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Explain Why Malcolm Is To Blame For Macbeth

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A Shared Blame
Even though Macbeth committed serious crimes including the murder multiple individuals, other Scottish Thanes, including Malcolm and Donalbain, Macduff, Banquo, Ross, and Lennox, can also be blamed for Macbeth’s reign of terror and the consequences thereof to a certain degree. However, besides Macbeth, the most blameworthy of these are Malcolm, Banquo, and Macduff because of their foolishness in keeping important information to themselves and not confronting Macbeth, although they knew he killed individuals.
Firstly, Malcolm is one of the most accountable for the reign of terror of Macbeth because he flees to England after he discovers that his father, King Duncan, had been killed:
Malcolm ... I’ll to England.
Donalbain …show more content…

They believe this because Malcolm was the rightful heir of the throne. However, after Malcolm and Donalbain leave, it is believed that they fled out of fear and that they killed the king. To Macbeth’s advantage, he continues this false idea and leads them on: ”We hear our bloody cousins are bestowed/In England and in Ireland, not confessing/Their cruel parricide” (3.1.29-31). Cleverly, Macbeth blames Duncan’s sons, yet they can not defend themselves as they are out of the country. It was foolish of the sons of the murdered king to run away, as the suspicion is towards them, especially to Malcolm, who was supposed to be the next king. Out of fear they fled Scotland, however, it would have been wiser to explain to the other Thanes that they are innocent, relieving them of these false …show more content…

As he ponders on the fortunes of the Weird Sisters and their accuracy, he wonders if Macbeth compromised them: “Thou hast it now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all,/As the weird women promised, and I fear/Thou play’dst most foully for’t” (3.1.1-3). However, as he starts to gather his thoughts, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, as well as others enter, interrupting him. Even though he suspects foul play in this situation and has numerous opportunities to speak up, he decides not to tell anyone, making him in some sense responsible for the tragedies of Macbeth’s reign of terror. Banquo later pays for his mistake with his life, when Macbeth kills

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