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Loyal Character In Macbeth

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Which is more important, your own life, or remaining loyal to those close to you? In his play Macbeth, Shakespeare introduces the main character, Macbeth, as an honorable and loyal character. However Shakespeare introduces the dilemma to Macbeth of choosing between his obligation to Duncan and his personal ambitions. It is this conflict that illuminates Macbeth’s character and enhances the play to represent a major lesson in the importance of remaining moral and honorable in life.

In the first act of the play, Three Witches introduce a prophecy that Macbeth will soon become Thane of Cawdor, and then King. Macbeth later realizes that in order for this to be true, he must kill the current King, Duncan. This is where the conflict between his …show more content…

Macbeth even says that he “has no spur to prick the sides of [his] intent, but only vaulting ambition” (1.7.25-26) which is nearly stronger than his …show more content…

This decision was not an easy one for Macbeth to make, as he constantly battles with himself over it. After being named Thane of Cawdor like the witches prophesied, he wonders “why [does he] yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix [his] hair and make [his] seated heart knock at [his] ribs” (1.3.147-149). Just thinking about Duncan is unsettling to Macbeth. Duncan is a good king and thinks very highly of Macbeth. However, part of the prophecy had already come true. Macbeth is now Thane of Cawdor, so by his logic, there is little to stop him from becoming King as well. So despite his internal debate, Macbeth decides to discard his obligation to Duncan and kill him. With the decision made to kill Duncan, Macbeth and his wife come up with a plan. Once Macbeth’s signal to commit the act sounds, he says “I go, and it is done. The bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell That summons thee to heaven or hell” (2.1.75-77). At this point, there is no turning back. Macbeth has decided to kill Duncan, and that is what he does. His last words to Duncan are for him to disregard the bell, for it signals his death. Macbeth’s ambition for power surpasses his loyalty and dedication to Duncan and he ultimately betrays him. In his choice to disregard his loyalty and obligation to Duncan, he begins to change who he is, and not for the

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He acted because his first prophecy came true about being thane of cawdor. Macbeth is convinced after a talk with his wife he finally decided to kill Duncan. In this part it shows how greedy Macbeth and lady Macbeth are in the beginning. “Cannot be ill, cannot be good: if ill, why hath it given me earnest of success, commencing”. (Macbeth Act 1 scene 2 lines 139-40)

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Macbeth starts talking to himself and explains why and why not to kill the king. He says, “First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed” (1.7.). Macbeth is saying here that he is Duncan’s Kingsman, and his job is to protect him. Macbeth also explains that as his host, Who should against his murderer shut the door,Not bear the knife myself” (1.7.). The Thane of Glamis and Cawdor explains that he should be the one who should protect Duncan from death, and not be the one who kills him.

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After the rebellion war, Macbeth was given the title of “Thane of Cawdor” just by chance and not by his actions. Macbeth started getting ideas that maybe he could receive the title as king. In the 1st act of Macbeth, due to Macbeth’s desire to become king and Lady Macbeth’s urges, led him to kill Duncan. But Macbeth attempts to withstand these urges with his own reasons why he shouldn’t. Lady Macbeth is an external force for Macbeth’s final decision to kill Duncan.

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In Summary, desire’s can blind loyalty. MacBeth and Lady MacBeth have proved this point and payed dearly for it with their lives. This theme was expressed and expanded upon throughout the entire play, from the weird sisters prophecy, to the final battle when MacBeth was killed, he was blinded by his desires and he paid for it. This play has shown how people can let what they want become more important than the people they are supposed to have sworn allegiance

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Macbeth only becomes Thane of Cawdor, because of a traitor, but he himself later becomes a traitor. In the beginning it was easy for Macbeth to fight for his king and to honor the name of the man who ruled his land, but once he finds out his future, his entire mindset changes. Macbeth fights and wins a battle in favor for Scotland and king Duncan. A few hours after the battle, the Weird Sisters tell Macbeth what his future looks like. He becomes obsessed with the idea of becoming king and one can sense his thirst for power.

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Macbeth shows that he is willing to kill King Duncan because he is interested in the witches prophecy, after they tell him that he will become ‘Thane of Cawdor’ and then the King.

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Macbeth was the Thane of Cawdor but he wanted to be king more than anything. The witches had told him that he would one day be king but he did not know how long that would take so when King Duncan had been invited to stay the night at his house he exclaimed that “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,/ shakes so my single state of man/ that function is smother 'd in surmise,/ and nothing is but what is not”(1.3.52-55). He felt that if he were to kill King Duncan that he would have a better chance of becoming king. Though the witches had never told him that someone would need to get murdered for him to become king, his ambition tempted him to quicken this process the only way he felt he could. This was the beginning of the murderer that the witches had created with the fortune telling.

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The audience can now see his desires as well as his ambition. At this point, Macbeth is still hesitant of revealing his true nature, but the audience gets a peek of what he yearns for. In addition, the witches’ predictions are known to be paradoxical, their predictions are never straightforward; they tend to have different interpretations. Macbeth kills King Duncan to obtain the power he was told he’d get. Despite that, the witches never said to kill King Duncan; they told him he would become king.

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It is because that Macbeth desires Duncan’s throne. Macbeth defeats the enemy bravely for the country at the beginning. People praise his courage and devotion. Even the king of Scotland, Duncan, admires his contribution, and greets him the thane of Cawdor. However, Macbeth’s ambition is aroused by the witches’ prophecy, which is that he will be the future king.

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