Richard Roderick

Cindy Rogers
English 12
Oct 22, 2015

A#9 Macbeth Responses

1. I believe that King Duncan is fair, even though he is having someone executed, it is a
person that has betrayed his loyalty and is fighting against him and his people. On the other
hand, I believe that Thane Cawdor is foul, as he was trusted by the King, and has
betrayed him, he has committed treason by leading an army in opposition to the King.

2.

Banquo is different from Macbeth in many ways. Banquo is different than Macbeth as he is
not as heavily rewarded as Macbeth, he is also less greedy than Macbeth, and is not fully
trusting in the prophecy of the three witches. I believe that Banquo is different than Macbeth
in a sense that Banquo is more cautious of things, he is more thankful for gifts, and he is
loyal to the King and what the King says. In other words, Banquo is better than Macbeth
when it comes to being humble and having caution. Banquo is more cautious when the
three witches tell him and Macbeth of their destinies as seen in the lines; But tis strange.
And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, The instruments of darkness tell us truths (William
Shakespeare, Macbeth lines 124-128). Banquo is also a very friendly and warm character
that makes him a more likable and interesting character.

3.

I believe that when he offers to be a messenger, he is both acting out of respect to the
King, to make preparations, and to be able to have his wife informed on his fortune, and his
prophecy. I believe that even though Macbeth is loyal to the King, he has other motives that
are driving him to get ahead of the King, those motives, are to inform his wife of what has
occurred, and to let her know that he may become King, and that the King himself will be
visiting their house. It is this planning beforehand that makes MacBeth a mischievous
character, as he is becoming overrun with power, and is thirsty for more, and the only
position better than where he currently sits, is to become King.

4.

In my personal opinion, Lady Macbeth is a very dark, greedy, and vile woman who is the
true poison of the world. Lady Macbeth is a very disturbing character, she is a very
manipulative, and toxic woman that thinks of horrible things in order for her husband and
herself to benefit. She can be seen as toxic when she is thinking to herself, and calling on
demons to guide her in doing a dreadful thing, killing the King. Her darkness is seen in the
lines; Come , you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from the
crown to the toe top- full Of dearest cruelty. (William Shakespeare, MacBeth lines 41-44).
She then goes on to ask for the demons to make the night dark so that she will not see the
murder she is about to commit, and to prevent heaven from seeing the horrors that are
about to unfold by her hand.

5.

Lady Macbeth uses the argument that by not acting, he is not a man. She attacks Macbeth
in places that will hurt his self esteem and cause him to bend to her words. Lady Macbeth
convinces her husband that everything will work out, and explains how and why everything
will flow smoothly.She explains that he has sworn to become King, and that if she had a
baby in her arms, and she swore to kill it, she would kill it even though she loved it. The
information that she says to Macbeth reassured him that all will be well in the end and that
he must not worry. I feel that the comments that she made are extremely dark, cruel, and
disturbing. The thought of Lady Macbeth sickens me and causes me to wish horrible things
to happen to such a filthy creature such as herself. Her actions were entirely out of emotion,
she wants more power, and her greed is driving her into a very dark place. She is unable to
think clearly as her thoughts are driven by greed and the image that if the King falls, she will
become Queen and her husband the King. None of Lady Macbeths arguments are logical,
as all logic and discretion has been thrown away by the evils that lurk within her soul.