It is evident that he does not want to kill Duncan by the language that he uses when discussing the deed. When talking about killing Duncan he is so against it that he cannot even muster up the strength to use the words: kill Duncan,
‘his surcease. Bear the knife. It. This blow.’ (Act I Scene 7)
Instead he uses euphemisms to talk about the killing of Duncan.
His conscience also strikes after he kills Duncan. Macbeth is obsessed by his inability to say ‘Amen’.
‘But wherefore could not I pronounce ‘Amen’?’ (Act 2 Scene 2)
Not being able to speak the words of God will not bless him, as he is doomed to eternal damnation.
Macbeth also thinks that he hears a voice in his sleep telling him that he shall sleep no more,
‘ Still it cried, ‘sleep no more’ to all the house.’ (Act 2 Scene 2)
His conscience is attacking him severely at this point in the play, as he thinks he hears a voice cry that he shall never sleep again.
The weakness of Duncan is his misjudgement of different people’s characters. In Act 1 Scene 4, just before Macbeth arrives, Duncan and Malcolm discuss the old Thane of Cawdor, and how he betrayed Duncan. Duncan comments that it is impossible to tell if a man is trust-worthy by looking at him,
‘There’s no art,
To find the mind’s construction in the face.
He was a gentleman on whom I built,
An absolute trust.’ (Act I Scene 4)
Duncan is disappointed by his former ally’s treachery. When Macbeth arrives, Duncan greets him warmly. Duncan believes him to be trust-worthy. The audience, having heard Macbeth’s asides, know that this is not the case. This shows Duncan’s inability to realize that like the previous Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth will be a traitor. This is also a good example of dramatic irony in the play.
In the first scene of the play, the witches set the scene for what is to come in the rest of the play. The witches meet in foul weather, they speak of thunder, lightning, filthy air and fog. This immediately gives the impression that the play is dark and dangerous, in which the theme of evil is central,
‘Fair is foul and foul is fair.’ (Act 1 Scene 1)
These words that the witches speak seem to contradict each other- they are confusing. These words introduce the ideas of illusion and reality in the play.
The witches play an important part in the ideas and thoughts that cross through Macbeth’s mind. From Scene one onwards, they control the thoughts of Macbeth. They meet Macbeth and make predictions about what will happen to him in the future. At first Macbeth does not believe them and simply laughs them off. The witches predict the following:
- Macbeth is the Thane of Glamis.
- The witches predict he will become Thane of Cawdor.
- The witches predict Macbeth will become king.
‘All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis.’
‘All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor.’
‘All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter.’ (Act I Scene 3)
After making their predictions, they are always lingering in the back of Macbeth’s mind. Every time Macbeth makes a decision or decides to take action, the thought of the witches’ predictions is always there in the back of his mind; it affects his thinking and his actions, basically the witches are controlling Macbeth.
Throughout the play, the witches’ predictions come true. When Macbeth becomes the Thane of Cawdor, he recognizes that the witches’ predictions about his life are coming true, and he realises that the next prediction they made was for him to become king. Macbeth has already been thinking about becoming king (his ambition as he feels he has earned the right) and treats the witches’ predictions as confirmation of his earlier thinking. I think that Macbeth uses the prophesies from the witches as water to grow the seeds of hope already there. The thoughts of Macbeth are put across to the audience by asides,
‘My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,
Shakes so my single state of man that function.’ (Act I Scene 3)
This quote shows an example of Macbeth talking about how he has already thought about becoming king; although he thought it would not come about in such circumstances: killing Duncan. His reaction is as if some one has read his mind. Macbeth is excited by the witches’ words, but when he receives news that he is the Thane of Cawdor, he has proof that they know the future and he begins to believe them.
Macbeth is effectively a weak person,
‘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?’ (Act 1 Scene 3)
The witches chose the right time and the right place to approach Macbeth. He is full of glory from the recent battle and fresh from fighting and killing.
The witches start controlling the thoughts of Macbeth, as each prediction comes true he becomes more concerned about the prophecies they have put before him.
Are the witches turning Macbeth insane? Are they controlling all of his thoughts? In the speech where Macbeth sees an illusion of a dagger, are the witches responsible for that?
‘Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle towards my hand? Come, let me clutch thee:’ (Act 2 Scene 1)
I think that the witches are responsible for the illusion of the dagger. The way they control Macbeth’s thoughts through the play is uncanny, and I believe that they are having a very negative effect on Macbeth, making him feel guilty. Maybe the fact that Macbeth knew what was to happen in his life disturbed him. If Macbeth never knew that he was to become king, then maybe none of this would have happened. The witches have complete control over Macbeth, and without saying anything, they convince him to kill Duncan; such is the power they have.
It could be argues that the witches are simply trying to cause trouble,
‘There to meet with Macbeth’. (Act I Scene 1)
They know that Macbeth is coming and it could be said that they are deliberately trying to ‘play’ with Macbeth’s thoughts.
The mystery of the witches’ presence is added to by the specific language that Shakespeare uses. Every other character in the play speaks in blank verse, apart from the three witches.
‘I’ll drain him as dry as hay:
Sleep shall neither night nor day
Hang upon his penthouse lid;
He shall live a man forbid. (Act I Scene 3)
By doing this, it automatically sets them away from the normal. The witches speak in rhyme, and this method emphasises their mystery to the audience.
