Motives for Murder

20 December 2011

Motives for Murder

Throughout the first act of Macbeth, three specific events of fate that urge Macbeth to murder King Duncan occur, contradicting his instinct and moralities. Macbeth reaches realization that the heir to the throne is King Duncan's son, Malcolm. Both relentless suggestion/commandment and the desire for success are expressed through the power hungry Lady Macbeth and her overambitious husband. In the fourth scene of this act, the audience understands the reasoning behind the murder when Macbeth cerebrates to himself, "The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step / On which I must fall down, or else o'er-leap, / For in my way it lies" (Macbeth I.iv.48-50)! Malcolm of Cumberland, Duncan's son, is displayed as an impediment to his quest for power. Both this and the consideration of murder are first introduced to readers in these lines. The next significant event is the chastisement of Macbeth by his harsh and powerful wife. She first proposes the idea to Macbeth when she realizes that King Duncan will be staying at their house, "He that's coming / Must be provided for; any you shall put / This night's great business into my dispatch" (Macbeth I.v.64-66). This is the first time that Lady Macbeth indirectly expresses her interest in the murder. After reading a letter from Macbeth in regards to the prophecy of the Weird Sisters, she shows her strong desire for power and intent of murdering Duncan through, "Yet do I fear thy nature; / It is too full o' the milk of human kindness / To catch the nearest way; thou wouldst be great" (Macbeth I.v.15-17). Lady Macbeth believes that her husband is too kind to commit a murder-that of Duncan; she explains that would be her preference and what she believes to be the easiest option. After confronting Macbeth with this, Lady Macbeth points out, "When you durst do it, then you were a man; / And, to be more than what you were, you would / Be so much more the man [. . .]" (Macbeth I.vii.49-51).