Why Does Macbeth Kill Duncan

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WHY DOES MACBETH KILL DUNCAN

Macbeth has nothing against Duncan personally – in fact, he thinks he has been a good king

              ‘This Duncan…hath been/So clear in his great office’

Further arguments against killing Duncan are that Macbeth is a relative of Duncan’s, he is supposed to be a trusted subject of Duncan’s and he is Duncan’s host on this occasion. However, the worst thing is, if he kills Duncan he is committing regicide and he believes that is a sin which would send him to hell.

There are three main influences on Macbeth’s decision to kill Duncan: Macbeths own ambitions to be the next king; the influence of the witches’ prophecies; and his wife’s longing for the prestige and power of her husband becoming the foremost man in Scotland.

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Macbeth, not Duncan, is the most respected man in Scotland. The wounded captain calls him:

           ‘…brave Macbeth, well he deserves that name…’

Macbeth has defeated two threats to Scottish security in a brief space of time: the rebels from the West under the control ‘the merciless Macdonald’ and the king of Norway who was attempting to invade in the East. Macbeth’s mental and physical strength is such that he defeats both in a short space of time.

According to Macbeth Scotland needs a strong king and Duncan’s sons are ...

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