Macbeth

3 Pages 668 Words

Macbeth- - God or a Power-hungry Mortal?


“…I go and it is done. The bell invites me.
Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell
That summons thee to heaven, or to hell.” (II, i, 71-73)

“…It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight,
If it find heaven, must find it out tonight.” (III, i, 157-158)

“…Only for them, and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man
To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!
Rather than so, come, Fate, into the list,
And champion me to the utterance! Who’s there?” (III, i, 72-76)



In the first passage, Macbeth was preparing to kill King Duncan. The toll of the bell was a signal used in order to show Macbeth that she had taken care of the guards and the coast was clear to kill Duncan. As he neared Duncan’s room, he silently prayed that Duncan wouldn’t hear the bell, for it was an omen for his death. Even worse, Duncan lead an innocent life, yet Macbeth still wondered whether Duncan would go to heaven or hell. In the second passage, he once again wondered whether his innocent friend would go to heaven or hell, once again playing god. In the third passage listed above, Macbeth acted very selfish. He explained why he didn’t want to give up a throne that he worked so hard for, up to children that weren’t even of his blood. The reason he was expecting the children that weren’t of his blood was because it was prophesized by the witches. In response, he decided to defy fate so that it wouldn’t interrupt his vaulting ambition.
These passages show how power-hungry Macbeth was, obviously revealing that he felt that he was equal to God. First, he judged people for where they would be in the afterlife, even though it was God’s duty, and only God’s duty. Macbeth had absolutely no right and not even close to enough power to assume God’s responsibility. He had enough audacity to do this not only once, but twice. Another time that Macbeth w...