During Shakespeare’s time, when the play was written, witches were strongly believed in. They were hated during this time and were seen as evil people who could bring only bad things to the world. They were anti-religion, and this annoyed members of the church. This led to some witches being killed as a result of church concerns. The play was successful because at the time, the thought of having witches among normal people captured the imagination of everyone. The play was very appropriate to the state of the countries beliefs at that particular time.
The influence of Lady Macbeth over Macbeth is another factor in the eventual killing of Duncan. Her ability to constantly persuade Macbeth to go ahead with it is amazing,
‘When you durst do it, then you were a man.’ (Act I Scene 7)
She taunts Macbeth saying that to prove he is a man he must complete this deed. She questions his manhood, calling him a coward, which is a big incentive for him to prove her wrong,
‘Art thou afeared
to be the same in thine own act and valour
as thou art in desire?’ (Act I Scene 7)
This is an important part of Lady Macbeth’s approach, as Macbeth’s rank and fame depend on him being courageous and brave. This speech seems to work, as Macbeth complete the deed and murders Duncan.
Lady Macbeth also says that Macbeth has promised to do this, so he must fulfil the promise he has made,
‘What beast was,t then
That made you break your enterprise to me? (Act 1 Scene 7)
This is her opening line of the scene, and she is simply pointing out that he raised the idea first, not her.
Another method she uses to get Macbeth to kill Duncan is by telling him he cannot love her without doing this deed,
‘From this time
such I account thy love.’ (Act 1 Scene 7)
This personal taunt to Macbeth really affects him, as it is unexpected that their relationship is so strong.
When Macbeth is strongly against killing Duncan, Lady Macbeth realises that it will take extreme measures to change his mind. She does this by saying that she would kill their child. Why does she say this? Lady Macbeth lost a child when she was young, and Macbeth is shocked that she says she would have smashed it on the floor than break a promise. This is a huge sacrifice, as she says she would give up the joy and happiness of being a mother for Macbeth to be king. The way she says this to Macbeth is quite abrupt and violent, trying to use this as a shock tactic to convince Macbeth,
‘I have given suck, and know
How tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me:
I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums,
And dash’d the brains out, had I so sworn as you
Have done to this.’ (Act 1 Scene 7).
Lady Macbeth realises that that the doubts Macbeth holds need to be overcome, and she needs to use severe methods to do this.
I think that Lady Macbeth may have ulterior motives to persuade Macbeth to kill Duncan. If Macbeth kills Duncan then he will become king, leaving Lady Macbeth as queen. This perhaps could be the reason behind her persuading him so strongly. This may be the reason why she seems to guide her husband so much; she can get power and status without having to do anything at all; I think she is simply using Macbeth to get what she wants, to be queen herself.
Lady Macbeth’s incentive to get Macbeth to kill Duncan increases when she reads what he says in the letter. This is her reaction to the letter sent from Macbeth,
‘What thou art promised; yet do I fear thy nature,
It is too full o’th’milk of human kindness’. (Act I Scene 5)
Macbeth is saying in the letter that he cannot do the deed because it is not in his nature; this increases the incentive of Lady Macbeth to get Macbeth to kill Duncan and fulfil his ambitions. She decides she will make sure that Macbeth is king,
‘Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be
What thou art promised.’ (Act 1 Scene 5)
It is uncanny, as it is as if they are both thinking exactly the same thing. Lady Macbeth does not hesitate for a moment, immediately inviting evil spirits to enter her,
‘Come you spirits
That tend on mortal thoughts! Unsex me here,
And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full
Of direst cruelty!’ (Act 1 Scene 5)
She knows that she will need evil power, and she has no natural evil within her. This is why she invites them to enter them.
Lady Macbeth often gets annoyed with Macbeth’s negative thinking, and his inability to accept the deed which he must complete. She mocks him, and expresses her opinion about Macbeth’s dim mental strength quite often,
‘Was the hope drunk
Wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since?
And wakes it now to look so freely?’ (Act 1 Scene 7)
This method of taunting works in Lady Macbeth’s favour, as Macbeth sets out to prove her wrong, and kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth mainly thinks for Macbeth and tells him what to do and when to do it. They say behind every successful man there is a strong woman; I believe that this couple also follow this rule.
In conclusion I feel that all the points I have mentioned have had some affect on why Macbeth kills Duncan in the play. In different ways, each factor almost encourages him to kill Duncan: Duncan’s vulnerability to spot traitors around him makes it much easier for Macbeth to get away with the murder. The witches control the thoughts of Macbeth, and as each prediction comes true, the more the witches’ predictions are in the mind of Macbeth. He feels that what will be will be, and if he has to kill Duncan to be king then so be it. The presence of Lady Macbeth is also an important factor, and I think the most influential upon Macbeth. I think that she encourages Macbeth so much because she is concerned about her future. If Macbeth kills Duncan then Lady Macbeth will be queen; she will have power, which is what I feel she has wanted during the whole play. She encourages Macbeth so much, she taunts him, and she questions his manhood, all to have power for herself. The whole play is filled with twists and different ideas on why Macbeth kills Duncan, but I feel the following quote sums up the main reason why Macbeth kills him,
‘How tender ‘tis to love the babe that milks me:
I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums
And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn
As you have done to this.’ (Act I Scene 7)
I feel this quote sums up why Macbeth kills Duncan because it shows the methods of persuasion of Lady Macbeth. I think Lady Macbeth is the main reason behind the killing of Duncan, as she taunts him by saying he is not a man if he does not perform the deed. Her methods obviously work on Macbeth as the deed is finally done.
