In Macbeth, Shakespeare portrays the play to be seen as honorable, but the dishonor in each of the characters takes an unexpected turn and is lashed out onto the town. Macbeth starts off as an honorable citizen and obeys the rules, but his actions turn him insane and dishonorable towards the end of the story. Through the course of the play, an honorable and noble man's ego takes over him and becomes selfish and greedy for power, causing the surrounding people to join or brawl against him. When terrorizing all the surrounding citizens, he shows no signs of remorse, which shows how cold-hearted he is.
By first killing King Duncan and being crowned Thane of Cawdor, his ego skyrocketed which caused him to go on a killing spree. After Duncan was killed, Macbeth knew his wife was honorable because she was a part of the murder, so she had to keep her mouth shut. She said “Go get some water And wash this filthy witness from your hand”. She is a malicious and manipulative mastermind who becomes selfish with power and begins to only want the best for herself and Macbeth. Lady Macbeth was uneasy about her husband killing everyone and started to lose herself. All the stress and guilt got to her, and she couldn’t remain stable anymore. She knew if she was disloyal to her husband she would receive consequences or even end up losing her life, so she had to be in it till the end.
Macbeth, on the other hand was killing every person who he thought was going to get in his way or find out his secrets, saying “We have scorched the snake, not killed it”. By murdering Duncan, he realized there was no going back and more killing was necessary because the people of Scotland were starting to question his honor and integrity as King. After he killed Duncan, Malcolm, King Duncan’s son, fled to England and Donalbain, his other son, to Ireland. Duncan raised his sons highly skilled and made sure to prepare them for any obstacles they had to overcome, so fleeing was for their own protection. Little did Macbeth know, Malcolm’s ambition to get revenge for his father's death was coming sooner than later. Violence begets violence.
Macbeth eventually goes back to see the witches to seek more advice and see what is about to happen, first they advised him to be cautious of Macduff. Next they tell him that he will never be hurt by anyone born of woman. Lastly, they mention that he will never be defeated until the trees of Birnam Wood move towards him. After he’s heard the prophecies, he still thinks he's on top of the world and doesn’t realize the consequences of his actions. The witches told Macbeth to beware of Macduff, so he decides to try to eliminate him. By murdering Macduff, Macbeth will receive a guarantee bond of his fate, putting his worries to rest. Macbeth states, “Then live, Macduff. What need I fear of thee?”. Macduff ends up going to England to find Malcom for help in stopping Macbeth. But trying to be honorable by saving everyone, he ends up being dishonorable and leaving his wife and son behind to be slaughtered at his castle in Fife by Macbeth’s murders.”Why in that rawness left you wife and child!” Malcolm said. Unknowing that his family and friends are being slaughtered he meets up with Malcolm and urges him to join in an invasion of Scotland because innocent people are suffering under Macbeth’s harsh rule. Malcolm being raised smart by his father Duncan, is uncertain of Macduff's motives and honor so he tests him on his integrity. After he’s convinced Macduff has good intentions he tells him he has ten thousand soldiers waiting for his approval to attack, “Old Siward with ten thousand warlike men”). It was crucial for Malcolm to test Macduff because if his intentions were not pure, Malcolm could've been tricked and killed. To be honorable towards one another is very important and a huge life skill that you use in daily life. Individuals who are dishonorable and not respectful, normally don’t end up going far in life and get killed in Shakespeare.
Macbeth killing all these innocent people because of a prophecy got to his conscience. He and Lady Macbeth started to notice what they were doing and knew it wasn’t going to end well. The people who worked for them at the castle were starting to question their motives and began leaving their side.The guilt came across both of them in different ways. Lady Macbeth’s mental stability collapsed, and all went south for her. Unfortunately, her mental health got out of hand and all the stress, guilt, and self accusation ended up killing her right before the final battle with Macbeth and Macduff.
As soon as he saw the trees of Birnam Wood move towards him, he knew at that exact moment, it was over. All the suspense building up to the big battle, Macbeth knew he was in trouble and needed to go out with a bang. His own servants started to dishonor him after they started to hear the truth and horror that he’s terminated. Macbeth told them to either honor him and fight with him or dishonor him and fight against him.. Macbeth knew his time was over so he gave it his all in the brawl against Macduff and Malcolm. He knew if he didn’t give it his all in the end that’s he’s done wouldn’t mean anything. The witches prophecies demoralizes Macbeth and he loses his battle spirit as he figures out he’s been tricked. Making his hopefulness and ego plunder causing him to be beheaded by Macduff. Leaving everyone speechless.
In Macbeth, Shakespeare portrays the play to be seen as honorable, but the dishonor in each of the characters takes an unexpected turn and is lashed out onto the town. Throughout the play the reader sees how easy you can lose or gain honor for an individual. Reading Macbeth shows how you can either destroy power or let it destroy you. Power makes people react in many ways, we see it in the real world today. When individuals obtain lots of power they tend to abuse the power in harmful or illogical ways. In the play we see how power and honor affect the characters in a negative and positive ways. Ending Macbeth the kingdom was restored by Malcolm. Putting the power into the right hands to take over Scotland. By using power for the better of people, more individuals will honor and respect your worth.
