There are a number of people involved in the assassination of King Duncan. Identify who they are, what the relationship was to the king and the extent of their responsibility.

"and referr`d me to the coming on of time, with hail King that shalt be".

They use psychology to take advantage of MacBeth

The witches make ambiguous statements so that they could not be wholly to blame.

Banquo could be said to blame because he had not told anyone of the witches' predictions only he and MacBeth knew. He did however doubt the witches' predictions

"but `tis strange and oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betrays in deepest consequence."

Banquo also saw an anxious and concerned MacBeth up late on the night of the king's murder

"what sir not yet at rest ?".

Before Banquo himself got murdered you would think he would've told someone about it all. Banquo had noticed MacBeth acting strangely since the night he and the witches had met.

King Duncan could be blamed for his own death because he was a poor judge of character. The first Thane of Cawdor was a traitor, and by appointing MacBeth Thane of Cawdor he was repeating the same disastrous mistake although he had confessed himself that MacBeth

"was a gentleman on whom I placed an absolute trust".

Duncan is generous and trusting of the people around him - perhaps too trustful - especially of the two Thane of Cawdor's, both of whom betray him.

MacBeth, is mostly to blame because he physically carried out the murder. MacBeth knows what he does is evil but the temptation to be king gets the better of him

"Let not light see my black and deep desires".

MacBeth thinks that the supernatural powers of the witches will help him

"greatness is promised thee".

MacBeth's downfall was his own fault. He made the deliberate choice to murder Duncan. MacBeth is a strong character and is fully aware of the good he has rejected

"I th' worst rank of manhood".

It is also MacBeth's fault because he allows himself to be manipulated into the murder by Lady MacBeth and by the witches "we'll not fail". You would think being he is an Army General he would've stood up to them. MacBeth is a man of great bravery even of savagery on the battlefield

"(like Valour's minion) carv'd out his passage,

Till he unseam'd him from the nave to th' chops".

When he is not on the battlefield, however, he seems a different man. MacBeth is ambitious

"To prick the sides of my intent, but only

Vaulting Ambition, which o'erleaps itself,

And falls the other".

but also enjoys the good opinion, which the king and other people have of him. His conscience is troubled by what will happen if he gives in to his ambitions "trammel up the consequence" he also worries about what people would say.

Lady MacBeth meanwhile could be said to blame because she convinced MacBeth to murder Duncan in cold blood. She convinces MacBeth to do the "deed" by using emotional and psychological blackmail as she questions MacBeth -

"As thou art in desire?" "And live a coward".

Lady MacBeths determination to make MacBeth king has overcome all his doubts in his mind. In a powerful speech Lady MacBeth explains how far she would be prepared to go to get what she wanted

"pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums

And dash'd the brains out, Had I so sworn

As you have done to this".

I think that all the characters had something to do with the Kings death. I personally think MacBeth and his wife should take the blame as MacBeth physically carried out the murder and Lady MacBeth "ordered" him to do it.

Thomas Minto