Macbeth Essay: The Best Thing Macbeth Never Had

     (1) Throughout the play, we follow Macbeth as he does many things to achieve the power and position that he wishes to obtain, no matter how he gets there and what he does. He kills his king, the ruler of his country, as well as his most trusted friend and a nobleman's family. Although all these acts were done with utmost secrecy, he is found out anyways due to suspicion. Following that, he himself is killed and got what was coming to him. With this being said, the theme of the Macbeth by Shakespeare is karma, or what goes around comes back around (eh, my baaaybay).

     (2) Within the first third of the book, Macbeth experiences prophecy and murder. He is promised to be king, but not for long and will be taken over by his best friend's sons. To speed up the process, he ends up killing King Duncan, who had offered nothing but hospitality and praise. This is where his karma will begin to grow and build, as his current actions will influence his future. Because of killing such a noble and honest man, he has started the karma cycle. While the murder was confidential and clean off, Macbeth himself was still worried about the overall outcome of the deed. "I won't go back! I'm afraid to think of what I've done. I daren't look at it again!"-Macbeth, (2.2.51-53). This incident was mostly forced upon him by his wife, but it the final choice was his.

     (3) Duncan's two sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, have fled the country out of fear, leaving Macbeth as the only heir to the throne. In addition to inheriting the kingdom, he has also inherited paranoia and anxiety. Karma has now effected him more strongly due to his new position. With Macbeth now king and Duncan dead, Macbeth suspects Banquo of knowing that he has killed Duncan because of his presence during the prophecy.
       
          "To be thus - a king - is nothing. I must be safely thus./ I fear Banquo deeply."/"I fear no one but him."/"If that is to be so, I've corrupted my mind for Banquo's offspring. For them, I've murdered the gracious Duncan./ Turned my peace sour merely for them./ And surrendered my immortal soul to the devil- to make them kings!/ The sons of Banquo, kings! Rather than that,/ I challenge fate to the death!" -Macbeth, (3.1.47-49)/(3.1.53-54)/(3.1.63-71)

     Macbeth slowly creates more enemies and worry for himself as he carefully plans to remain in control. He can no longer be comfortable in his new home and is always suspecting who knows the truth and whether he needs to get rid of them. Deciding to kill Banquo and his son Fleance before the truth can get out, he hires three murderers to get the job done during a royal banquet. While Banquo dies, Fleance lives and escapes. Macbeth learns of this, with his guilt and fear consuming him now more than ever. Although hoping for security and closure to the murder and madness, Macbeth slowly loses his sanity instead. He is the only one that sees Banquo's ghost at the banquet, causing him to act strange in front of his guests, raising more suspicion.

          "[Seeing the ghost] Go away! Quit my sight! Back to your grave!/ Your bones are marrowless, your blood is cold./ You have no power of seeing me in those glaring eyes!" -Macbeth, (3.4.95-98)

     (4) Slowly but surely, both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth go insane due to the secrets they've kept. Keeping one murder quiet is hard enough, but two on your own hands of your king and your best friend must drive a person to the edges of insanity (if not off the edge itself). Eventually, Lady Macbeth commits suicide and Macbeth fights Macduff, the man whose wife and child he sent murderers to kill. Macduff emerges from their battle victorious with Macbeth's severed head on a pole. Macbeth has finally gotten what was coming to him. "[To Malcolm] Hail, King! For such you are. See where/ the usurper's head stands! The world can breathe again." -Macduff, (5.7.53-54). After all the people he has killed and the blood on his hands, Macbeth has finally gotten what was coming to him: death, the very thing he's been testing and trying to avoid. What has gone around came back around (eh, my baaaybay) to him, putting an end to his guilt and worries, but his life as well.

     (5) Although today's common karma isn't as intense and consequential as death, but can be easily spotted. No matter what you do and how well you try to hide it, whether it's good or bad, you will be found out, punished, or rewarded. For example, if you take your sister's cookie, she may tell your parents no matter how hard you try to keep it a secret. If she doesn't tell, maybe the guilt would eat at you until you do something to make up for it. On the contrary, if you give your sister the last cookie, the universe will somehow reward you for your good deed in some way or form, whether it be a compliment you really need that day, etc. Overall, attempt to be kind, otherwise karma can be a buttface.