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Forgiveness In Macbeth

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Recommended: Character analysis in Shakespeare's Macbeth

Even though humans are prone to making mistakes, if an individual continuously acts on their immoral impulses, in spite of their guilty conscience, they can no longer be considered a good person.
When an individual has continuously achieved their goals through unjust acts, they can no longer be viewed as kind. In the play, Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, Macbeth is shown to commit crimes against humanity in order to acquire and maintain his dream of being the King of Scotland. Macbeth is shown to kill the guards, who were framed for Duncan's murder because he could not be “wise, amazed, temp’rate, and furious,/ Loyal, and neutral, in a moment ... Th’ expedition of [his] violent love [for Duncan]/ Out run the pauser, reason” (Shakespeare …show more content…

In Act 4 Scene 1 of Macbeth, Macbeth is showcased as a vicious individual, who protects himself and his position as King at all costs. This idea is demonstrated clearly when Macbeth meets the apparitions and concludes that there is no reason to fear Macduff “But yet [he will] make assurance double sure/ And take a bond of fate:/ [Macduff] shalt not live” (Shakespeare 4.1.93). By highlighting Macbeth’s willingness to kill Macduff, who may not even be a threat to Macbeth, Shakespeare reveals how murder is a deed Macbeth is extremely comfortable with. The fact that Macbeth spends no time contemplating the decision to kill Macduff shows his character arc, as previously he spent a whole scene debating if he should kill Duncan. Shakespeare highlights Macbeth's ease to kill to make readers realize how ruthless Macbeth has become throughout the course of the novel, as well as how he is starting to kill when there is no logical reason to. This idea overall disputes Lady Macbeth’s belief of Macbeth being innocent and filled with goodwill. Another example of Macbeth being a vicious individual is when Macbeth learns that Macduff has fled to England. This causes him to command the “Seize upon Fife, give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword,/ [Macduff’s] wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls/ That trace him in his line” (4.1.172). Shakespeare depicts Macbeth’s remorseless qualities when he orders the death of Macduff’s defenseless family. Although Macduff’s family has done nothing wrong against Macbeth, they will have to suffer his wrath. Macbeth's acts of hurting the innocent, weak, and young, for no valid reason, indicates Macbeth’s impulsive nature. These actions prove Lady Macbeth’s judgment of Macbeth wrong. On the other hand, one may argue that Macbeth still has a kind heart,

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1280 Words | 6 Pages

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.

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Despite committing a number of abhorrent crimes, Macbeth’s morality is definitively ambiguous, or “grey,” “because he is so acutely aware of the horror of his crimes” (Charney). Even before his transgressions take place, Macbeth is aware of the “physiological and psychological” consequences the murder will have on him, “forsee[ing] the effects” of his wrongdoings with rightfully placed apprehension (Charney). This sorrowful character is not the one first introduced to the audience, as Macbeth is depicted as an exalted hero in Duncan’s army; however, though his visage morphs into one of a tyrant. During his metamorphosis into seemingly amoral ruler, Macbeth does not take pleasure in the carnage he inspires, contributing to the adversity faced through his remorse. Conversely, Macduff, who may be considered the protagonist by some, is not presented as wholly virtuous.

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1294 Words | 6 Pages

In Document D, Macbeth states, "Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee? But yet I'll make assurance double sure, ... thou shalt not live…” In this quote, Macbeth is expressing his confidence that he does not need to fear Macduff, a Scottish nobleman who he suspects may be a threat to his reign. However, even though he believes he has no reason to fear Macduff, he wants to eliminate any potential threats to his rule.

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785 Words | 4 Pages

In Act 4 Macbeth shows just how far he will go when he orders for Macduffs family to be killed out of mere irritation with him. “Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword. His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls” (IV.I.151-152). In this quote Macbeth has just learned of Macduff fleeing to England. Knowing he can't do anything to Macduff himself, Macbeth chooses a cheap move and decides to kill his family out of frustration.

