Preview

Motivation, Consequence and Conscience: Macbeth Act 1, Scenes 5& 7 Essay Example

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
982 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Motivation, Consequence and Conscience: Macbeth Act 1, Scenes 5& 7 Essay Example
In Macbeth, one of William Shakespeare's most famous plays, Macbeth is faced with very tough choices and encounters several moral dilemmas. In act one, it is revealed to him in a prophecy, proven to be accurate on two other occasions, that he is to become king. Although there's already a healthy and great king, Duncan, Macbeth – now convinced it is his destiny – begins to have indecent thoughts about how to make the thrown his own. His mind quickly brings him to the idea of murdering Duncan. He tells his wife, Lady Macbeth, of the prophecy and his intentions of murder and has her full support, as she is anxious for the throne to belong to her husband. In scenes five and seven of the first act of Macbeth, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth both have significant motivating factors for murdering Duncan, but Lady Macbeth is less concerned with negative consequences and has a lighter conscience than Macbeth, who has a harder time convincing himself that he should and actually is capable of committing the crime. Lady Macbeth is strongly motivated and therefore determined to murder Duncan and is not very concerned with matters of conscience or consequence. Her prime motivation for murdering Duncan is to see Macbeth be king. She is truly devoted to Macbeth; not talking of herself as queen but only him as king. This shows that her potent motivation to murder Duncan is not purely evil and selfish, but is an act of loyalty and love towards Macbeth. Her strong motivation and ambition easily override most of her conscience, but she also takes care to summon evil spirits to remove what is left of it. She commands, “Unsex me here and fill me from the crown to the toe topfull of direst cruelty;” showing her true desire to be free of guilt or pity in order to go through with her plan. Lady Macbeth doesn't think much on the negative consequences of murdering Duncan because she doesn't see how it could go wrong; she feels now that Macbeth shall become king no matter what, as it is meant to
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Is Lady Macbeths Character Stronger Than Macbeth's '
    • 679 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Is Lady Macbeths Character Stronger Than Macbeth's '

    Lady Macbeth’s ambition and ruthlessness is evident when she asks for the spirits to “unsex [her]” so her “manliness” will give her strength to be cruel and perform murder of Duncan without remorse and compassion. Her strength of purpose is in contrast to Macbeth’s “nature” as he is “is too full ‘o the milk of human kindness”1.4 p45” to commit murder. This is confirmed later by Macbeth’s admission that his only motive for the murder of Duncan is his…

    • 679 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Macbeth vs Judas
    • 315 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Macbeth vs Judas

    In the beginning of Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, the title-character was a noble general of King Duncan of Scotland’s army, greatly respected by all. However, after meeting three witches who prophesied that he would become king, Macbeth, not seeing how that was possible, as Duncan was king, allowed thoughts of murdering the ruler to linger in his mind, until eventually, he carried out the horrible act, with evil persuading from his wife, Lady Macbeth. Although his intent was hidden at first, the consequence of his giving in to the temptation of bettering himself—much like Judas Iscariot’s situation—was later made known.…

    • 315 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Explain How Ambition Is Responsible For Macbeth's Downfall
    • 741 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Explain How Ambition Is Responsible For Macbeth's Downfall

    Unlike Macbeth, the knowledge of the prediction, makes Lady Macbeth confident in her husbands future, and her desire for the throne strengthens and so does her impatiences. She believed her husband’s nature was ‘too full o' th' milk of human kindness’ to assassinate his own monarch and interpreted it, is a weakness. The controlling, Lady Macbeth manipulated Macbeth into submission by stating ‘When you durst do it, then you are a man’ to emasculate his character. Without Lady Macbeth’s persuasive ability, Macbeth would have never undertaken the unlawful murder of King Duncan and the unethical rise to the crown. Lady Macbeth was unable to control Macbeth, as he continued the heinous crimes of ‘Murder most foul’ throughout his rule. Lady Macbeth realises that her ‘desire was got without content’ as the consequences of their murderous actions, where met with remorse and insanity. Overwhelmed with guilt, the audience is able to witness Lady Macbeth fade in to the background, as Macbeth’s overshadowing, corrupt rule, grows. Through his wife’s ambition, greed and manipulation Macbeth’s morals are destroyed and his downfall as a person and a monarch becomes…

