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Macbeth in his soliloquy in Act 1 Scene 7 starting with the words, "If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere best it were done quickly" gives a number of reasons why he should not kill Duncan. He had many more reasons for not killing King Duncan than for carrying out the killing. For example, he owed the King respect as as cousin, host, and subject. Killing the King disrespected Duncan's position as benefactor, cousin, guest, and king. Additionally, the King was beloved and respected by the people of Scotland, and they were likely to be outraged by his murder. Finally, if people got the idea that you could become king by killing the king, wouldn't they do the same to Macbeth if he became king in this way? (And of course this is exactly what happened.) In addition he says to his wife that he should enjoy his new titles while they are still new. There was only one reason that Macbeth could offer himself in favor of the murder. That sole reason was his ambition, and Macbeth didn't think much of it, calling it "vaulting ambition which o'erleaps itself".
Macbeth was a loyal servant to Duncan and saw Duncan as a great king. Duncan was also an esteemed guest at the house of Macbeth at the time. Killing Duncan went against all of these logical reasons Macbeth had thought of.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoMacbeth killed King Duncan for many reasons.
One of the reasons Macbeth kills Duncan is because three witches tell him a prophecy that he would become the next Thane of Cawdor and eventually become king. After the witches' prophecy comes true about Macbeth becoming the thane of Cawdor, he is tempted by wicked thoughts to murder King Duncan and fulfill his ambitions become the next king of Scotland.
The second reason is that Macbeth is driven by Lady Macbeth to become the next king of Scotland. Once Lady Macbeth finds out the three witches Prophecy in a letter about Macbeth becoming the next king of Scotland, She becomes lustful for the power and position to become the next queen. She urges him to kill Duncan so that he could retain the title of kingship and she constantly encourages Macbeth to kill Duncan and tells him that it is not a really big deal.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoHe is not a coward. He is not afraid to kill people; he has done that lots before.
But in his soliloquy "If it were done when 'tis done then it were well it were done quickly" in Act 1 Scene 7, he advances a number of arguments why he shouldn't kill Duncan:
1) It may have unforeseen consequences
2) Once people get the idea that it is ok to kill a king, no king is safe. He would be setting himself up to be murdered.
3) It's wrong, because Macbeth is a subject and has sworn allegiance to the king.
4) It's even more wrong, because Duncan is Macbeth's cousin and you don't kill family.
5) It's even more wrong than that because Duncan is a guest in his house, and for a host to kill a guest is totally taboo.
6) A lot of people admire Duncan and would hate anyone who killed him.
7) There's no good reason to do it apart from being greedy for power.
As a result, he comes to the conclusion not to go ahead with the murder.
Curiously, his willingness to break the taboo about hosts not killing their guests makes it easy for him to break other taboos, like slaughtering innocent children.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoEssentially, in the beginning anyway, Macbeth is a character with strong morals; a brave, courageous and honourable man. Unfortunately, these traits are overpowered by his tragic flaws of greed and ambition. He doesn't really want to kill Duncan because he is loyal to the king and he is quite satisfied with the life he has, especially after Duncan names him thane of Cawdor, and enjoys being the glorified hero of the battle and the king's favoured man.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoHe is against killing King Duncan because:
1. He's Duncan's cousin
2. He's a good and virtuous leader
and 3. Because it would mean he would be killing for his own selfish purposes
Hope that helped :3
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoMacbeth goes through these reasons is his soliloquy in Act 1 Scene 7 which begins, "If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly." To summarize:
- Murdering people is wrong
- Murdering a member of your family is worse
- Murdering your king to whom your have sworn allegiance is worse yet
- Murdering someone who is your guest is absolutely the worst.
- Besides, it sets a bad precedent. If you get to be king by murdering someone, someone will want to be king by murdering you.
- And what is more, the people like Duncan. They won't be happy with someone who kills him.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoThe murder is likely to have further consequences. If he gets the throne by murder, others might get the same idea. He is after all King Duncan's kinsman; cousin. He is his subject, meaning that he is suppose to protect the King, not plotting a murder! Lastly, he is a host, who is bound to protect his guest not murder him. And people will feel sorry for Duncan and be outraged at the murder, and will take it out on Macbeth if he is found out. On the other hand, his only reason to kill him is that he might become king, which he does not care enough about to outweigh the other reasons.
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What reason does Macbeth give for killing King Duncan's guards?
Macbeth believes he has to kill Duncan's guards in case they heard anything happen in the room while Macbeth was killing Duncan.
What is the signal Lady Macbeth is to give to give Macbeth to let him know she has taken care of the guards?
Lady Macbeth rang the bell three times to give Macbeth a signal that Duncan's servant are asleep and the time is right for Macbeth to enter Duncan's chamber
What reason does Macbeth give for killing Duncan's guards?
That he can frame them for murdering King Duncan is the reason that Macbeth gives himself for killing King Duncan's guards. That he is overcome with grief over his sovereign's murder is the reason that Macbeth gives to the king's escort.Specifically, Macbeth kills Duncan - his guest, relative and ruler - in Act II Scene II of the play "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare. He also kills the royal guards, in order to charge them with the crime and prevent them from defending themselves. His explanation when the king's escort comes for him in the morning is the need to exact his own form of justice on those who disrespect Duncan as their king and Macbeth as their host.
Can you understand the gist of what Duncan in Macbeth of saying to each other how are they treating each other?
They're being very respectful to each other. Duncan is grateful to Macbeth for his service and wants to give him more honors, and Macbeth says that the honor of doing things for Duncan is payment enough.
