The Decision To Murder Duncan In Shakespeare's Macbeth

In the story Macbeth by Shakespeare, Macbeth is blindfolded by how own bitter ambition. One would think that it would be enough to be the nation's greatest warrior and Thane of Cawdor. Honestly what more could a man want ? There are key questions to ask while reading the story Macbeth. What compels Macbeth to murder Duncan? How did Macbeth's ambition affect him? And what drives him to continue committing heinous acts after his potential murder? Those are very intriguing questions that give a thorough and better understanding for Macbeth's own ambition.

One might ask what compelled Macbeth to murder Duncan? There were a lot of reasons for his decision to murder King Duncan. Early in the story Macbeth was told by the Three Witches that he will

become king someday. But if Duncan is already king, how would Macbeth truly become king ? Simply by killing King Duncan. Macbeth's attempt to kill King Duncan was his first mistake which led to his downfall. The witches operated on a basis of fate and how he was destined for Macbeth to become king("Macbeth Killing King Duncan,2008"). Rather than being patient he takes matters into his own hands and it disrupted fates system of playing out. Lady Macbeth also had a huge role in King Duncan's death. She continuously encouraged Macbeth to murder King Duncan(Macbeth Killing King Duncan,2008"). She was more focused on states and power than Macbeth was("Macbeth Killing King Duncan,2008"). Lady Macbeth was always calling Macbeth's manhood to question, saying if he were a true man, he would do this with true ease. She basically used every single type of feminine manipulation to persuade him to kill King Duncan, and Macbeth did not want to look like he was less of a man in front of his wife("Macbeth Killing King Duncan,2008"). When the whole deed was to actually be committed, Lady Macbeth said that she would've killed King Duncan, but he looked way too much like his father while he was asleep. Which led Macbeth to do the killing ("Macbeth Killing King Duncan,2008).

In the story Macbeth written by Shakespeare, one might ask how did Macbeth's ambition truly affect him? Ambition in Macbeth is most definitely presented as a very dangerous quality ("Lee Jameson,2014"). It is what starts the downfall of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth and even triggers a whole series of deaths in Macbeth ("Lee Jameson,2014"). Ambition therefore is the driving force of the whole play. Macbeth's own ambition was primarily driven by two main factors: The prophesy, and Lady Macbeth ("Lee Jameson,2014"). For prophecy the three witches prophesized to Macbeth that he will soon become king ("Lee Jameson,2014"). He believes them and many prophesies were realized throughout the entire play ("Lee Jameson,2014"). However though, it was very unclear if these prophesies were to be proclaimed or if they were as though just self fulfilling ("Lee Jameson,2014"). Lady Macbeth was the second driving force that encouraged Macbeth to try and overcome his very strong sense of guilt and even try to take action on these prophesies ("Lee Jameson,2014"). Macbeth's ambition soon starts to come back to haunt him, it forced him to murder again and even again to try and cover up for his horrible mistakes ("Lee Jameson,2014"). Macbeth's first target was the Chamberlains which were later on blamed for the murder of King Duncan ("Lee Jameson,2014"). The murder of Banquo soon followed after Macbeth feared that the truth could have been exposed ("Lee Jameson,2014"). Macbeth's ambition has serious consequences, that gets him slain, and Lady Macbeth later commits suicide ("Lee Jameson,2014").

In the story Macbeth written by Shakespeare, one might ask while reading the book was it ambition or fate that caused the downfall?

Macbeth was most certainly brought down by his own ambition, but it was also his ambition that was revealed and exploited by the Three Witches ("Luann W, 2008"). Macbeth was never even forced into even of these actions that occurred ("Luann W, 2008"). He always had the option of free will to choose his own actions. In the story the three witches basically gave him a desire that was already in him to start with ("Luann W, 2008"). In the First Act, Scene 3, when the witches delivered their prophecies towards Macbeth, Macbeth's response gave away that becoming the king was something he secretly had hoped for. When he said in his first aside, " The greatest is behind", he meant that the next step was to become king ("Luann W, 2008"). He also said that two truths were told which clearly showed that the thought of becoming king most definitely crossed his mind and even the thought of trying to murder King Duncan surfaced in his head ("Luann W, 2008"). All of this shows that he is acting off of ambition rather than fate itself ("Luann W, 2008"). The three witches power were completely limited, they do not have control of of a person's actions ("Luann W, 2008"). Macbeth soon realized he had a true weakness which was his vaulting ambition which he soon recognizes it ("Luann W, 2008"). But though Macbeth knew he had a flaw, instead of trying to control it he does not which shows it was his own ambition that causes the downfall ("Luann W,

2008").

In the story Macbeth by Shakespeare, Macbeth is blindfolded by how own bitter ambition. One would think that it would be enough to be the nation's greatest warrior and Thane of Cawdor. Honestly what more could a man want ? There were key questions answered while reading this essay. What compels Macbeth to murder Duncan? How did Macbeth's ambition affect him? And what drives him to continue committing heinous acts after his potential murder? Those are very intriguing questions that give a thorough and better understanding for Macbeth's own ambition.