English Coursework: Macbeth Essay -- English Literature

English Coursework: Macbeth In this essay I will be discussing who is responsible for the death of King Duncan In Shakespeare’s play ‘Macbeth’. The main character in the play, Macbeth, murders King Duncan. However, I feel that he was not totally to blame. I believe that both Lady Macbeth and the three witches played a part in his death and this should not be overlooked. The three witches are all sisters. We first meet the witches in the very first scene of the play when they are on the heath casting a spell. Shakespeare sets the mood of the play by having them on the moor in the thunder and lightening. This creates a feeling of evil. This is where the witches first mention Macbeth. Where the place? Upon the heath. There to meet Macbeth. The witches first meet Macbeth in scene three of act one when he is riding home after being one of the heroes in the war. He is with Banquo when he bumps in to the three ugly sisters. Macbeth is amazed to hear the witches’ prophecy. They foretell that he will be the Thane of Cawdor and will go on to be King. All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be King hereafter. This stuns Macbeth because he knows that the Thane of Cawdor is still alive. He doesn’t understand how he will become King of Scotland either. He wants to know more from the witches. 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 still lives, A prosperous gentleman; and to be king, Stands not within the prospect of belief, The witches’ prophecy has put the idea of becoming king into Macbeths mind. He starts to think about it and how it can become true. By th... ... Act 1 Scene 7. But his wife forces him to do the deed by saying that she will leave him if he does not kill him. So that shows that he would not have done it unless his wife (Lady Macbeth) had threatened to leave him. He then kills the king but it is all thought out by his wife so that he will not get caught. Showing that it is that wife that wants it to happen more than Macbeth does. In conclusion I would like to say that I think that lady Macbeth is at most fault because Macbeth would not have done it if Lady Macbeth had not of forced him. But it is true that she would not have got the idea unless Macbeth had heard it from the witches. I don’t feel that Macbeth is at any blame because as I have said he would not have done it unless his wife had forced him. I also feel that the death of King Duncan was half Lady Macbeth’s fault and half the witches.