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Moral Decision Making Within Macbeth Philosophy Essay

Paper Type: Free Essay Subject: Philosophy
Wordcount: 770 words Published: 1st Jan 2015

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There are some decisions in life that are moral wrong but by making these decisions one can obtain what they want. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth that is exactly what happens. Even thought Macbeth is this great solider he is not the dominate one in the relationship between himself and Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is power hunger and use Macbeth to become Queen. Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth to kill for the crown and it spirals out of control when it leads to one murder after another. Macbeth was a good man but he lost his way when he got brainwashed by the prophecies, Lady Macbeth and his paranoia.

Lady Macbeth was the one who convinced Macbeth to take the crown even though it would require killing Duncan, a close friend of Macbeth. Macbeth is reluctant but does it and betrays the trust of Duncan. She revealed a monster with no remorse by convincing him to kill. Even though she never killed anyone physical she was eaten up with guilt and went crazy and could not live with herself so she eventually took her own life. “Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.” (V, i, 50). This quote shows Lady Macbeth’s guilt and how she can not get away from it no matter how hard she tries.

After Duncan’s murder Macbeth changes. He becomes paranoid of everyone must cover up his tracks and kill anyone that is suspicious of him. Then he has to kill Banquo and Fleance so that all the work and worry he is going through is for him and not for Banquo’s decedents. “To be thus is nothing, But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature Reigns that which would be fear’d” (III, i, 47). This quote says that Macbeth is scared that Banquo descendents will steal the crown from him and he will not be content until Banquo and Fleance and killed. Macbeth also has reasons to fear Macduff so he hatches a plot to kill Macduff and his family but Macduff fled before the murderers show up. “Then live, Macduff; what need I fear of thee? “But yet I’ll make assurance double sure, And take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live” (IV, i, 82). This quote show Macbeth is starting to descent in to madness because right now he has no reason to fear Macduff but will try to kill him anyway. Macbeth is scared and must kill this people in order to feel safe and secure to protect his crown he stole.

Macbeth’s power crazed brutality relentless and he thought he was unstoppable. Macbeth was just trying to escape fate; if the prophecy about him becoming thane and king came true could he stop himself from being killed. So he killed Banquo and tried to kill Fleance. “For Banquo’s issue have I filed my mind; For them the gracious Duncan have I murder’d; Put rancours in the vessel of my peace Only for them; and mine eternal jewel Given to the common enemy of man, To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!” (III, i, 64). It worries Macbeth that he has to kill his friends in order to get power and to keep that power. He also had Macduff’s family killed and tried to kill Macduff with good reason because he eventually comes back and kills Macbeth. In Macbeth’s final scene he becomes full of himself and think he can take on any one who was not born of a woman. Even though he was warned about Macduff he did not think that Macduff was not born of a woman.  “Thou wast born of woman. But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn, Brandish’d by man that’s of a woman born.” (V, vii, 12). Macbeth went crazy, he stop believing in reality and only believing the prophecies. Macbeth believes that he could kill an entire army as long as they were all born from a women, the only one he should fear is the one who is not born from a women and it end up being the one who he was told to fear, Macduff.

Macbeth was a good soldier and an honorable man until he was told he would be king. He and Lady Macbeth came up with a plot to kill the king so Macbeth would be king even though Macbeth was unsure how he felt he when through with Lady Macbeth’s plan. After that he went on a killing spree to protect his power. He never really got to enjoy it because his reign was so short and fearful. Macbeth’s crazy idea to become the king through murder and deception lead him in to an early grave. He should have never let himself get swept up by everyone else. Macbeth should have thought for himself, if he did the book might not have ended tragic for him.

 

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