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