Tuesday, October 18, 2016

In Macbeth, what are the three reasons for his reluctance to kill Duncan?

Macbeth is reluctant to kill King Duncan for a number of reasons.  First, he is Duncan's relative and his subject.  Macbeth's duty is to love and defend his kinsman and his king.  Next, he is Duncan's host, who should, he says, "against [Duncan's] murderer shut the door" and not carry the murder weapon himself (1.7.15).  Next, he says, Duncan is an incredibly good person and king; he has been a humble leader, so untainted by any kind of corruption, that the loss all of his great virtues will be too upsetting to everyone in the kingdom and the tears of Duncan's subjects will flow too much. 


Earlier in this same soliloquy, Macbeth also mentions the idea that there will be terrible consequences for himself and his soul if he commits this awful act.  He wishes that it were possible to simply commit the murder and not have to deal with any such consequences.  Further, he fears that if he kills the king and proves that such a thing can be done, others could come and do the same thing to him.

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