There were many people involved in the death of Duncan, the King of Scotland. However,
Macbeth bears the major responsibility for the murder. Macbeth committed the task by his
own hand. He understood the significance of the prediction in relation to his own
ambitions. Finally, Macbeth was aware of his actions and he accepted them.
Macbeth murdered Duncan. He was the one who stabbed the King and he admits that freely in
the play. "I have done the deed" relates Macbeth to his Lady after he completed the
objective. (II, ii, l.19) Before the murder he says
"I go and it is done; the bell invites me.
Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell
That summons thee to heaven, or to hell." (II, I, l.69-71)
In such he plainly states his intent to murder Duncan and again later on, he mentions in
a soliloquy that "To know my deed, 'twere best not know myself." (II, ii, l.92) Preceding
the actual death of Duncan, Macbeth's ambitions became apparent as the significance of
the prediction and actual events emerged.
Being an ambitious man, Macbeth said
"... I have no spur
To prick the sides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ambition which o'erleaps itself
And falls on the other." (I,vii,l.25-28)
In this speech Macbeth broadcasts his immense ambitions which are the only reason he is
pursuing the witches prediction. Macbeth, upon hearing the witches speak was startled at
their prophecy. Banquo said to him "Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear / Things
that do sound so fair?"(I,iii,l.54-55) Macbeth was startled because of the implications
of the forecast. Macbeth had thought before about the very thing that he was now being
told was his. He was infatuated with the idea and he lusted after information pertaining
to it.
"Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more:
By Sinel's death I know I am thane of Glamis;
But how of Cawdor? The thane of Cawdor lives,
A prosperous gentleman; and to be king
Stands not within the prospect of belief,
No more than to be Cawdor. Say from whence
You owe this strange intelligence? or why
With such prophetic greeting? speak, I charge you." (I,iii,l.73-81) Macbeth began
to fluster and ramble on, as if in fear that the truth of his thoughts become clear to
those near him. He wanted more information from the witches on how he was to become King,
but he feared that he would be considered traitorous and disloyal. Which he was,
considering that he was reflecting on the possibility of becoming King by murdering
Duncan. "'Would they had stay'd!" shows how much Macbeth longed for the throne.
(I,iii,l.85) His ambitions were a sources of this longing and desire. The desire for the
kingship which he thought through and finally accepted.
Macbeth understood what he was involving himself in. He had thought much about the
possibility of assassinating Duncan so that he could take the royal seat. "This have I
thought good to deliver thee" he said in his letter to Lady Macbeth. (I,v,l.10) Actually
Macbeth thought so much about the prospect that he changed his mind and grew indecisive.
Macbeth did, however settle his mind, "I am settled, and bend up / Each corporal agent to
this terrible feat." (I,vii,l.89-90) He was terrified of being found guilty and
traitorous, so he hid his intentions which shows his clarity of mind and the fact that
Macbeth knew what he was to do was wrong and that it horrified him.
"The prince of Cumberland! That is a step
On which I must fall down, or else o'er-leap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires:
Then eye wink at the hand! yet that be,
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see." (I,iv,l.55-60)
Macbeth charges the stars to shut their light off and to hide his true intentions from
everyone around him, including himself. In doing so, Macbeth comprehended what he was to
do and accepted the responsibility of the death of Duncan, the King of Scotland.
Macbeth, the thane of Glamis and the thane of Cawdor, holds the major liability for the
demise of Duncan. He performed the homicide by his own hands. He was ambitious and
understood the relation of the foretelling. Finally, Macbeth understood and accepted the
plan for the assassination of the King. In these three ways, Macbeth bore the dominant
burden for the death of Duncan.
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