Description one essay that includes an introduction, three body paragraphs and a conclusion. The essay will be on the following prompt: -Who is responsible for the murder of king Duncan? Choose the ch

                                                                             Macbeth: The Murder of King Duncan

Macbeth is one of the outstanding plays of the medieval age. The play is set in Scotland and charts a gory rise Macbeth, a Scottish warrior, to power and his tragic downfall. In Macbeth, King Duncan is murdered before Macbeth assumes his position as king of Scotland. Various characters are to blame for the death of King Duncan. They have different degrees of responsibility for the murder of the King. As a skilled soldier, Macbeth was experienced in act of killing and therefore used his skills in the assassination of King Duncan. This is evident enough that he is completely responsible for his actions throughout the play. However, it is possible to consider Macbeth to be solely responsible for the death of the king but other characters such as the witches and Lady Macbeth also push him into his actions. This essay examines why Macbeth is considered the most responsible character for the assassination of their King.

            The first seed of becoming the King of Scotland was planted in Macbeth’s head by the three witches who prophesied that he was going to be a king. In their prophecies (I.3.48-50), the three sisters appeared to Macbeth and Banquo and the first witch announced that Macbeth would become the Thane of Glamis while the second said he will be Thane of Cawdor. In I.3.51, the last witch unveils, “All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!” Although there is a possibility if it wasn’t for the prophecy Macbeth wouldn’t have killed his King, after the fulfillment of the first two prophecies, began pondering about killing the king and assuming the throne (1.3.135-140).  On the other hand, the witches did not tell him that he will become king by killing the incumbent. Maybe the prophecy could have been fulfilled without any regicide as it happened with becoming the Thane. Macbeth thought to himself in 1.3. 138-39, “If good, why do I yield to that suggestion, Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair?”  This indicates that the original idea of killing Duncan was from Macbeth and not the witches, making the most responsible character in the assassination.

Macbeth writes to his wife informing her about becoming the future king, a prophecy he believes is true (I.5.1.1). While alone, Macbeth ponders about assassinating the king but he is nagged by self-doubt since he is aware that murdering the king will ruin his reputation and bring violence. Lady Macbeth soon realizes her husband’s dilemma when he tells her in I.7.30-33, “We will proceed no further in this business. He hath honored me of late, and I have bought Golden opinions from all sorts of people.” His wife persuades him to kill their king when she tells him to stop being a coward and follow what his heart desires (1.7, 40-42). Besides, Lady Macbeth could not lynch the king herself because king reminded her of her sire. In II.1.12-13, she confessed that "He could not miss 'em. Had he not resembled my father as he slept, I had done  ’t.” Eventually, Macbeth stabs the king following the direction of Lady Macbeth. Because she could not commit the murder herself; Macbeth is the most responsible person in the king's death.

            Macbeth’s soliloquy about his plans to kill the king and his fear of ruining his reputation indicates that that killing the king was his original idea and not his wife’s (1.7.1-28). In the last part of the scene, Lady Macbeth offers her husband a plan for assassinating King Duncan. Macbeth’s wife gave alcohol to the king’s servants who became very drunk. She advises Macbeth to kill the king when all the servants are drunk so that they can be blamed for kings at dawn. Her husband then walked to the king’s chamber then stabs him to death. In II.1.14 Macbeth rushed out of the chamber frightened with stained dagger thinking their plan is in jeopardy and said his companion, “I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?” after which she walks back to the scene of King Duncan’s murder with the stained dagger, smears the servants with the king’s blood and leaves it in the chamber. Judging by his soliloquy and actions, Macbeth had intended to kill the king but worried only about his reputation. Although Lady Macbeth played a significant part in the lynching of the king, Macbeth is solely to blame because he fulfilled his intent by following his wife’s directions.

            The murder of King Duncan can be attributed to different characters in Macbeth. However, Macbeth has the highest degree of responsibility in the death of King Duncan because the original idea of assassinating the king and assuming the throne belonged to him. The witches only told him that he will be king but not through the murder of the incumbent. Also, he decides to kill the king himself following the directions and help of his wife. He ignored his initial fears and went ahead with the regicide because his wife could not kill the king herself. This makes Macbeth the most responsible person on the regicide.

                                                                                                     Works Cited

Shakespeare, William, Mowat, Barbara A.Werstine, Paul.The Tragedy Of Macbeth. New York: Washington Square Press, 2004, c1992. Print