This essay is straight out of Pearson Realize, where I have to write an argument essay on how Macbeth controlled his future and buried the past in the Tragedy of Macbeth. It is a difficult task, considering the fact that I have to find a counter-claim to a simple fact. This is a great example of how to try and make a claim against a topic that could be easier to write a report about rather than an argument essay. In the Tragedy of Macbeth, our protagonist tries to bury the old Scotland that was loved by so many, and control the future illustrated by the three witches. The lead in this play, Macbeth, performs this deed through illogical murder. Frankly, he could have controlled his future in any other way, but in the play, he just murders all who stand in his way.
It all began with the murder of King Duncan of Scotland. The citizens of Duncan's lands thought of him as an honorable king and he was well-liked throughout Scotland. When their beloved king died at the hands of Macbeth, their joyous lives under him died with him. After Duncan's death, Macbeth continued to bury the past by murdering people who could talk him out of it. For example, Banquo. Banquo was with Macbeth when he first heard the predictions about Macbeth becoming king. Banquo could have easily talked to Macbeth and convinced him that murder was not the answer, but instead Banquo was murdered just to make sure he would have no other offspring. Some would claim that it is not Macbeth's fault and that the true character who was trying to control their future was Lady Macbeth. She is the wife of a nobleman, after all, and she has a lot to gain from being married to a king. When Macbeth told her about the witches' predictions, she immediately tells her husband that he must kill King Duncan in order to assume power on the throne. The counterargument would also state that Macbeth was extremely cowardice throughout the entire first act, especially after he killed King Duncan. If that was the case, then Macbeth could have done a number of different things to prevent the murders of everyone who died after King Duncan. He said in Act I, lines 148-150/152-153, "If chance will have me King, why, Chance may crown me...Come what come may, Time and the hour runs through the roughest day." Here Macbeth is saying that if he is to be king, then he will not have to do anything. He's suggesting that he will let destiny decide whether he will become king or not. He did not have this additude throughout the entire play. After King Duncan's murder, he continued to have people executed. Lady Macbeth did not push him to have Banquo murdered, and Lady Macbeth certainly did not tell her husband to go and murder Macduff's wife and children. He decided that he was going to control the future based off of what the witches told him. Eventually Lady Macbeth was not stable enough to manipulate her husband, so it was Macbeth who had the final say in who lives and who dies. In conclusion, Macbeth's attempt to control his own future and bury the past was not worthwhile and could have been performed differently. This all happened because Macbeth chose to control his future in that fashion. He controlled his future through the murder of thousands, all to secure his future as king. Yes, Lady Macbeth promoted the first murder, but the rest was done by Macbeth alone.
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