Macbeth Essay

Kelsey McCabe
Period One
Chamberlain

Macbeth illustrates the eternal struggle, between good and evil, right and
wrong and the need for power. Macbeth, and even more his wife, Lady
Macbeth’s hunger for power is ultimately what causes their downfall, after
fourteen murders; of a beloved king, helpless bystanders, and a character trying
to do the right thing. The play Macbeth has various kinds of murder. Throughout
the play though, it does distinguish between honourable and dishonourable
violence and murders. Most of the murders and violence are dishonourable. The
few honourable murders and the surrounding plot around them do however
show how the plea for peace is thread throughout the play.

The honourable deaths do not appear until you near the end of the play.
The first one is the deaths of Lady Macduff, her family, and anyone who was in
the wrong place at the wrong time. This could be debated because they were
killed to hurt Macduff. But their deaths in the end were very necessary to help
restore peace to Scotland. The killing of Macduff’s family put the gears in motion
to attack Scotland; this lead to the killing of Macbeth and the restoring of peace.
The next honourable death is that of Young Siward. He is the first to try and
defeat Macbeth, Although Macbeth warns him that he will not be killed of anyone
born of a woman; Young Siward still tries to bring the tyrant down. “What’s he
That was born of woman? Such a one Am I to dear, or none.” (A5 svii, 2-4).
“Thou liest, abhorred tyrant; with my sword I’ll prove the lie though speak’st.”
(A5 svii, 14-15).

There are many dishonourable murders in Macbeth. The first one is in the
second act of the play, the murder of King Duncan. So hungry to be queen, Lady
Macbeth devises a plan to kill Duncan, fulfilling the prophecies earlier delivered
to Macbeth. At first Macbeth is hesitant and unwilling to cooperate but Lady
Macbeth calls him a coward and unmanly. Macbeth, not wanting to disappoint
his wife and feeling pressured, agrees to the Murder of the great king. From here
the murders become easier as Macbeth becomes desensitized and enjoys the life
of being king. In addition to the king, the innocent guards were also killed.
Macbeth was worried that they guards would know they did not kill the King and
so they simply needed to remain silent. Then comes the death of Banquo, and
the attempted murder at Fleance. Banquo had the prophecy of being the father
of a line of kings. Fearing being dethroned, Macbeth hires three murders.
Fleance, who could be the next king, according to the three witches also needed
to be killed, so again Macbeth could remain king. “’Tis safer to be that which we
destroy, Than, by destruction, dwell in doubtful joy.” (A3sii, 7-8)

The plea for peace in Macbeth is threaded through the play. It starts
when Macbeth is given the second set of prophecies by the witches. This makes
Macbeth over confident and leads to his downfall, and peace is restored to
Scotland. Macduff goes to England to bring back Malcolm, sacrificing his family to
help reinstate peace to Scotland. Finally, Lady Macbeth commits suicide, because
she knows that she cannot win, her guilt and grief cause her to take her own life.
This leaves Macbeth alone, which aids in his eventual defeat.

“Shall draw him on to his confusion:

He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear
His hopes ‘bove wisdom, grace, and fear:
And you all know security
Is mortals’ chiefest enemy.” (A3sv, 29-33)

The play Macbeth does distinguish between honourable and dishonourable

deaths through the play. The play also is a plea for peace. Macbeth is bloody,
but in the end all works out and peace is restored to Scotland, after the main
character is defeated.
 Macbeth Essay
Work Cited

Kelsey McCabe
Period One
Chamberlain

Shakespeare, William Macbeth Toronto; Harcourt, Canada 1988