Who Was Responsible For The Death Of Macbeth

Macbeth, a tragedy written by William Shakespeare during the early 17th century, recounts the story of a nobleman whose fate was to become king. However, the manner by which he would do this was through murdering the current king of Scotland, King Duncan. Many strange occurrences begin to appear shortly following, and it is soon realized that the murder of the king has created a dynamic between Macbeth and the natural order. This natural order in relation to the monarchy is typically referred to as the Divine Right of Kings, and states that monarchs are chosen by God and hold absolute power of their subjects. With Macbeth defying the right King Duncan once held, it becomes apparent that there is a correlation between Duncan’s right as king

He strongly opposed Macbeth’s rule and was extremely loyal to Duncan when he was alive. After learning that Macbeth was responsible for the murder of both Duncan and his family, he felt a combination of anger, sadness, and frustration as he states that “all [his] pretty ones” are no longer with him (4.3.255). Many of the people that Macduff loved had died due to Macbeth’s lust for the throne, and it was only out of the fear Macbeth held should Macduff want to kill Macbeth for his actions. However, it only resulted in the further fueling of Macduff’s rage which led to the fall of Macbeth and an end to the terror that the disobedience of the Divine Right of Kings wrought. Therefore, Macduff's grief and anger serve to emphasize the horrific nature of Macbeth's actions and the toll they take on those around

The reason that Shakespeare wrote Macbeth shortly after King James I’s coronation was to commemorate him and keep the notion of his Divine Right in place. The play showcases a divine force’s reaction to a rightful ruler being deposed of, and in order to keep King James I content along with continuing a stable monarchy, he included the downfall of Macbeth as a lesson for anyone who would attempt to remove the king. When Macbeth talks with the witches in Act 4, Scene 1, the witches make it very apparent that Macbeth must “Beware Macduff! Beware the Thane of Fife!” or face his demise (4.1.81-82). Macbeth goes against this warning and is ultimately killed by Macduff, a sign of retribution against he who defied God and for the rightful king of Scotland. Shakespeare may have included this as a way of talking to England and those under King James I, creating his own subtle warning to citizens who may want to overthrow the