Power In Macbeth Essay
The lust Macbeth has for power has deteriorated his mind and transformed him into a liar. To elaborate, the significant event in Act II was the assassination of Duncan, the king of Scotland, by Macbeth. Macbeth committed this murder to seize the throne for himself, as predicted by the Witches. Before he crossed that bridge and burned it, Macbeth was a loyal and powerful member of the Scottish nobility. His morals and state of mind were in good shape, however, when he thinks he can be king, the desire for power overwhelms him. Up to the point of the murder Macbeth’s state of mind deteriorates due to the abandonment of loyalty and his morals. This is shown when Macbeth is waiting for Lady Macbeth’s signal that Duncan and his guards have
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After Macbeth kills Duncan he is incredibly shaken up and regrets the act, the weight of the situation is heavy and he must change as a person or go insane. Then when everyone wakes up and are asking who killed the guards, Macbeth lies and says he killed them out of fury. Macbeth states, “Who can be wise, amazed, temperate and furious, / Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man: / The expedition of my violent love / Outrun the pauser reason” (2.3.120-123). Macbeth must lie to his allies as to not be seen as guilty, as events unfold he must continue to lie as to uphold his innocence. Before the murder Macbeth would not lie to his friends, he had honor but now he has nothing. By and large, I don’t feel sympathy for Macbeth, because he was not forced to murder Duncan, and he got what he desired, the crown of Scotland. Macduff, Ross, and their father speak of what is to come now that Duncan is dead. Macduff announces, ‘He is already named, and gone to Scone / to be invested” (2.4.40-41). Macbeth being elevated to king will only enhance his anxiety and stress, he will fear that his allies will figure out his guilt, and paranoia will worsen his already weakened mentality. He must continue to lie to sustain his power, but doing so will distance himself with his morals farther and farther until
After Macbeth kills Duncan he is incredibly shaken up and regrets the act, the weight of the situation is heavy and he must change as a person or go insane. Then when everyone wakes up and are asking who killed the guards, Macbeth lies and says he killed them out of fury. Macbeth states, “Who can be wise, amazed, temperate and furious, / Loyal and neutral, in a moment? No man: / The expedition of my violent love / Outrun the pauser reason” (2.3.120-123). Macbeth must lie to his allies as to not be seen as guilty, as events unfold he must continue to lie as to uphold his innocence. Before the murder Macbeth would not lie to his friends, he had honor but now he has nothing. By and large, I don’t feel sympathy for Macbeth, because he was not forced to murder Duncan, and he got what he desired, the crown of Scotland. Macduff, Ross, and their father speak of what is to come now that Duncan is dead. Macduff announces, ‘He is already named, and gone to Scone / to be invested” (2.4.40-41). Macbeth being elevated to king will only enhance his anxiety and stress, he will fear that his allies will figure out his guilt, and paranoia will worsen his already weakened mentality. He must continue to lie to sustain his power, but doing so will distance himself with his morals farther and farther until