    • 741 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's Guilt Essay Example
    • 467 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's Guilt Essay Example

    <b>Through The View Of A Reader, The Reasons Why Macbeth Is More Guilty By His Actions Then Lady Macbeth Is By Hers.</b><br><br>Macbeth is a very exciting story containing all kinds of plots and murders. The characters that are killing and are planning murders are all very deceiving and treacherous. Two of the most dangerous criminals in this play are Lady Macbeth and her husband. Together they commit the most dreadful murder by killing the King; Duncan. This is why it is difficult to determine which one of these two is more guilty, because they each do their own part in committing the crime. Lady Macbeth would prepare the plan and then encourage Macbeth to go through with it. Macbeth did the actual murdering, he was also the first person who thought about killing Duncan. Furthermore he did some killing on his own. Lady Macbeth did not have any involvement in these cases. Based on these facts, Macbeth would be found more guilty than Lady Macbeth.<br><br><br>The very first murder in this story was committed on Duncan. This crime was planned by both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The actual murder was done by Macbeth, making him more guilty of the crime. Lady Macbeth just talked about committing the crime, but she never actually went through with it nor would she ever, and that is all that counts. Talking about committing the incident is very different from actually doing it. Lady Macbeth did a little more than just talk about it though. She also urged Macbeth into doing it and that is what makes her part of this crime, but she is not as guilty as Macbeth. He really didn't have to listen to what his wife said. Macbeth had a mind of his own and he could make his own decision. The other murders that Macbeth was involved in were not committed by him, but were ordered by him. The people who did the killing had no choice, they had to do it, because they worked for Macbeth. Macbeth knew this and was a bit more guilty in these murders then lady Macbeth was when she urged…

    • 467 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Lady Macbeth's Emotional Manipulation
    • 803 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Lady Macbeth's Emotional Manipulation

    In the first two acts of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth shows herself to be a formidable woman with aspirations and a plan. She is clear about her desire to become Queen of Scotland and by way of her internal conversation, she plans her manipulation. By knowingly manipulating Macbeth and applying consistent pressure, Lady Macbeth executes her plan. She encourages Macbeth to see killing King Duncan as the only logical next step to fulfill the prophecy. Lady Macbeth’s intent, blatant disregard for life, and emotional manipulation of her husband make her morally responsible for the murder of King…

    • 803 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth's Responsibility Essay Example
    • 1199 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Macbeth's Responsibility Essay Example

    Macbeth's treason in murdering Duncan is blatantly an erroneous choice. Macbeth initially rationalises his choices, reasoning that "If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me / Without my stir" [1:III:142-143], and that it would be unseemly to assassinate Duncan "First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, / Strong both against the deed; then as his host, / Who should against his murderer shut the door." [1:VII: 13-15]. He also realises that "He (Duncan) hath honour'd me of late" [1:VII: 32], generosity which defies his morale conscience in killing Duncan. All rationales for not murdering Duncan are sound; yet Macbeth eventually opts to kill Duncan in order to satisfy his "…black and deep desire" [1:V:51] of gaining kingship. Macbeth had many opportunities to choose another path, but he abided by the dagger which "…marshall'st me the way I was going" [2:I:42], a representation and foreshadowing of the violent and bloody path he would later ‘build' his kingdom on. Although Macbeth recognises "the consequence" [1:VII: 3] which would follow after murdering Duncan, he ignores such risks. Later in the play, it is the cumulative effect of such recklessness and consequences which leads to his downfall. After the murder, Macbeth believes that that "…all great Neptune's ocean (will not) wash this blood / Clean from my hand" [2:II:63-64], indicative of a…

