I have recently read and enjoyed "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare. In the play, opinions expressed by individual characters are critical to our understanding of the drama. In the final scene Malcolm, heir to the throne, refers to Macbeth and his wife as "the butcher and his fiend like queen". I partially agree with the claim hat Macbeth is a butcher but I believe that it is an injustice to describe him only as a butcher because he does have a conscience. With regard to Lady Macbeth the claim is, in my view utterly justified. I will explain my view of the statement by providing important evidence to support my claims. .
It is undeniable that Macbeth is a murderer. He personally carries out the cowardly assassination of Duncan when he is a guest sleeping in his castle: "I have done the deed, did'st thou not hear a noise?" He also plans, organises and participates in the killing of his best friend Banquo and also is unsuccessful in attempting to murder his son Fleance: "we have lost best half of our affair." Macbeth also spitefully arranges the murder of Macduff's wife and children. It is only reassured that Macduff is no danger to him by the witches that Macbeth decides not to kill him: "Then live Macduff, what need I fear of thee"? From the above evidence, it is reasonable to conclude that Macbeth has much blood on his hands even although he is pushed into committing evil by his wife. .
Macbeth is driven by the powerful contradictions with his character. He does enjoy doing evil and suffers greatly as a result. It is apparent that his wife's ambitions for him is stronger than his conscience in the first instance as he does carry out the murder of Duncan. However, he quickly regrets the assassination and expresses shame: "To know my deed, twere best not to know myself wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst". He is also tormented by the murder of Banquo and is terrified by the visions of his ghost: "If trembling I inhabit then, protest me the baby if a girl.
