just another
In Act 1 Scene 7, Lady Macbeth labels Macbeth a coward and makes fun of his manhood by claiming he is too kind to do the job. After Macbeth objects, Lady Macbeth exclaims “When you durst do it, then you were a man” (I.vii.49-51). Using these words, Lady Macbeth brings out the competitive and sexist nature in Macbeth. Macbeth refuses to be underestimated and appear weak in front of others. Furthermore, Macbeth’s initial objection suggests his free will.
Unlike his wife, Macbeth does not instantly assume he must do something as drastic as murdering the King of Scotland for his own political gain. In addition to this, Macbeth had serious doubt on murdering Duncan, as he held so much respect for him. His doubt is displayed in this quote, “But in these cases / We still have judgment here, that we but teach / Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return / To plague th' inventor: this even-handed justice/ Commends the ingredients of our poisoned chalice / To our own lips.” (1.7, 7-12).
The witches tell Macbeth “that [he] shalt be king hereafter”(1.3.53), foreshadowing his impractical rise to power. As Macbeth prepares to kill Duncan, he draws his dagger and says,”Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going/And such an instrument I was to use”(2.1.54-55). This exemplifies Macbeth’s true and impatient motives as he was never told to kill Duncan, rather chose to out of his freewill. Killing Duncan wasn’t enough though, as Macbeth needed someone to blame the murder on, so he framed the guards who were there to protect Duncan. Lady Macbeth decides to “smear/The sleepy grooms with blood”(2.2.63-64), which Macbeth could have objected to, but still continued, which made him worse of a person, steering him into a disastrous path.
and I perform on the unguarded Duncan, what do not put upon his officers shall bear the guilt of our great quell" (1.7. 76-79 ). On the other hand, Macbeth already feels guilty before the murder. This line shows how Lady Macbeth uses the guards to carry
Initially, Lady Macbeth manipulates Macbeth by planning Duncan's murder and also telling him to stronger then who is. Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth into killing Duncan. Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth that he is not a men, “And live a coward in thine own esteem / letting I dare, not wait upon I would / like the poor cat i’ th’ adage” (1.7.46-49). Lady Macbeth calls him a coward and a pussy cat. Afterwards, she is mocking him by saying, he is afraid to do what it takes.
In the play, Macbeth is listing lots of reasons why he should not kill king Duncan, but then he realizes that his only reason that he should kill Duncan is his own desire and ambition to become king, “I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself / And falls on th’ other”(Shakespeare 1.7. 25-27). In this quote it shows that not only is Macbeth going to betray a very well liked king, but he is also betraying himself and his morales. Furthermore, before Macbeth kills another character named Banquo, who is another threat in the way of him becoming king. Macbeth makes a statement that shows how Lady Macbeth has betrayed him and has turned him into a monster.
2.2.66-67). Macbeth speaks in a very panicked tone, using words like “afraid” and “I dare not” to express how paranoid and guilty killing Duncan has made him. Even though Macbeth used to be such an innocent person, his ambition of becoming king caused him to fulfill an unlawful act. Macbeth’s frantic act of murder indicates how ambition can cause even the most charitable people to do
Jacob Sadres May 19, 2023 Ms. Edelman Macbeth on Trial Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, today we are here to defend Macbeth, a very complicated character. He is a complicated character because he is loyal yet easily manipulated into doing the wrong thing. Even though Macbeth did bad things he does not deserve to be killed because it was not his fault. At the beginning of Macbeth's story, Macbeth was celebrated because he was loyal to the king. Macbeth even said, “If good, why do I yield to that suggestion temptation Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair, And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, fixed Against the use of nature?”(1.3.136-139).
After hearing and believing what the witches had to say, Lady Macbeth tries to convince Macbeth to kill king Duncan. However at first, Lady Macbeth tries to make Macbeth the king by handling the situation herself. She says to her husband,”This night’s great business into my dispatch, Which shall to all our nights and days to come Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom” (1.5.. What Lady Macbeth is saying to her husband is that she will take of the plans regarding Duncan, and then says that after that night, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth will be as happy as
Even if he was pressured into killing Duncan he did it anyway. After he has committed the murder of Duncan, Macbeth is plagued by guilt and remorse. This suggests that he recognizes the gravity of his actions and is
(Act 2, Scene 1). Analysis of quotes: The first quote shows how Macbeth's guilt over the murder of King Duncan has disrupted his sleep, creating a sense of anxiety and restlessness. The second quote highlights Lady Macbeth's manipulation and deception, as she tries to keep the details of the murder from becoming known. The third quote shows Macbeth's immediate regret and fear following the murder.
This shows that Macbeth is still a good person and doesn’t want to kill Duncan. However, Macbeth had already been persuaded by Lady Macbeth to go through with it, for they would be richer and
Macbeth’s impatience for power leads to drastic actions. He murders the king in the belief that “this blow might be the be-all and end-all” (1.7.5). This assassination could never “trammel up the consequence” (1.7.2-3), as Macbeth believes, but only leads to more trouble. Although Macbeth seizes the throne, Macbeth had to betray his loyalty to the king whose “virtues will plead like angels” (1.7.18-19), and his morality has paid the price. Macbeth has now lost all sense of what honor is by using such dishonest ways to become king.
Whiles I see lives, the gashes do better upon them" (5.8) This is a reference to Cato and Julius Caesars fight in a civil war when Cato was defeated and rather than dying by Caesars hands, he chose to kill himself instead. Macbeth disagrees with Cato's choice to kill himself and be a coward and this shows that he will fight to the end. This shows his stubborn and egotistical personality because if he had surrendered things may have gone a little smoother for him but instead he chose to put the blame on others and say they deserve to be killed. He never took any credibility for his actions by even admitting that he was wrong.
In act one scene 7, Macbeth doubts if he should kill the king; however, his wife, Lady Macbeth, manipulates him into proceeding. It might be difficult for Macbeth, the renowned warrior, to hear his wife accusing him of cowardice. Therefore, under Lady Macbeth’s influence, as she questions his manhood, he commences the murder in order to prove to her that he is not a “coward.” This is important to note because his soliloquy shows his determination to proceed.