    • 1199 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Is Lady Macbeth Crazy Or Insane
    • 614 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Is Lady Macbeth Crazy Or Insane

    In conclusion Lady Macbeth is mentally unstable. She longs for power and to become queen. But in the end she cannot handle pressure of murder and guilt on her shoulders. This is why she killed herself. The irony of it is if she didn’t guilt Macbeth into killing Duncan for not taking his chance and being a coward, she wouldn’t have felt guilty about anything at all. Because Duncan would still be alive and none of this would have ever happened. And maybe Lady Macbeth would end up sane in the end if it wasn’t for what she had…

    • 614 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Who Is To Blame In Macbeth Essay
    • 500 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Who Is To Blame In Macbeth Essay

    In Shakespeare’s play The Tragedy of Macbeth three witches prophesied that Macbeth would be king. Doing what anyone else would do, he told his wife and she brewed up this plan to murder the king. The king would be staying at the Macbeth’s castle, Inverness for a party. At first Macbeth was against the plan but Lady Macbeth was not backing down and talked him into it. “Macbeth talks himself into a kind of thoughtful stupor as he tries to work out the situation for himself. In the following scene, Lady Macbeth will emerge and drive the hesitant Macbeth to act; she is the will propelling his achievements. Once Lady Macbeth hears of the witches’ prophecy, Duncan’s life is doomed.”( Shakespeare A 1, 1–4) Her plan was well thought out and she could not wait. He patience overpowered her excitement though as she waited for him to fall fast asleep. Soon after he was asleep she had drugged the guards and Shoved Macbeth in towards the kings resting area. Macbeth was…

    • 500 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Reconstruction of the North
    • 1412 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Reconstruction of the North

    Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are less evil than the witches because they feel guilt after committing the murders, and they show signs of goodness throughout the play, unlike the witches. At the beginning of Macbeth, Macbeth is a valiant, noble man who is loyal to King Duncan and his country, displayed by the fact that he kills Macdonwald (a traitor to Scotland.) However, after hearing the witches’ prophecy, Macbeth begins to feel ambition stir inside of him and briefly thinks of killing King Duncan. Without Lady Macbeth though, Macbeth would have never actually committed the murder of Duncan, which even she realizes when she says, “…thy nature…it is too full ‘o th’ milk of human kindness…,” after reading a letter Macbeth has sent her about the prophecy and his thoughts about Duncan (1.5.17). In one of Macbeth’s famous soliloquys, he resolves not to kill Duncan because Duncan has been a good king and Macbeth has, “…no spur to prick the sides of…

    • 1412 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why Do We Have To Do If They Were Told In Macbeth
    • 892 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Why Do We Have To Do If They Were Told In Macbeth

    Macbeth shares information as important as becoming king with his wife, which one can assume he most likely would not have done if he believed the Weїrd Sisters to be telling lies. Even though Macbeth accepts what the witches have told him as truth, he still struggles with his free will and means of fulfilling the prophecy. When speaking with Lady Macbeth, he rejects her plan to kill King Duncan, the reigning King, and tells her that they will, “proceed no further in this business”(1.7.34). Macbeth begins this scene by having new information about his future proposed to him, and questioning how, and if, it is to come to be. By the end of the scene, he has accepted the inevitable outcome, yet still holds on to the means by which it is to happen.…

    • 892 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Gender Stereotypes In Macbeth
    • 1393 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Gender Stereotypes In Macbeth

