What Influences Persuade Macbeth To Kill King Duncan?

The Jacobean audience would have been very cautious the idea of witchcraft and that anything that was unnatural was against the divine order that was decided by God. Shakespeare's use of the witches would have heated the audience's reactions to the play, as it was a criminal offence to use any form of unnatural practices especially against the King.

In Act 1, Scene 3, Macbeth and Banquo return from the battle and come across three weird sisters. They talk about Macbeth as if they know him and they predict the future stating that Macbeth will become thane of Cawdor and later, king: "All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis...hail to thee Thane of Cawdor...that shalt be king hereafter!" Macbeth is interested about what they say: "Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more." Banquo suspects that the witches are crooked and distrusts them: " What, can the devil speak true? When the witches disappear Macbeth wants to know more: "Speak, I charge you" Banquo jokes and says "Or have we eaten on the insane root". This shows that Macbeth and Banquo have different characters, as Banquo doesn't take things seriously.

When Macbeth and Banquo return to camp, Ross and Angus enter and it is announced that Macbeth is to become the Thane of Cawdor and what the witches predicted becomes true. Macbeths responds to the information by saying "The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me in borrowed robes?" he is informed that he has earned the title due to the Thane being "a most disloyal traitor." Now that the first thing the witches predicted had grown to be reality, Macbeth opens his horizons and thinks of what the witches had also predicted, for him to become king!

The letter that Macbeth sends to his wife is very important because it shows that they have no secrets in their relationship and she is his "dearest partner of greatness". Lady Macbeth is inspired by Macbeths letter and her reaction shows that she is determined that he will become king: "Glamis thou art, and Cawdor; and shalt be what art promis'd" she also worries that his good nature will get the better of his ambition and her influences: "yet I do fear thy nature"

When Macbeth returns to his castle he tells lady Macbeth "Duncan comes here tonight." Lady Macbeths replies: "And when goes hence?" Macbeth replies: Tomorrow, as he purposes." Then lady Macbeth suggests the death of King Duncan: "O never shall sun that morrow see". Lady Macbeth describes Macbeth's reaction: "Your face, my Thane, is a book where men May read strange matters." This tells us that Macbeth is troubled by her thoughts but it also makes him realise that he is not the only person to be "fanatical" of such a sin. Lady Macbeth ends by advising him to "look like th' innocent flower, but be the serpent under't." Macbeth states, "We will speak further." Starting from this point onwards she pushes him into to become king because of her ambition and determination. Lady Macbeth is determined to get what she wants this includes the use of a 'metaphysical aid' to commit the deed as she describes: "The illness should attend to it." She also calls on the spirits to help her and will give up the tender qualities of being a woman to become an authoritative woman with a persistent and determined character: "unsex me here". A Jacobean audience would have found this immensely irregular and would be vary wary of her character. They would have expected her to be a civilised and gracious, with a lady like presence. They would have also thought she was indulging in which craft and would have been extremely cautious of her character.

Macbeth finally gets a moment alone to think about the murder of Duncan. His ambition tells him that he wants to become king but he knows that it is the ultimate sin in the eyes of god and he will be punished in an after life "We'd jump the life to come". Now he considers the fact Duncan is a guest in his castle and he should be protecting him as a host not trying to harm him. Next he thinks of Duncan's character and realises that he is a king with divine superiority and he is a good ruler of Scotland. Then he realises that the only thing that is driving him to commit the deed is his ambition plus if what the witches predicted is to become a reality he will eventually become king. If Duncan is murdered he won't immediately become king, as Malcolm is the heir. Macbeth finally comes to the conclusion that it is wrong to kill his king and decides his mind is made up, his wife enters and he tells her: "we will proceed no further in this business", lady Macbeth reacts with fury and she calls him a coward: "And live a coward in thine own esteem", the way she says this to Macbeth would make him see an unfamiliar side of his wife and this would make him hesitate. She plays on the fact that he doesn't love her if he wont carry out the murder for her and he cannot be a man. Gradually the idea of murdering Duncan begins to establish in his mind, as he doesn't want her to see him being fearful. As lady Macbeth explains her ploy, Macbeth agrees to killing Duncan and is determined to carry out the murder not only because of her influence but also because of the witches and his ambition.

Even with her initial calmness and calculation, Lady Macbeth is finally conquered by her inner demons. In Act 5, Scene3, she sleepwalks and reveals her guilty feelings and tries to wash invisible blood from her hands. Her death is reported in Act1, Scene7. It was without doubt suicide.

English Coursework

Michael David Cain