All the respected leaders that have walked this earth, have followed the basic principles of being a responsible leader. In Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, many characters are driven by and some disobey these principles known as “kingly graces”. Lady Macbeth pushes aside mercy to gain the title of Queen. Furthermore, Banquo ignores verity to see his prophecies come true for his own selfish reason. Individuals who disregard “kingly graces” face punishment for their faulty judgement. To begin, mercy is a quality that should never be disregarded, or as a result there will be consequences that follow. Lady Macbeth disregards mercy when she thoroughly plans out every detail of King Duncan’s death. Believing what her husband …show more content…
LADY MACBETH Wash your hands, put on your nightgown; look not so pale: I tell you yet again, Banquo’s buried; he cannot come out on’s grave. (5.1.54-59)
Lady Macbeth has been experiencing ongoing night terrors and she has begun to sleepwalk. She has been severely punished for what she has done; as a result she cannot sleep without experiencing horrors that connect back to the night of King Duncan’s murder. She has become ill and so sick that even a doctor who has dealt with people similar to her, cannot help her. Disregarding mercy cannot be achieved without there being a consequence.
Likewise, when a person ignores verity, that individual will be penalized for their ignorance. Banquo disregards verity when he is aware of Macbeth’s previous actions, but chooses not to tell anyone, so that he can see if his own prophecies will come true. Seeing that all of Macbeth’s prophecies came true, Banquo decides to keep his knowledge on Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to himself, to witness the witches’ predictions come to life: Thou hast it now: king, Cawdor, Glamis, all.
As the weird women promised; and I fear
Thou play’dst most foully for’t: yet it was said
It should not stand in thy