An abundance of what most parents agree to implant in their offspring’s brain is a sense of morality. Despite whatever one learns though, every individual has a mind of their own, distinct from all else. As such, it’s important that this standard is retained among all of society, but must be lax enough to provide a sense of freedom so as to allow a society to prosper effectively and peacefully. Actions have reactions, and as shown throughout human history, morally right actions have allowed humans as a whole to grow and prosper in all areas of life. Though, the reverse is often unfortunately true and is the limiting factor to one’s capabilities. In the play “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare, this very concept is exercised. In essence, the play details the downfall of Macbeth--a war hero serving his king, Duncan--who became too power hungry to the point where he decides to murder his king, and takes desperate measures to cover up any suspicion through the same means. Prompted and motivated by his wife, Lady Macbeth, Macbeth’s story ends off ironically, as his kingship has an extremely short duration. William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is an effective showcase of how trading one’s morality for short-lived ecstasy will lead to one’s demise because karma will always come back, no matter how much one works to disguise one’s actions.
Once an individual needs to even consider a decision with immoral consequences, they have already given up their morality. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth and fellow companion Banquo are told of a prophecy through a group of witches regarding the kingdom’s future royalty, claiming that Macbeth shall become one while Banquo will father future kings. Tempted and persuaded by Lady Macbeth, she plants the seeds of corruption in her husband’s mind. They plan to kill the current king. Macbeth states, “If it were done, ‘tis done, then ‘twere well / It were done quickly: if th’ assassination / Could trammel up the consequence… ” (1.7.1-3). After Lady Macbeth had filled her husband with thoughts of greed and lust for kingship, Macbeth is unsure in terms of whether the consequences will sway in his favor. However, he’s already too enveloped with greed if he is even considering murder of his king. From then on, there is no going back. Macbeth states, “It is the bloody business which informs / Thus to mine eyes...” (2.1.48-49). Tortured by his choices, Macbeth is driven to madness and his desire to murder Duncan overcomes his consciousness. He attempts to attribute his evils and thoughts of murder to his imagination and illusions. Morality for him becomes practically nonexistent.
Macbeth is up for a rude awakening, however, as his short-lived euphoria becomes enveloped with thoughts of worry and paranoia. Upon murdering Duncan, Macbeth already becomes delusional. Replying to his wife, Macbeth states “Methought I heard a voice cry ‘Sleep no more! / Macbeth does murder sleep...” (2.2.36-37) Here, Macbeth is implying that it is unsafe to for him to even consider rest after such an event. Macbeth automatically feels his guilt and paranoia kicks in. Though, despite these delusions, Macbeth and his wife successfully cover up the murder and advance toward royalty, worrying Macbeth even further, as he has suspicions for essentially everyone in the kingdom. Macbeth becoming king is solidified, but his beliefs have turned to such a point that it overcomes reason. Recalling Banquo, his companion that is said to father kings, Macbeth states “But to be safely thus: our fears in Banquo / Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature / Reigns that which should be feared…” (3.1.48-49) One of his closest individuals has now become a target for Macbeth, as he sees his brighter self in him; something he lost through the murder of Duncan. The prophecy in which he was told by the witches before all this even further supplants how wildly Macbeth’s foundations have switched.
Despite all of the masks he creates to cover up what he’s done and what he really is, karma returns eventually to all deeds, and Macbeth is no exception. Pressured by prophecy and the successors of Duncan, Macbeth makes drastic attempts to disguise his actions, such as ordering for Banquo’s death. However, this all will come back to him, as Macbeth’s reign as a king is so utterly short-lived. When consulting with the same three witches who told him the prophecy of the king, Macbeth is met with an even crueler prophecy. One of the witches state, “While you perform your antic round: / That this great king may kindly say / Our duties did his welcome pay.” (4.1.130-133) Prophecy while it does appear to falling in line with what the witches stated, does not get it’s welcome from Macbeth, for he despises anyone else usurping his place on the throne. To hear that he shall pay a price soon for his deeds by the witches is like an insult. However, as these prophecies seem to be commonplace and trustable by Macbeth, it is something he cannot deny. Soon, the king will fall. Denying of his fate, Macbeth states in his final moments, “I will not yield, / To kiss the ground before young Malcolm’s feet, / And to be baited with the rabble’s curse.” (5.7.56-58) Karma has successfully came back around to deliver the appropriate consequences to Macbeth. Ironically, the prophecy he so drastically attempted to avoid and the lust he couldn’t contain for the promises it had is the reason for his demise. It is the reason for his downfall.
