Preview

Prosecution of Macbeth (If He Was Tried for the Murder of Duncan) Essay Example

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1302 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Prosecution of Macbeth (If He Was Tried for the Murder of Duncan) Essay Example
Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, we have heard the defence glorify Macbeth in an effort to cloud the horrible acts of murder that he committed. The question that we are here to answer today stands, ?is Macbeth guilty of the murder of our beloved king, Duncan?. Many questions cloud our judgement today. Did Macbeth have a motive to kill the king? Did Macbeth meticulously premeditate the murder of Duncan? Did Macbeth carryout, then cover up the murder of King Duncan? Ladies and gentlemen it will be difficult, nay impossible for you to deny any of these allegations of murder against Macbeth, because simply put, he did commit these vicious acts of murder.
<br>
<br>Members of the jury, King Duncan was ruler of Scotland in a kingdom which the Scottish lineage to the throne moves from father to first-born son. However a member from within the same bloodline could lay claim to the throne if Duncan had no living sons. Therefore a question ponders in your mind. Why would Macbeth murder king Duncan? Macbeth had no legitimate claim to the throne
<br>
<br>However ladies and gentleman, what some of you may not know is that Macbeth was in-fact the King?s cousin. Before Duncan?s untimely death he stated to Macbeth: ?O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman? (pg 32) which confirms that Macbeth was in-fact Duncan?s cousin. Therefore Macbeth was in the same bloodline as Duncan, and therefore could take the throne if Duncan had no sons who were able to ascend to the throne. But since Duncan had already named Malcolm as heir to the throne, Duncan had to be murdered. This was always in the back of MacBeth?s mind from the very beginning. The prophecy of the three witches, only fired his imagination to confirm the terrible deeds he was already planning, the death of king Duncan and tearing the throne from his dying hands.
<br>
<br>Macbeth stated ?I am settled, and bend up each corporal agent to this terrible feat. Away, and mock the time with fairest show: False face must hide what false heart

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In the essay “Don’t Blame the Eater,” David Zinczenko describes himself as a kid who would eat regularly at fast food restaurants until he got “lucky”. He argues that most teenagers eat fast food instead of healthy and nutritious food. I, on the other hand, had a very different experience as a child.…

    • 422 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Scared To Death Summary

    • 355 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Ed Yong's article, "Scared to Death", describes how returning wolves to Yellowstone affected the elk population's patterns and behaviors. Many people believe that the fear of being eaten is what drives animals away. However, this theory is not completely true. The Yellowstone elk population was thriving, but the wolves' return impacted it on many different levels.…

    • 355 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Therefore Duncan's death would not be favored by any one, it will be as an act of betrayal and disloyalty, not relief. With Macbeth committing murder, he risks his honor; Macbeth has been proven to be a loyal and honorable noble. If the murder leads Macbeth back to the investigators, Macbeth's life will be ruined. Macbeth's wife helps him to reconsider the effects of killing Duncan. While being king, Macbeth will be more powerful than a noble.…

    • 278 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee!” (2.3. 74). Thy greatest king hath been murdered. Thoughts of sorrow and wondering have filled thee. Who wouldst do such a thing? Was thy host not watchful enough with the most honored man in his presence? Maybe thou should have stayed with his Majesty for he is of the highest nobility and honor possible. Who ever hath committed this crime is guilty of murder and treason. Oh! The people, the people! What shall become of them without thy leader? Will the criminals roam the streets, with the people fearing to leave their homes? All of these are questions with no answers! I do believe it’s my turn to step in and allow myself the privilege of discovering which fiend it was that hath murdered his Majesty, the king. At first, it was thought to be the beast like guards who stood outside the king’s chamber. It deeply concerns me as to why Macbeth would dispose of them so soon after the death of his royal highness without the chance to probe their minds with questions and make them face the rest of Scotland as those whom betrayed their leader. Maybe it was the sons of the great Duncan which have set up the murderous plot to gain the throne for their own selfish purpose. The fact that they have left the country and fled in opposite directions is beyond my knowledge. If they wanted to be king, why murder your own father and flee to a different country…? What about the recently promoted Thane of Cawdor? He holds much too great of an honor and sincerely respected Duncan. But still, he did murder the guards; maybe he was hiding something like a vital piece of information. Now that I think of it, if I had been the one in Macbeth’s position, I too may have lost my temper. In the wise words of Macbeth, “Who can be wise, amazed, temp’rate, and furious,/ Loyal, and neutral, in a moment? No man.” (2.3. 27-28).…

