Thinking before acting leads to greater wisdom and better outcomes while acting before thinking yields regret. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, many characters are murdered as a method of solving existing problems. Throughout the play, it is noticeable that these deaths can all be related back to two malevolent beings. These characters in their horrific minds are to blame for the deaths of innocent people. Macbeth, in his willingness to commit severe crimes for personal benefit, and the witches, in their desire to toy with Macbeth through their ambiguous prophecies, are equally responsible for nearly all the murders in the play.
After killing King Duncan, Macbeth had to find someone else to lay the blame on so that he did not look guilty. Since Banquo had heard the prophecies, Macbeth had him killed to eliminate that source of suspicion and to ensure that his children never became kings as it was promised. However, that alone was not enough. He accused 3 men of the murder of King Duncan. Alongside of his wife, they devised a sly plan that involved setting up the king’s grooms.
“The castle of Macduff I will surprise; seize upon Fife; give to the edge o’ the sword his wife his babes, and all the unfortunate souls” (4.1. 165-167). This shows Macbeth’s complete disregard for human life and his willingness to commit crimes to maintain his power. He sees Macduff as a significant threat and is willing to do whatever it takes to eliminate him, including murdering Macduff’s wife and children. His ambition has consumed him, and he has lost touch with morality or compassion.
The witches’ apparitions ended up tricking Macbeth, as they turned against him. It is true that Macbeth should beware Macduff, but that is where the truth ends. It turned out that Macduff was born from a C-section as his mother died at birth, so Macduff was actually a man who wasn’t born from a woman. Also, Macduff and his troops used limbs of trees from the forest to disguise themselves when they were going to attack Macbeth, so the forest technically did move to Macbeth’s castle. The three apparitions from the witches duped Macbeth, as he was not actually out of harm’s way, which led to his ultimate downfall and
Macbeth’s soliloquy at the end of the play is filled with angst and desperation. The metaphors and similes throughout this monolog clearly express this. The metaphor,”Out, out brief candle,” shows his personal suffering and request for the end to come. The simile,”Life is but a walking shadow”, signifies that our existence has no lasting impression on the surrounding world. The final excerpt,“It is a tale told by an idiot full of sound, and fury, signifying nothing,” is the most impactful portion of the speech where Shakespeare shows the truth hidden in Macbeth's struggle.
His huge desire of power and many wrongdoings lead him to his downfall and death. As the play begins, Macbeth’s main traits of being
While Fleance was able to escape, Banquo was not so lucky. The reason for his murder was because the witches say to Banquo that his sons will be king Macbeth is out of control, and it also led to his decision to kill Macduff’s family, as Macduff was considered a threat, having figured out his insanity. []. By the end of the play, Macbeth is lost in a pit of state. The crimes he committed had desensitized him.
(2.3.165-166) After seeing their father killed, the sons fear they are the next targets. Macbeth selfishly makes everyone in the palace feel in danger. He puts others at risk to reach his goal, making his greed a negative trait. Also, Macbeth puts the three murderers in danger when he chooses to kill Banquo and his son. Macbeth tells the murderers to “know banquo [is] your enemy” (3.1.130), making them long for revenge.
This can be seen from Macduff’s quote, “Up, up, and see The great doom’s image! Malcom! Banquo! As from your graves rise up, and walk like sprites, to countenance this horror!” The play progresses and Macduff finds out that Macbeth was the one who killed his king.
In another attempt to preserve his dominion, Macbeth slaughters Macduff’s entire family. Devising his plan in order to make an example of Macduff's abandonment he says, “The Castle of Macduff I will surprise... His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls.” (4.1) It is important to realize that Macbeth is further descending into madness by committing acts of irrational violence. Rather than relying on his subjects’ loyalty, Macbeth feels as if he must terrify them into subjugation.
He hallucinates Banquo in the chair he was going to sit on. Macbeth starts to act crazy and Lady Macbeth tries to tell the other men in the room how he is acting is normal. After the dinner Macbeth hears that Macduff went to England to reunite with Malcolm, Duncan 's son, to try for him to own the throne. Macbeth decides to take action and send some men to murder Macduff 's family. When Macduff comes back he finds out of his family 's death and joins Malcolm and his army to defeat Macbeth.
Macbeth! Macbeth! beware Macduff; Beware the thane of Fife. Dismiss me. Enough.” Macbeth goes out of his way in an attempt to change fate and orders the murder of Macduff’s entire family.
Macbeth’s murder of the king shows that the more power you acquire dishonestly, the more evil one
This led to him going insane. Macbeth didn 't have to do this, he had already been promoted and had a better job than he had had beforehand. he was very well off and did not need the responsibilities of a king. he could have moved on and lived his life but, he killed the king. This event in the movie was portrayed with much more emotion than expected.
For Macbeth’s desire to know more about his future, the Second Apparition says: “Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn / The power of man, for none of woman born / Shall harm Macbeth… Then Macbeth responds, “Then live, Macduff. What need I fear of thee? / But yet I’ll make assurance double sure, / And take a bond of fate.