Regicide
Throughout Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, conflict is a focal theme. But all conflict in the play seems to revolve around one action – Macbeth killing King Duncan. Killing Duncan had both positive and negative effects for Macbeth. But Macbeth shouldn’t have killed Duncan because it led to terrible consequences, Macbeth was violating multiple moral codes, and Duncan was a good and just king.
Killing King Duncan led to terrible consequences for Macbeth and the people around him. Firstly, the murders did not stop at Duncan; his death led to more death. Killing Duncan led to the deaths of Banquo (Macbeth’s best friend), Lady Macbeth (Macbeth’s wife), and countless others in the battle of Dunsinane. (Shakespeare). Once Macbeth started …show more content…
According to a prophecy spoken to him by three otherworldly witches, Macbeth would become king, but his friend Banquo’s descendants would inherit the throne. Macbeth consequently killed Banquo, and attempted to kill his family, so he could secure the crown in his family. As well as killing others himself, people inadvertently died all around Macbeth. His wife killed herself form insanity, and thousands of people died in a battle that ensued. Another negative effect was the false accusation of the two princes, Malcolm and Donalbain. Immediately following their father’s death, his sons Malcolm and Donalbain fled out of fear for their lives, casting suspicion on them. Peter Leithart, author of The Brightest Heaven of Invention, explains it this way: “their flight gilds them with the blood of their father, and everyone in Scotland believes them guilty” (Leithart 182). Although they didn’t mean to cast suspicion on themselves, they did inadvertently, and caused much confusion among the characters. This ultimately caused more harm than good for Macbeth and the people around him. Finally, the murder of King Duncan had a negative …show more content…
First off, by killing Duncan, Macbeth was committing treason. According to Merriam-Webster, treason is defined as “the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance or to kill or personally injure the sovereign or the sovereign's family” (Merriam-Webster Online). Treason is a heinous sin. Committing it shows disloyalty to your country and the God-ordained leader in charge of it. Another moral code Macbeth broke was the fact that Duncan was his guest; Macbeth was being inhospitable by killing him. In Shakespeare’s time, hospitality was a crucial part of society. Macbeth acknowledges this himself. He says about his King: “He’s here in double trust: First, I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed; then, as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself” (Shakespeare 39). Macbeth acknowledges himself as the host of the household, and realizes that he should respect and protect his guest, rather than kill him. And finally, by murdering Duncan, Macbeth was being ungrateful to his king. The king had just promoted Macbeth out of a kind heart, and Macbeth realizes it. “He hath honored me of late … [he should] not [be] cast aside so soon” (Shakespeare 41). Macbeth acknowledges the generosity of the king, and realizes it would be disrespectful to not honor his king. But he kills him anyway. In
Throughout Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, conflict is a focal theme. But all conflict in the play seems to revolve around one action – Macbeth killing King Duncan. Killing Duncan had both positive and negative effects for Macbeth. But Macbeth shouldn’t have killed Duncan because it led to terrible consequences, Macbeth was violating multiple moral codes, and Duncan was a good and just king.
Killing King Duncan led to terrible consequences for Macbeth and the people around him. Firstly, the murders did not stop at Duncan; his death led to more death. Killing Duncan led to the deaths of Banquo (Macbeth’s best friend), Lady Macbeth (Macbeth’s wife), and countless others in the battle of Dunsinane. (Shakespeare). Once Macbeth started …show more content…
According to a prophecy spoken to him by three otherworldly witches, Macbeth would become king, but his friend Banquo’s descendants would inherit the throne. Macbeth consequently killed Banquo, and attempted to kill his family, so he could secure the crown in his family. As well as killing others himself, people inadvertently died all around Macbeth. His wife killed herself form insanity, and thousands of people died in a battle that ensued. Another negative effect was the false accusation of the two princes, Malcolm and Donalbain. Immediately following their father’s death, his sons Malcolm and Donalbain fled out of fear for their lives, casting suspicion on them. Peter Leithart, author of The Brightest Heaven of Invention, explains it this way: “their flight gilds them with the blood of their father, and everyone in Scotland believes them guilty” (Leithart 182). Although they didn’t mean to cast suspicion on themselves, they did inadvertently, and caused much confusion among the characters. This ultimately caused more harm than good for Macbeth and the people around him. Finally, the murder of King Duncan had a negative …show more content…
First off, by killing Duncan, Macbeth was committing treason. According to Merriam-Webster, treason is defined as “the offense of attempting by overt acts to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance or to kill or personally injure the sovereign or the sovereign's family” (Merriam-Webster Online). Treason is a heinous sin. Committing it shows disloyalty to your country and the God-ordained leader in charge of it. Another moral code Macbeth broke was the fact that Duncan was his guest; Macbeth was being inhospitable by killing him. In Shakespeare’s time, hospitality was a crucial part of society. Macbeth acknowledges this himself. He says about his King: “He’s here in double trust: First, I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed; then, as his host, who should against his murderer shut the door, not bear the knife myself” (Shakespeare 39). Macbeth acknowledges himself as the host of the household, and realizes that he should respect and protect his guest, rather than kill him. And finally, by murdering Duncan, Macbeth was being ungrateful to his king. The king had just promoted Macbeth out of a kind heart, and Macbeth realizes it. “He hath honored me of late … [he should] not [be] cast aside so soon” (Shakespeare 41). Macbeth acknowledges the generosity of the king, and realizes it would be disrespectful to not honor his king. But he kills him anyway. In