Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Is it fear that motivates Macbeth to kill Duncan?I am having trouble with this question, as I believe that Macbeth's ambition motivated him to...

I think you are right. It is more an issue of ambition than fear. Macbeth wants to be king and the witches have suggested that this desire could become reality. When Macbeth is named Thane of Cawdor, he believes he is on the way to becoming king - only to have the king announce that his son Malcolm will be next in line for the throne.

At that point, Macbeth decides he will kill the king - but then he waivers, recognizing the virutes of Duncan. It takes the further prodding by Lady Macbeth to actually get him to act.

Macbeth really has no reason to fear Duncan. Duncan is a notoriously poor judge of character (remember how he had put his "absolute trust" in the former Thane of Cawdor?) Duncan has rewarded Macbeth and honored him. There is no indication that Duncan has anything but the highest admiration for Macbeth.

(Remember, sometimes the answer to a question can be "no.")

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