Examples Of Soliloquies In Macbeth

In the first two acts of Macbeth, the playwright Shakespeare uses soliloquies and conversations between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to show the audience that although Macbeth murders Duncan, he still has a moral compass and is not completely corrupt. In Macbeth’s soliloquy where he agonizes over killing Duncan, he says tells himself that the king is “here in double trust: first, as I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed, then as his host, who should against his murder shut the door… his virtues will plead like angels… and pity, like a naked newborn babe” (I.vii.1-21). Macbeth struggles with his conscience because he pities Duncan, who he thinks of as a helpless “naked newborn babe”. Furthermore, Duncan arrives at his castle “in double trust” and expects Macbeth to be loyal and protect him
both as his kinsman and host. Since Macbeth acknowledges these facts, his conscience knows that to betray this trust and attack a helpless old man would be a major sin.
His moral compass guides him to make the decision to not kill Duncan, showing that although Macbeth does indeed have morals, he is easily manipulatable. In Macbeth’s soliloquy as he moves towards murdering Duncan, he sees “a dagger of the mind… witchcraft… and withered murder… [a] wolf… moves like a ghost… hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear thy very stones prate of my whereabout” (II.i.33-58). As Macbeth moves to murder Duncan, his thoughts are filled with evil images like “witchcraft” and a “wolf” which are a warning from his conscience that killing Duncan would be a crime beyond all evil. Macbeth also thinks that the “stones” show his “whereabouts” as he walks towards Duncan, showing that his moral compass knows that committing a crime. After killing Duncan, Macbeth “could not say ‘Amen’ when they did say ‘God bless us’... [he] had most need of blessing and ‘Amen’ stuck in my throat” (II.ii.31-36). Macbeth seems to have been suddenly stricken by his conscience as he is unable to say “Amen” and cannot
pray. The fact that he cannot say “Amen” suggests that his conscience has already condemned him to eternal punishment for the murder that he committed. It also proves that he feels remorseful for murdering Duncan and shows his moral compass acting as a guide to the misdeeds of his behavior. Although his spurring ambition and influence from Lady Macbeth causes Macbeth to commit some corrupt actions, Macbeth does indeed have a moral compass, evident when he is aware of the difference between right and wrong.