The Numerous Slayings of Macbeth

In the play "Macbeth," King Duncan is killed by Macbeth in Act 2, Scenes 1-2. Lady Macbeth had desired kingship for Macbeth and wants him to murder Duncan in order to obtain it. Macbeth, though originally reluctant, had eventually conformed to his wife's desire. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth had been scheming to murder King Duncan and seize his title ever since the witches made their predictions. When King Duncan decided to pay Macbeth a visit in Glamis, the opportunity for the murder arose. First, Lady Macbeth conjured up a concoction to poison the guards and then once Macbeth received a signal, in the form of a ringing bell from Lady Macbeth, he knew that the coast was clear. He then made his way to King Duncan's room where he proceeded to stab the King, despite his doubts and a number of supernatural omens, including a vision of a bloody dagger. In order to escape any accusations that may come his way, the dagger used to kill Duncan was strategically placed near the guards. The slayings didn't cease there. When Duncan’s death was discovered the next morning, Macbeth killed the chamberlains out of rage at "their" crime. Fearful of the witches’ prophecy that Banquo’s heirs will seize the throne, Macbeth hires a group of murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance. They manage to kill Banquo, however they fail to kill Fleance. Macbeth became furious because as long as Fleance is alive, he feared that his power remained insecure. Macbeth's conscience then begins to catch up with him and he begins to hallusinate and sees Banquo’s ghost. Frightened, Macbeth went to visit the witches in their cavern. There, he is presented with further prophecies: he must beware of Macduff; He is incapable of being harmed by any man born of woman; And he will be safe until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane Castle. Macbeth is relieved and feels secure, because he knows that all men are born of women and that forests cannot move. When Macbeth discovered that Macduff has fled to England, Macbeth ordered that Macduff’s castle be seized and, most cruelly, that Lady Macduff and her children be murdered. Once Macduff discovers the news about his family's excecution, he is stricken with grief and vows revenge on Macbeth. Macduff and Malcolm, Duncan's son, along with the British army head to Scotland to challenge Macbeth's forces. Lady Macbeth, meanwhile, became plagued with fits of sleepwalking in which she admits to the murder and complains about the imaginary bloodstains on her hands. Before Macbeth’s opponents arrive, Macbeth receives news that Lady Macbeth has killed herself, causing him to sink into a deep and pessimistic despair. Nevertheless, he awaits the English Army and remains confident that he'll prevail thanks to the witches' prophecies that guarantee his invincibility. He is struck numb with fear, however, when he learns that the English army is and shielded with boughs cut from Birnam Wood as they are advancing. Birnam Wood is indeed coming to him, fulfilling half of the witches’ prophecy. On the battlefield, Macbeth encounters Macduff, who declares that he was not “of woman born” but was instead “untimely ripped” from his mother’s womb. Though he realizes that he is doomed, Macbeth continues to fight until Macduff kills and beheads him. Ultimately, Macbeth's selfishness not only cost him honour, love, obedience and a troop of friends, but his life.