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Murders in Macbeth
Investigate macbeth's murder mystery
Macbeth and his murders
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Even though it is a very rare form of killing, serial murder has been a topic of interest in the eyes of countless observers. However, the exact guidelines for serial murder have been hard to pin-point because each killer has a unique way of committing the deed. Vera Renczi was a female serial killer who “was convicted of thirty-five murders and sentenced to life imprisonment” during the 1930s (Vera Renczi – The Black Widow Serial Killer Who Killed All Of Her Lovers). She killed every one of the men in her life, including her son, by poisoning them with arsenic in fear that they were betraying her trust (Vera Renzci). Macbeth, the main character of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”, is one of the people who fall into the gray area between a serial killer and a psychotic human being. However, by taking the basic definition of a serial killer, learning curve, and the evolving nature of motive into consideration, it can be concluded that Macbeth was a serial killer.
Even though scholars have not been able to produce a concrete definition for a serial murder, they have been able to create a broad characterization defining it as “the unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s) in separate events” (FBI). This forms the first piece of evidence supporting the aforementioned theory. Macbeth killed three people in two different events himself and also killed three additional victims through hired assassins (Shakespeare). He murders King Duncan in his desire to gain the crown; the next day, he kills the guards in order to cover up his act (Shakespeare). The fact that Macbeth does not kill all of his victims in the same day sets him apart from a mass murderer. Vera is a definite serial killer for she killed each one of her ma...
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... throughout her killing spree. This proves that not all serial killers can be classified with all the same characteristics. Vera was paranoid by the idea of her lovers losing interest in her (Vera Renczi – The Black Widow Serial Killer Who Killed All Of Her Lovers). This fear drove her to kill the moment she had the slightest insinuation of infidelity.
Even though the two serial killers, Macbeth and Vera Renczi, do not correspond with every category, they are both serial killers in their own unique way. Macbeth can be concluded to be a serial killer due to the definition of a serial killer, his learning curve, and his evolving motives. The two examples prove that not all killers can be classified using all the same classifications for there is always at least one killer who tries to do something out of the ordinary thus disproving the definition altogether.
In a study conducted by Hickey, he discovered that out of thirty-four female serial killers, almost one in two had a male accomplice committing murders with them (Holmes et al., 1991). He also revealed that 97% were white and the average age the women started committing murders was thirty-three (Holmes et al., 1991). Women serial killers differ from men in that most women kill for material gain, such as money or insurance benefits, and they usually commit murder with pills or poison. Stephen Holmes, Ronald Holmes, and Eric Hickey developed a typology for female serial killers similar to the one developed by Holmes and Holmes, discussed earlier. They begin with visionary serial killers, who are compelled by some force, such as God, or spirits, to commit murders. The second type is the comfort killer, who usually kills acquaintances and does so for a material gain, money or real estate (Holmes et al., 1991). The third category is hedonistic female serial killers, which is similar to the earlier typology in that the offender connects murder with sexual gratification. This is the least represented category for female offenders, but evidence for this type of killer can be seen in the case of Carol Bundy (Holmes et al., 1991). Bundy allegedly helped her husband kidnap, murder, and decapitate the
The present paper intent to enquire into a female serial killer. It shall describe and analyze the theories behind the occurrences and sequent offer explanations. The studies of criminology theories it is important to recognize why humans decide on living a life cycle of crime. Wikipedia.org defines serial killer as, “a person who murders three or more people, usually in service of abnormal psychological gratification, with the murders taking place over more than a month and including a significant break (a “cooling off period”) between them.” Precisely of this, humans who tend to be a serial killer are prone to developmental and physical characteristics. Several of these trends could fit into a model standard of a crime. A good example of analyzing the life and crimes of Aileen Wuornos, an American female serial killer who killed
In order to identify serial killers before they kill repeatedly, a person needs to study the characteristics that makes up this type of criminals. Most serial killers have been abandoned, by one or both parents, they are emotionally, physically, and even sexually abused by a family member, or relatives from unstable families who have criminal, psychiatric and alcoholic histories, or tend to have hate for their parents and people in general which makes them have antisocial personality disorder. They have conflicted pain or tortured animals at a young age and most are highly interested in gaining control over things. Even though not every serial killers posses these characteristics, but most share these characteristics the same way they share the psychological need to have complete control and power over people.
Taking the life of another person is one of the worst infractions of the law to commit. The Bureau of Justice defines serial killing as “[involving] the killing of several victims in three or more separate events” (“Michigan” 1). Serial killers often commit extremely violent crimes; they usually become infamous for these crimes. The first recorded serial killers are probably Jack the Ripper in 1888 and Fritz Haarmann in 1924 (“Michigan” 1). Jack the Ripper is also one of the most well-known criminals, almost everyone knows who he is or has at least heard of him. Most people know what he is famous for and associate him with being a bad person. Serial killers are typically sadistic and sociopathic, meaning that they are unable to feel empathy for people who are suffering (“Michigan” 1). Whimsical sociopaths who have sadistic tendencies are very dangerous. They inflict pain because they do not care that someone else is suffering, they only care that it makes t...
