Macbeth Guilt Essay, Research Paper

This was an oral presentation, in which I prosecuted Macbeth. I received a grade

of A-, however was told that it was my actual presentation rather than my essay

that stopped me getting a higher grade Ladies and Gentlemen, I will be brief.

You have heard the testimonies and seen the evidence; it is now time for the

fate of Macbeth to be decided. Today you have met scores of witnesses testify,

under oath, the defendant?s entirely good and honest character, and have

pondered as to how the King of Scotland could commit such atrocities. However,

unmistakable evidence opposes such testimonies and proves beyond reasonable

doubt that the defendant Macbeth killed his King, Duncan the II of Scotland, his

life-long friend Banquo and Lady Macduff and her children. Over the last six

months we have seen Macbeth degrade from a fearless and heroic warrior to a

murderer, a conscious villain who felt extreme guilt after killing his King out

of pure greed and ambition. His servant, as testified, overheard Macbeth express

his guilt to his wife on the night of the murder: ?I am afraid to think what I

have done; Look on ?t again I dare not.? Following his crowning at Scone,

King Macbeth hired three assassins to murder his long-time friend Banquo, in

order to protect his crown. It was after the murder of Banquo that Macbeth then

turned into an unmerciful, non-repentant tyrant. This man, once heralded a hero,

became the bane of Scotland and his people. The defense has tried to manipulate

facts to persuade you that Macbeth is not to blame for these murders and has

placed responsibility for these deaths on everyone from Lady Macbeth to the

witches, who occasionally conversed with the accused. You have heard testimonies

of the three witches, who told us of their encounters with Macbeth. What sort of

man would associate with such evil beings, and most of all, believe the nonsense

they foresee? The witches did not directly influence Macbeth to assassinate his

King, they only speculated as to what the future may hold and these predictions

ignited his overwhelming ambition to become King. These associations with the

witches bring serious doubts to the goodness of the defendant?s character.

Speculations that Lady Macbeth is responsible for Duncan?s murder have been

made by the defense. But blood found on this cloak hidden in Macbeth?s

quarters proves without doubt that it was Macbeth who actually committed the

murder. He is ultimately to blame. The accusations made by Macbeth?s lawyers

that Lady Macbeth pressured her husband to assassinate Duncan are irrelevant. It

is unthinkable that such a brave and valiant soldier could be so weak as to be

influenced by his wife to commit murder, unless he had already considered doing

it, or had something to gain from the death of Duncan, such as the throne of

Scotland. The defense has tried to convince you that Macbeth was insane at the

time of King Duncan?s murder. If he were not sane, would he have been seen as

such a well-loved and courageous soldier? Would he have been so respected by his

King to be honoured with the title of Thane of Cawdor, had he been ill at mind?

These notions themselves are insane! Macbeth was sane and rational at the time

of the murder! ?Yes, Macbeth did show signs of derangement a week after the

murder at the banquet, as testified by Ross, who attended the feast and

described to you the accused?s strange behaviour. Could an innocent man be

driven mad over a period of a week? It was his conscience, my friends, which

drove him insane! After the pre-meditated murders of Duncan and Banquo, the

pressures of being King, and the mounting guilt of the murders he had committed,

were increasing. Overheard by his servant, Macbeth said to his wife ?I am in

blood, Stepp?d in so far?? The outlet for his rage was Lady Macduff and

her family. This pointless, and motiveless, massacre shows the cruelty and

immorality that has become a part of Macbeth. He did not stand to gain anything

from the deaths of these innocent people. No longer was he the honoured soldier,

or the compassionate King, but the brutal tyrant. We must stop making excuses

for this cold-hearted man. He was not influenced by his wife or witchcraft. He

was sane when he brutally murdered his King. He was influenced only by his

ambition and greed to become King; he was influenced by his selfishness and

hunger for power. From hero to heartless tyrant, this is the tragedy of Macbeth.

Ladies and Gentlemen, his time has come. Macbeth?s fate lies in your hands. I

trust that you will make the right judgment.