Violent uprisings are often met with violent forms of justice. Macbeth was not vulnerable to this, as the play ends with his death, a result of committing bad deeds and racking up such negative actions. In the end, Shakespeare’s play is a clear example of how karma will always be the deciding factor in terms of consequences, and masking up immoral actions in order to gain just a glimpse of what one lusts for will be met with an even greater downfall. This concept is reflected everyday in society--in the workplace with unjust bosses who are fired due to their inadequacies, or the lobbyist politician whose support withdraws due to a scandal of their own. Many who cheat their way to achieving their goals will eventually be exposed, and will suffer a fate that outweighs the enjoyment they received from temporarily being “on top”. Karma is very real. However, if it does such horrible things to those who perform immoral, wrong, and bad deeds, then the only one thing remains to be discovered about karma--what happens when an individual performs moral, right, and gracious deeds. Certainly, karma should have a similarly factored impact.
Act II quiz:
1. In your opinion, is Lady Macbeth a cold-blooded murderer? Why or why not?2. Lady Macbeth has her own antics throughout the play. Why does Lady Macbeth faint in Act II? Does it serve its purpose? Explain.3. How does Macbeth's attitude toward Duncan change after the murder?4. If so pressuring on Macbeth, why didn't Lady Macbeth kill the king instead of Macbeth?5. Now that Macbeth has killed the king, do you think he must do anything else to reign as king? Explain your answer.Part II:For numbers 1-4 provides textual evidence (direct quotes) to support your answers. At least two quotes per answer.
- I think Lady Macbeth isn’t necessarily a cold-blooded murderer, but rather, the backbone and aid to the murder of King Duncan. She provoked, suggested, and premeditated the murder of Duncan while Macbeth was the one who acted upon it pretty blindly. Lady Macbeth, being the dominating spouse, is the brain to the two’s relationship. In a technical sense, Macbeth is the murderer. Morally, Lady Macbeth is the murderer.
- Infirm of purpose!
Give me the daggers: the sleeping and the dead
Are but as pictures: ‘tis the eye of childhood
That fears a painted devil. If he do bleed,
I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal
For it must seem their guilt.
(Macbeth 2.2.53-53)
- My hands are of your colour; but I shame / To wear a heart so white.(Macbeth 2.2.64-65)
- Lady Macbeth faints in Act II on purpose in order to further persuade everyone’s subconscious of how “astounded” she was of what had just occurred, even though she knew and planned the murder of Duncan. It does serve it’s purpose since at the end of the play, Lady Macbeth was never really even considered to be a suspect by Macduff and Ross.
- Are stol’n away and fled, which puts upon them / Suspicion of the deed. (Macbeth 2.4.26-27)
- Look to the lady.(Macbeth 2.3.140)
- After murdering Duncan, Macbeth was regarded by Lady Macbeth as a “coward”. Macbeth didn’t act dominant and proud of what he had just done. Instead, he instantly felt ashamed to have killed his king, the person he had served so valiantly (as many say of him). At first, Macbeth was wanting to get over it, despite having some internal doubts. Now that he committed murder of his king, he is overcome with immense guilt.
- ‘Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor / Shall sleep no more: Macbeth shall sleep no more!(Macbeth 2.2.42-43)
- I’ll go no more: / I am afraid to think what I have done; / Look on’t again I dare not. (Macbeth 2.2.51-53)
- Lady Macbeth made a remark about Duncan, explaining why she wouldn’t kill him--he resembled that of her father. Thus, it would likely have pained her to commit murder, even though he isn’t her father. In addition, Macbeth is a war hero; with strength, stealth, and capability, in the physical aspect. It would make sense for him to take on the heavy lifting, while Lady Macbeth whispers in his ear.
- He could not miss ‘em. Had he not resembled / My father as he slept, I had done’t. (Macbeth 2.2.12-13)
- These deeds must not be thought / After these ways; so, it’ will make us mad. (Macbeth 2.2.32-33)
- As it was explained by Macduff at the end of the act, Macbeth had already been chosen and was partaking in the coronation ceremony for royalty (specifically the king, as it is the position in which Macbeth must replace). I think that although he doesn’t need to really do it since he basically has claimed the throne, ultimately honoring and covering up his murder to it’s fullest extent should be his first action as king. In addition, Macbeth took on such an important position in his society in the political aspect, and thus, he must learn very quickly about what exactly he needs to do to show that he is worthy of his position and as Duncan’s “successor”.