What reason does Macbeth give the hired assassins for their taking revenge?
According to the historical record, Macbeth [c. 1014-August 15, 1057] might have sought revenge for the unprovoked, unpopular, unjustified, unjust invasion of his family's lands by King Duncan I [d. August 14, 1040]. Duncan was killed by his own men before Macbeth could claim his right to do so. Instead, Macbeth's claim to the throne was recognized. Additionally, 14 years later, Duncan's aged father Crinan [d. 1054], the hereditary abbot of Dunkeld, rebelled against Macbeth's rule. This time, Macbeth claimed his right to kill the rebel before anyone else did. According to the Shakespearean play, the future King Malcolm III [d. November 13, 1093] sought revenge for the murder of his father, Duncan, by Macbeth. But he didn't want to carry out the killing himself. He might have thought that put him on the same level as Macbeth: killing a king in order to become king. So Malcolm saw to his revenge by having as his avenging angel Macduff. Macduff had his own reasons for ending Macbeth's reign and life. Macbeth had planned the Fife Castle massacre by which Macduff's entire family and household were stabbed to death.
What reason does Macbeth give for killing King Duncan's guards?
Macbeth believes he has to kill Duncan's guards in case they heard anything happen in the room while Macbeth was killing Duncan.
What reason does Macbeth give or killing the groomsmen of Duncan?
Macbeth claims that he killed the groomsmen out of fury and grief for the murder of King Duncan, whom he believes the groomsmen had conspired against. However, it is widely speculated that Macbeth actually killed them in order to prevent them from revealing his own guilt in the murder of Duncan.
What is the signal Lady Macbeth is to give to give Macbeth to let him know she has taken care of the guards?
Lady Macbeth rang the bell three times to give Macbeth a signal that Duncan's servant are asleep and the time is right for Macbeth to enter Duncan's chamber
What reason does Macbeth give for killing Duncan's guards?
That he can frame them for murdering King Duncan is the reason that Macbeth gives himself for killing King Duncan's guards. That he is overcome with grief over his sovereign's murder is the reason that Macbeth gives to the king's escort.Specifically, Macbeth kills Duncan - his guest, relative and ruler - in Act II Scene II of the play "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare. He also kills the royal guards, in order to charge them with the crime and prevent them from defending themselves. His explanation when the king's escort comes for him in the morning is the need to exact his own form of justice on those who disrespect Duncan as their king and Macbeth as their host.
Can you understand the gist of what Duncan in Macbeth of saying to each other how are they treating each other?
They're being very respectful to each other. Duncan is grateful to Macbeth for his service and wants to give him more honors, and Macbeth says that the honor of doing things for Duncan is payment enough.
What present did king duncan give lady Macbeth when he visited their castle?
King Duncan gifted Lady Macbeth with a diamond ring as a token of appreciation for hosting him at their castle.
What reason does Macbeth give the hired assassins for their taking revenge?
According to the historical record, Macbeth [c. 1014-August 15, 1057] might have sought revenge for the unprovoked, unpopular, unjustified, unjust invasion of his family's lands by King Duncan I [d. August 14, 1040]. Duncan was killed by his own men before Macbeth could claim his right to do so. Instead, Macbeth's claim to the throne was recognized. Additionally, 14 years later, Duncan's aged father Crinan [d. 1054], the hereditary abbot of Dunkeld, rebelled against Macbeth's rule. This time, Macbeth claimed his right to kill the rebel before anyone else did. According to the Shakespearean play, the future King Malcolm III [d. November 13, 1093] sought revenge for the murder of his father, Duncan, by Macbeth. But he didn't want to carry out the killing himself. He might have thought that put him on the same level as Macbeth: killing a king in order to become king. So Malcolm saw to his revenge by having as his avenging angel Macduff. Macduff had his own reasons for ending Macbeth's reign and life. Macbeth had planned the Fife Castle massacre by which Macduff's entire family and household were stabbed to death.
What nationality is King Duncan and Macbeth?
Perhaps the title "King of Scotland" which they both held may give you a clue.
What happens in scene 3 of Macbeth and who is killed and who survives?
In Act 2, Scene 3 of Macbeth, Macbeth kills King Duncan's guards in a fit of rage to cover up his own involvement in Duncan's murder. Macbeth claims he did it out of a need for revenge and to not give the guards the opportunity to deny their involvement. Malcolm and Donalbain, Duncan's sons, survive this scene as they are not directly involved in the murders.
What reason does Lady Macbeth give for not killing Duncan herself?
She says she would have murdered Duncan herself, but he reminded her too much of her father. After the murder of Duncan the goal of Macbeth becoming king is complete, why would she have to murder everyone else. Now they just need to stay calm go about their business under their new titles and not get caught. she also says she would if she were a man but she cant because she is a women.
What was the signal from Lady Macbeth that let her husband know that it was time for him to kill the king?
Lady Macbeth signaled to her husband, Macbeth, that it was time to kill the king by ringing a bell to signal him to go to Duncan's chamber. She also drugged the guards so they were unconscious, making it easier for Macbeth to carry out the murder.
What examples of sarcasm are in Macbeth?
One example of sarcasm in Macbeth is when Lady Macbeth responds to Macbeth's hesitation to murder Duncan by saying, "Infirm of purpose!/ Give me the daggers. The sleeping and the dead/Are but as pictures" (Act 2, Scene 2). This sarcastic remark implies that she sees no difference between killing a sleeping man and looking at a painting.