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864 Words | 4 Pages

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

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1983 Words | 8 Pages

In the play Macbeth illustrate innate human tendency to make inhumane choices when given the freedom to. When Macbeth realize that he is trusted by the king and is given more freedom , his inner savagery is stimulated. For example, when Macbeth at the beginning of the novel was praised by the king and his friends as he the kings says “worthiest cousin” macbeth shows that he does not think of anyting but loyalt and respect to his kingdom, but in his mind he seeks the ambition in becoming king and thinks recklessly and tragic activities on his mind. As the acts of savagery become more integrated, the idea of death and blood becomes more comforting, and even encouraging. When king Duncan announces that his son malcom will be next to the throne

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Due to the murderous actions of Macbeth, his and Macduff’s paths eventually cross. Throughout the course of the play, Macbeth has committed several deaths and these include; King Duncan, the two guards, Banquo, and Macduff’s family. The personalities of Macbeth are deceitful, hypocritical and insidious while the personality of Banquo is civil, straightforward and genuine; Macbeth acts upon them with vile actions while Macduff acts upon them with subtlety.

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Without any warning, Macduff abandoned his family to pursue Malcolm to dethrone Macbeth. Even though they did not conspire with Macduff, Macbeth murdered them because of their relationship. Macduff doesn’t place the blame on Macbeth, but on himself for leaving his family vulnerable. He is under the impression that he is the cause of their death. Despite being disheartened at losing his loved ones, he uses his feelings of remorse to fuel his vengeance.

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1953 Words | 8 Pages

Afterward, Macbeth considers himself untouchable and his ego grows massive—in his mind no one can stop him! Immediately following this scene, Macbeth decides to kill again out of pure spite; knowing that he is unstoppable, he easily gets his killing goons to do his bidding. His target, the Macduff family, were casualties as a result of his ego, he had nothing to gain politically from killing them. His actions, no doubt, resulted from him realizing his invincibility which emboldened him to kill even more. Someone who is deranged or insane would kill on impulse just to kill on impulse, they wouldn’t take their time to double-check that there will be no repercussions

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971 Words | 4 Pages

Macbeth finally displays the admirable quality of bravery and pride as he states, “at least we’ll die with our armor on,” before going off to fight. Scene 7: Macbeth kills again because Young Siward challenges him, and Macbeth is fighting for his life, thus his first instinct is to kill. His motivation is restoring faith in the witches and showing that no one can stop him. Macduff’s motivation is different because his motivation is revenge for the killing of his family.

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979 Words | 4 Pages

When in England, Macduff finds out that his family was killed by murderers sent by Macbeth. Revenge and anger takes over him and he goes back to Scotland with the decision of killing Macbeth. Macbeth, tired of fighting and killing during the invasion of his castle, is contemplating suicide when Macduff enters. He tells Macduff to leave and that he is done causing bloodshed, but Macduff insists on fighting. Macbeth states that he has a charmed life from the predictions of the witches, that no one born of a woman can kill him; Macduff tells him that he was ripped from his mother’s womb, not being necessarily born of a woman.

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975 Words | 4 Pages

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.

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1047 Words | 5 Pages

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.

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752 Words | 4 Pages

His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls (4, 1,151-152). This quote from the text proves that Macbeth has no mercy on Macduff’s family because he decides to kill Macduff’s family, even though Macduff’s family didn’t do anything wrong. This act of Macbeth shows that the intensity of Macbeth’s guilt has been elevated, ever since Macbeth’s murder of King Duncan, because of Macbeth’s conscious efforts to keep everything he did under his

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823 Words | 4 Pages

25-27). This clearly illustrates the reason as to why Macbeth would betray a man whom he once respected. He states that no other reasons exist to justify killing Duncan except for his own ambition to become king of Scotland. This decision, in turn, results in Macbeth becoming oppressive and bloodthirsty, killing all those that pose a threat to his throne. His ambition to remain in power and suppress his opponents results in him ordering the murder of Macduff’s entire family.

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