Macbeth and Machiavelli

Before many of the main events of Shakespeare's play Macbeth occur Duncan is King of Scotland. Many people see King Duncan in different ways I see him as a good loyal king. A few scenes into the play Macbeth kills Duncan to become the king himself. This wasn't easy for Macbeth though, he struggled with the thought of murder because King Duncan was such a good king. A quote from the play explains how Macbeth and  many others feel about King Duncan, "First as I am his kinsman and his subject,/ strong both against the deed; then, as his host,/ who should against his murderers shut the door,/ not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan/ hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been/ so clear in his great office, that his virtues/ will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued against/ the deep damnation of his taking-off." (1.7. 13-20) This quote is said when the first thought of killing Duncan enters Macbeth's head, although Macbeth eventually does murder him his first thoughts were shooed away because Duncan was such a good leader. This shows that King Duncan's personality almost withstood Macbeth's greed to be king. Another section in the play shows that even when Lady Macbeth harasses Macbeth at first he sticks up for himself and declares he wont kill King Duncan because of the greatness he brings to him and the people of Scotland. This is expressed in a quote from the first act, "We will proceed no further in this business,/ he hath honoured me of late and I have bought/ golden opinions from all sorts of people,/ which would be worn now in their newest gloss,/ not cast aside so soon." These pieces of evidence show that King Duncan was a very loyal and good king to the people of Scotland, one that shouldn't have been murdered out of greed.


After Macbeth kills King Duncan he is promoted to King of Scotland, his greed for power is what got him to that place. Macbeth lied and killed just to get what he wanted which is not an attractive quality as a leader. Machiavelli states in his book, The Prince "Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain." This describes the basics of human nature, when it comes down to it humans put themselves before others, they backstab to gain what they want, and also judge and criticize.  Macbeth does many of these things for example, Macbeth was loyal to King Duncan all throughout his life and when he first meets Duncan he sucks up to him but then he goes and stabs Duncan in the back, a person he has been loyal too and murders him. Another quote from The Prince that describes how Macbeth as a leader is, "The ends justify the means." This excerpt from the book means that as long as you get what you want it doesn't matter how you get there. Macbeth goes about murdering Duncan and Banquo to get what he wants but he doesn't truly think how much the consequences will effect him. Not just someone finding out and punishing but the tormenting guilt that has the power to drive many insane. Macbeth and Machiavelli's The Prince share common characteristics that are cruel and go against many of todays modern morals.