Examples Of Immoral Deeds In Macbeth

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Throughout history, humans have resorted to committing immoral deeds; as can be expected, immoral deeds lead to consequences. For example, an act of murder is punished by time in prison. Likewise, in the tragedy written by William Shakespeare Macbeth, the protagonist Macbeth resorts to immoral deeds as a result of the witches’ prophecy that states Macbeth shall be king. The immoral deed, killing King Duncan, Macbeth’s cousin, is committed by Macbeth, as well as his partner in crime and life, his wife Lady Macbeth so that Macbeth can become the King immediately. Banquo, Macbeth’s best friend is also murdered by Macbeth due to the rising suspicion upon Macbeth. As any immoral deed reaps, killing Duncan had consequences. Because Macbeth committed…show more content…
The copious amounts of guilt and remorse can burden one. After committing the murder of King Duncan, Macbeth “need[s]” God’s “blessing” the most, but when he hears Duncan’s guards say “”God bless us!” Macbeth is unable to “say Amen”, as it is “[s]tuck in [his] throat” (2. 2. l 29, l l 30-32). He believes he has committed a crime so horrendous, he is not able to receive God’s blessing and therefore being burdened by guilt and remorse. Alongside Macbeth, Lady Macbeth also aids Macbeth in the murder of Duncan. Lady Macbeth’s guilt is exposed she sleepwalks. While Lady Macbeth sleepwalks, she relives her past experiences of the murder as she questions, “will these” murder “hands n’er be clean?” She exclaims that Duncan’s blood, a “damned spot” is not able to leave her hand (5. 1. l l 31-36. l l 39-40). This situation is the result of her guilt of aiding the murder of Duncan. Therefore, performing an immoral deed can have a significant toll on one’s mind by being overwhelmed by guilt and…show more content…
Right before murdering Duncan, Macbeth, with the decision to murder Duncan, hallucinates his murder weapon, a dagger. The mere thought of an immoral deed causes Macbeth to see “a dagger…before [himself]” (2. 1. l 33-36). Macbeth questions his “fatal vision” if the dagger is real or a “false creation” (2. 1. l 36). Hallucinations are not necessarily visual and can sometime be audible too. As Macbeth enters Duncan’s chamber and murders Duncan in his sleep, Macbeth hears, “[s]leep no more” (2. 2. l 38). By killing Duncan in his sleep, Macbeth has effectively “murdered” his own “sleep” (2. 2. l 39). This personification of sleep signifies that Macbeth will have sleepless night due to constant nightmares; a consequence of the immoral of killing Duncan. Macbeth’s path to being king in not cleared, as another potential obstacle stands in his way. As well as killing Duncan, Macbeth, from the fear that Banquo is getting suspicious of Macbeth’s behaviour, kills Banquo, Macbeth’s best friend. Already plagued with the guilt of Duncan’s murder, Banquo’s murder is the last nail in the coffin; Macbeth starts hallucinating Banquo’s ghost. The ghost’s “marrowless” bones and “cold” blood startles Macbeth and he exclaims to the ghost to “avunt and quit [his] sight” (3. 4. l l 94-95). Macbeth’s fear and guilt is shown when the ghost “glare[s]” at
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