Macbeth: Many People Were Involved In The Death Of Duncan Essay, Research Paper

Macbeth: Many People Were Involved In the Death of Duncan

There were many people involved in the death of Duncan, the King of

Scotland. However, Macbeth bears the major responsibility for the murder.

Macbeth committed the task by his own hand. He understood the significance of

the prediction in relation to his own ambitions. Finally, Macbeth was aware of

his actions and he accepted them.

Macbeth murdered Duncan. He was the one who stabbed the King and he

admits that freely in the play. “I have done the deed” relates Macbeth to his

Lady after he completed the objective. (II, ii, l.19) Before the murder he says

“I go and it is done; the bell invites me.

Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell

That summons thee to heaven, or to hell.” (II, I, l.69-71)

In such he plainly states his intent to murder Duncan and again later on, he

mentions in a soliloquy that “To know my deed, ?twere best not know myself.” (II,

ii, l.92) Preceding the actual death of Duncan, Macbeth’s ambitions became

apparent as the significance of the prediction and actual events emerged.

Being an ambitious man, Macbeth said

“I have no spur

To prick the sides of my intent, but only

Vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself

And falls on the other.” (I,vii,l.25-28)

In this speech Macbeth broadcasts his immense ambitions which are the only

reason he is pursuing the witches prediction. Macbeth, upon hearing the witches

speak was startled at their prophecy. Banquo said to him “Good sir, why do you

start, and seem to fear / Things that do sound so fair?”(I,iii,l.54-55) Macbeth

was startled because of the implications of the forecast. Macbeth had thought

before about the very thing that he was now being told was his. He was

infatuated with the idea and he lusted after information pertaining to it.

“Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more:

By Sinel’s death I know I am thane of Glamis;

But how of Cawdor? The thane of Cawdor lives,

A prosperous gentleman; and to be king

Stands not within the prospect of belief,

No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence

You owe this strange intelligence? or why

With such prophetic greeting? speak, I charge you.”

(I,iii,l.73-81)

Macbeth began to fluster and ramble on, as if in fear that the truth of his

thoughts become clear to those near him. He wanted more information from the

witches on how he was to become King, but he feared that he would be considered

traitorous and disloyal. Which he was, considering that he was reflecting on the

possibility of becoming King by murdering Duncan. “‘Would they had stay’d!”

shows how much Macbeth longed for the throne. (I,iii,l.85) His ambitions were a

sources of this longing and desire. The desire for the kingship which he thought

through and finally accepted.

Macbeth understood what he was involving himself in. He had thought much

about the possibility of assassinating Duncan so that he could take the royal

seat. “This have I thought good to deliver thee” he said in his letter to Lady

Macbeth. (I,v,l.10) Actually Macbeth thought so much about the prospect that he

changed his mind and grew indecisive. Macbeth did, however settle his mind, “I

am settled, and bend up / Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.”

(I,vii,l.89-90) He was terrified of being found guilty and traitorous, so he hid

his intentions which shows his clarity of mind and the fact that Macbeth knew

what he was to do was wrong and that it horrified him.

“The prince of Cumberland! That is a step

On which I must fall down, or else o’er-leap,

For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;

Let not light see my black and deep desires:

Then eye wink at the hand! yet that be,

Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.” (I,iv,l.55-60)

Macbeth charges the stars to shut their light off and to hide his true

intentions from everyone around him, including himself. In doing so, Macbeth

comprehended what he was to do and accepted the responsibility of the death of

Duncan, the King of Scotland.

Macbeth, the thane of Glamis and the thane of Cawdor, holds the major

liability for the demise of Duncan. He performed the homicide by his own hands.

He was ambitious and understood the relation of the foretelling. Finally,

Macbeth understood and accepted the plan for the assassination of the King. In

these three ways, Macbeth bore the dominant burden for the death of Duncan.