Macbeth Text Response-This Deed, The Murder Of King Duncan, Has Unanticipated Consequences For Both Macbeth And Lady Macbeth. Discussed
Macbeth Text Response
This deed, the murder of King Duncan, has unanticipated consequences for both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Discuss
Macbeth, by William Shakespeare explores the theme of power, sleep and guilt. For Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to be able to be on the throne and fulfill the prophecy, they need to murder Kind Duncan. Unfortunately, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth didn’t think of the unanticipated consequences of committing the murder. The consequences that they are faced with include guiltiness, lack of sleep and broken relationships.
The murder of King Duncan comes after Macbeth has heard the prophecies made by the witches. He was told that he will not only be Thane of Cawdor, but King of Scotland. Macbeth and Banquo discuss about the witches, and the latter believes that the witches are evil and tells Macbeth to beware of the prophecies. However, when Ross arrives to confirm the news that Macbeth is now Thane of Cawdor, he is willing to fulfil the witches’ prophecy to be king and starts thinking about the murder of King Duncan.
‘I am Thane of Cawdor.
If good, why do I yield to that suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs,
Against the use of nature? Present fears
Are less than horrible imaginings.
My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,’
(Act 1, Scene 3, Lines 145-151, Pg 19)
Macbeth sends his wife a letter detailing the encounter with the witches and about the prophecies they made. Lady Macbeth, also willing to be on the throne, immediately resolves to have Duncan killed to fulfill the prophecy.
‘The raven himself to hoarse
That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan’
(Act 1, scene 5, lines 41, 42, Pg 24)
‘That my keen knife see not the wound it makes’
(Act 1, Scene 5, line 55, pg 24)
Macbeth arrives at the castle and announces that Kind Duncan...
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