    Macbeth needed to kill King Duncan in order to get closer to his goal of becoming King but was scared. Macbeth states, “[I]f th’ assassination/ Could trammel up the consequence and catch,/ With his surcease, success; that but this blow/ Might be the be-all and the end-all here,/ But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,/ We’d jump the life to come.” (1.7.2-7). Macbeth is weak and does not have the courage to commit murder. He fears all the consequences and problems that will arise if the King is murdered. A man that is weak and lacks courage shows a feminine quality according to the stereotypical gender roles. Furthermore, Macbeth feels guilty after killing King Duncan in his sleep. He states, “ Methought I heard a voice cry 'sleep no more!/ Macbeth does murder sleep', the innocent sleep,/ Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleave of care,/ The death of each day's life, sore labour's bath,/ Balm of hurt minds,” (2.2.35-39). Macbeth kills King Duncan and he starts to hear voices in his head because of the guilt. Macbeth experiences a shock of hearing these voices as he realizes what he has done. Not to mention, he is weak and cannot control his actions after the murder as he fails to hide the evidence, the dagger. The stereotypical gender roles subvert as weakness is seen as a feminine quality. Then, Macbeth kills the family of Macduff by planning murders using his power. He states, “To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done:/ The castle of Macduff I will surprise/ Seize upon Fife, give to th’ edge o’th’ sword/ His wife, his babies, and all unfortunate souls/ That trace him in his line.” (4.1.149-153). Macbeth feels powerful and wants to take desperate actions. He uses his power as he wants to attack the castle of Macduff. The plan also includes murdering the family of Macduff. Macbeth gets the family killed and is showing signs of power during…

    • 1393 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Lady Macbeth: The Murder Of King Duncan
    • 1367 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Lady Macbeth: The Murder Of King Duncan

    In the great Shakespearean tragedy Macbeth, Lady Macbeth provides to be the catalyst of the murder of King Duncan resulting in Macbeth’s rise to power. In act one, scene five, at Inverness, Lady Macbeth receives a letter in her private chambers proclaiming her husband to be fated to become king. However, King Duncan still reigns over Scotland. Lady Macbeth paces deliberating with the knowledge that Duncan is to arrive at Inverness, as a plot begins to unfurl into her mind.…

    • 1367 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Macbeths Change Through Lady Macbeth
    • 462 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Macbeths Change Through Lady Macbeth

    From the beginning Lady Macbeth is viewed as very controlling, strong, and certain. “First, she has very little regard for her husband's humanity and actually derides him for being "too full o'th' milk of human kindness” (Thompson 1). This shows how cold Lady Macbeth is, as milk is the food of new born children, she is implying Macbeth is too much like a kind child to murder anyone. Once Macbeth has the courage to tell her he does not want to continue with the murder she rallies, calling him a ‘coward’, saying that if he could murder Duncan ‘he were a man’. This to Macbeth, a proud and mighty warrior is a deep insult, and he soon is convinced that he will carry out the murder.…

    • 462 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Power In Macbeth
    • 1039 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Power In Macbeth

    In the early acts of the play, Macbeth decides to wrongly seize power over Scotland by killing Duncan, the current king, which leads to the ultimate downfall of both him and his wife, Lady Macbeth, who supported him in his wrongdoings. Macbeth admits that he is doing the wrong thing when he says ““Stars, hide your fires/Let not light see my black and deep desires” (Shakespeare 1.4.57-60). Macbeth clearly confesses that his desires to murder the current king for power are dark and immoral, but eventually carries on with them anyway. Lady Macbeth, on the contrary, indiscreetly supports his decision, and confirms the witches’ prophecies (which state that Macbeth will be king of Scotland), when she says he “shalt be/What [he]…

    • 1039 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    What Is The Theme Of Power In Macbeth
    • 373 Words
    • 2 Pages

    What Is The Theme Of Power In Macbeth

    Macbeth: The theme of power is substantially seen through the character of Macbeth. This is shown when Lady Macbeth demands Macbeth to kill King Duncan after hearing the prophecies of the three witches, stating that Macbeth will become king. Macbeth initially did not want to commit this crime ultimately because Duncan was his king, as well as his guest in whom he shall protect. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth was portrayed as a coward in the eyes of his wife, Lady Macbeth, for denying her request. However, Macbeth subsequently builds up power and courage to make his decision, “I am settled, and bend up each corporal agent to this terrible feat. Away, and mock the time with…

    • 373 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More