A serial killer is a person who murders three or more people over a period of more than 30 days, with a "cooling off" period between each murder, and whose motivation for killing is largely based on psychological gratification. Most people do not understand what can make a person want to kill multiple people for no reason other than own satisfactional gain. In actuality serial killers have been studied for over hundreds of years, and the information that has been documented continues to grow. The research that I have gathered about serial killers focuses on their childhood development, the differences and similarities between men and female serial kills, and finally general information on how their brains operate and their motives for committing such harmful acts.
Serial killers have many frightening facets. The most frightening thing about them is that experts still do not know what makes a human become a serial killer. Many experts believe serial killers become what they are because they have a genetic disposition or brain abnormality while other experts believe that a serial killer is created by childhood abuse; and some other experts believe that it is a combination of both brain abnormalities and abusive childhood experiences that creates a serial killer. A murderer is considered a serial killer when they “murder three or more persons in at least three separate events with a “cooling off period” between kills” (Mitchell and Aamodt 40). When defining a serial killer, their background, genes, and brain are not mentioned; perhaps one day those aspects of the serial killer can be included.
A serial killer is defined in Webster's Dictionary as someone who murders more than three victims one at a time in a relatively short period of time. There is no one generic profile to identify a serial killer. They usually are people seeking for a sensation, a lack of guilt or remorse, a need for control, impulsivity, and predatory behavior. These traits make up a psychopathic personality disorder. Psychopathy is a disorder manifested in people who use a mixture of charm, manipulation, manipulation, and occasional violence to control others, in order to satisfy their own wants and needs. There are four main types of serial killers; thrill seekers, mission-oriented, visionary serial killers, and power and control killers. There may be other
Mass Murderers and Serial Killers are nothing new to today’s society. These vicious killers are all violent, brutal monsters and have an abnormal urge to kill. What gives people these urges to kill? What motivates them to keep killing? Do these killers get satisfaction from killing? Is there a difference between mass murderers and serial killers or are they the same. How do they choose their victims and what are some of their characteristics? These questions and many more are reasons why I was eager to write my paper on mass murderers and serial killers. However, the most interesting and sought after questions are the ones that have always been controversial. One example is; what goes on inside the mind of a killer? In this paper I will try to develop a better understanding of these driven killers and their motives.
This paper will analyze the factors that create a serial killer. Beginning with the definition of a serial killer, the reader should expect
“We serial killers are your sons, we are your husbands, we are everywhere. And there will be more of your children dead tomorrow.” Infamous, Ted Bundy offered serial killer advice while in court on the witness stand. Have you ever walked into a store, and just shopped? Most people this answer is yes. Among the people in the store with you, most of them are keeping secrets. Some are stupid, but some are more serious. Without even thinking about it, a murderer, a rapist or even a serial killer could be in that same check out line. No one has any idea who is around them, and without even thinking about it, could be the next victim in the serial killers game.
Serial murder as defined by the FBI is, “[t]he unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events" (Morton Robert J. Ed, & Hilts., Ed, 2005, p. 9). Numerous people disagree with the definition, this researcher included, since it lacks the cool- down period after they murder, which various people feel stands necessary for serial killer status. Serial killers remain a rare phenomenon. The FBI states, serial murder accounts for less than one percent of killings per year (Morton Robert J. Ed, & Hilts., Ed, 2005, p. 2). Nevertheless, throughout the years, countless people have researched serial killers since they commit such heinous crimes. Criminologists and researchers have been attempting to identify various
There are a set of variable elements, which distinguish the "serial" murder from the single-incident ("normal") murder, the "mass" murder, and the "spree" murder. The "mass" murder can be defined as an act in which a single assailant kills a number of people during a short period of time in roughly the same geographical location. The "spree" murder can be defined as a multiple number of killings, which take place during a short period of time, hours or days. The "serial" murder exhibits five distinct sets of characteristics, which help distinguish it from the "mass" murder and "spree" murder. First, the killings are repetitive ("serial") and often escalate over a period of time, sometimes years, which will continue until the killer is taken into custody, dies, or himself is killed. Second, the killings, like "normal" homicides, tend to be one-on-one. Third, there is no, or very little, connection between the perpetrator and the victim. Fourth, although there may be a "pattern," or "victim trait," individual murders within a series rarely display a clearly defined or rational motive. Fi...
A serial killer's murdering spree is methodical and extremely well planned, and the motive usually is to get even (Douglas, p. 137). A serial killer often plans his crimes extremely carefully. He looks for a certain type...
There really isn’t a set definition for the term “serial killer.” “The term ‘serial killings’ means a series of three or more killings, not less than one of which was committed within the Untied States, having common characteristics such as to suggest the reasonable possibility that the crimes were committed by the same actor or actors.” (as quoted by Robert J. Morton and Mark A. Hilts 5) At first, some psychologists thought it was a series of two to ten murders, each with a cooling off period in between; this cooling off period is used to recover both the emotional and physical mindsets of the killer; his period of time is also used to determine between mass murder and serial murder. (1c: SV; SV; SV.) This has been the method for determining the definition of “serial killer.”
Serial killers have been a cause of concern since the dawn of the civilized world. A serial killer is traditionally defined as someone who kills more than three people in a time span of over a month. Even though we can put a definition on the term “serial killer” it is a blanket term used for all people that kill. However, there are many types of killers out there such as cannibals, cult killers, and mercy killers; all three very different, but kill for the same season of personal gratification.