The Macbeth Murders

In the Shakespearean tragedy, Macbeth, numerous murders take place. Throughout the play, the reader finds that each murder gets more and more evil, and more planned than the previous, thus leading to the downfall of Macbeth.

The first murder to take place in Macbeth is the Thane of Cawdor's. Duncan does not previously plan to kill the Thane, but with the information of the war given to him, he says, "No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive/ our bosom interest: go, pronounce his present death, / and with his former title greet Macbeth" (I, ii). Ross goes forth to carry the word that the Thane needs to be put to death. The Witches, to Macbeth, foretold this demise, but Macbeth thinks that it will not be possible, for the Thane is still alive. But, when Macbeth learns about the Thane's death, a window, showing that with murder come rewards, opens. Thus the second murder takes place.

."..screw your courage to the sticking-place, / and we'll not fail" (I, vii). Lady Macbeth has an insatiable lust for power, which she unmistakably flaunts here. Macbeth, at first, really does not believe that he, or his lady, can pull off the atrocious murder. Lady Macbeth, however, drives the courage into him so that she may be Queen of Scotland and have supremacy. Macbeth finally becomes more evil, and kills Duncan. His murder leaves Macbeth next in line for kingship, after Malcolm, of course. Malcolm flees to England. "I'll to England" he tells his brother [Donalbain], and Donalbain to his [Malcolm], "To Ireland, I" (II, iii), they flee for their lives, scared that Macbeth will come after them next. Macbeth is ecstatic to hear that Malcolm has left, for this means that he will now attain the treasure of Scotland, the crown, and this puts mo...

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... will keep his stronghold `til death do them part, which, ironically, comes fairly soon. Macduff storms the castle, with Malcolm at his side. Macbeth, too naïve and dense to realize that he will soon die, clashes with Macduff and hears Macduff cry, "Despair thy charm, And let the angel whom thou still hast served Tell thee, Macduff was from his mother's womb Untimely ripped" (V, viii). Macbeth feels weak in the knees as he realizes he meets his demise here. Now. He fights to his death with Macduff.

Throughout the play, as you can see, Shakespeare creates an evil character. Macbeth is once a grateful, loving person, but greed imprisoned his soul, making him a bitter, hell-bound creature.

Work Cited

Shakespear, William. Macbeth. English and Western Literature. Ed. George Kearns et. al. New York: Scribner Educational Publishers, 1987. (112-187).