    • 1461 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the play “Macbeth” written by William Shakespeare it is difficult to determine who is more responsible for the murder of King Duncan, Macbeth or Lady Macbeth? It is difficult to determine who is more responsible because each Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have done so many things to each be named the guiltier person.…

    • 996 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    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
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth Power Analysis

    • 587 Words
    • 3 Pages

    / Away, and mock the time with fairest show. / False face must hide what the false heart doth know” (I. vii. 92-96). In this line, Macbeth shows he can completely ignore his loyalties to the king if it means he can benefit himself. Although Lady Macbeth does play a role in convincing him to follow through with the act, Macbeth shows no indication of hesitation at this point. He is completely determined to take away Duncan’s life in order to improve his own.…

    • 587 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    adies and Gentlemen of the jury, most of you have heard of the terrible tale of the Macbeth family, a tale of ambition, greed and murder. Many of you may believe that Macbeth was the only culprit in the murder of Duncan, King of Scotland. However today, we the prosecution, will demonstrate to you that it was, in fact Lady Macbeth who was the mastermind behind the murder. She may not have killed Duncan herself, however she planned the murder, she took complete control of Macbeth and she covered up the murder. She used Macbeth like a puppet on a string.…

    • 264 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the beginning of the play, Macbeth hears a prophecy foretold by the Three Witches, in which he’s told that he is destined to kill King Duncan in order to acquire the throne.…

    • 793 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Metaphors In Macbeth

    • 168 Words
    • 1 Page

    3. Prophecies The three witches predicts that Macbeth will be the thane of Cawdor, thane of Glamis and then the King. They also predicted that Banquo’s son will be the king. Their prophecies caused Macbeth and Lady Macbeth to dream about their future and planted the idea of killing Duncan inside their heads.…

    • 168 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth's Ruthless Quotes

    • 717 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Macbeth’s murder of Duncan was the first crime he commits, Macbeth kills Duncan in order to sit on the throne of Scotland. Killing Duncan wasn’t easy for Macbeth, a murdering beginner, he thinks of all the reasons why he should not kill Duncan: Duncan is his relative and he is his “kinsman”; he is Duncan’s host and Duncan is his guest; Duncan is the most trusting…

    • 717 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth then argues with his conscience on whether to kill the king or not, trapped by the delusion of ambitious virtue. Although he had many more reasons to not kill the king like his loyalty towards the king or the fact that since Macbeth is King Duncan’s host, Macbeth was to be the one saving him from the murderer than to be the murderer himself. Macbeth also argues saying that King Duncan is a king worthy of the loyalty of all his subjects and doesn’t deserve to…

    • 616 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Witches have been tinkering with Macbeth’s fate. They have been telling him that he shall be king. The third witch states “All hail, Macbeth, that shall be king hereafter!” (Line 50, page 327). Macbeth does not understand how he could become king. The Witches also speak to Lady Macbeth about Macbeth becoming king. They both know that they will have to execute the king and sons for Macbeth to become king. Lady Macbeth begins to think out a plan for the king’s execution.…

    • 471 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mental Illness In Macbeth

    • 749 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In the beginning, Macbeth is influenced by the witches to murder King Duncan. When the title of succession is given to Malcolm, Macbeth is determined to follow through with the witches’ prophecies in any way possible into becoming the “king hereafter” (I: 3,52). This…

    • 749 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    What Macbeth is stating is that he is ready to kill King Duncan, and after he is done he will have to act upon his ‘false face’ and try not to have the guilt sink in from the truth in his heart. These evil ways proved Macbeth to be very cold hearted and a serial killer. There is no doubt that Macbeth was a villain by his greed, despair, and…

    • 1344 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays