Tuesday, January 27, 2009

What Would You Do?

Considering the events from Macbeth Act One so far picture yourself as Macbeth. Your wife wants you to fulfill the prophesy of the three witches, but you are a little hesitant. What would you do and why? Write a PARAGRAPH (5+ sentences: Topic Sentence, Thoughts, Reasoning, Concluding Statement). Post a comment to this post to respond.

29 comments:

JasonV said...

If the witches’ prophecy in Macbeth would really come true, I feel that I wouldn’t want to kill the king. If the king deserved to die and I was to be the heir to the throne, I wouldn’t kill the king myself; I would wait for it to happen, sort of like destiny. The witches had been right with me becoming the thane of Cawdor and Glamis, so I don’t think I need to put forth the effort to become the King when I’m not really sure if it’s right or not. If it is meant to be, destiny will make it happen, not my own cruelty or envy. If I was put into a situation where I had to choose between killing Duncan or not, I would do it, but never of my own accord because of the consequences. Killing Duncan wouldn’t be my first decision if I had the choice, but if what the witches prophesized was supposed to come true, I feel that it would and I would be happier for it.

AprilH said...

If I was Macbeth I wouldn't want to kill the King. I think that if it was making me feel really bad and my conscence was bothering me I wouldn't do it because I don't think it is worth it to kill someone over being King. I would have some regret on killing him if I did. If the king is meant to die then that is fine but, killing him could throw off things. Ya, if you killed him you would be King and have lots of power but, it wasn't right and you would have that hanging over your shoulder forever. If it was my choice I wouldn't kill the king.

RachelK said...

If I was Macbeth, I wouldn't have enough courage to kill the king. The witches' prophecy might freak me out a little bit knowing that it is "meant to be" that I kill the current king. I couldn't make anyone else do it for me, cause then I would regret that greatly, and the blame would be on them for killing King Duncan. If I were Macbeth, I wouldn't let my selfish thoughts of being King of ALL Scotland get in my way. There are better things to worry about than killing someone to get my way. However, this prophecy could be for the better or for the worse,and it all ends depending on what happens to the current king. I wouldn't know what to believe, if the prophecy was for the witches' pleasure to know they are right, or for the country's pleasure, to know they are safe. I would have to think it through a lot, before anything happened.

Allie~J said...

The witch's prophecy states that Macbeth will become king but he is leaning towards not killing the king, thereby not becoming king. If I was him I wouldn't kill the king and I wouldn't let my wife kill him either unless he was to become a bad king. If my wife was pushing me to kill the king then she would have to deal with my decision and follow my decision not to kill him. I don't think that the king deserves to die and also if he killed the king then he would have to kill Malcom then he may or may not become king.

Emma said...

If I was Macbeth, I wouldn't kill the king. First of all I wouldn't do it because if the witches were prophesizing that I would become the King I would just let it happen. If it is destiny for something to happen then it will happen. I believe that everything happens for a reason so if I was supposed to become King it would happen. If I didn't then thats just the way its meant to be. Also the consequences of killing someone could be bad, not only that but you would have to deal with the fact you killed someone. I would feel really bad about that. Therefor I wouldn't kill the king.

Aaron H. said...

If I was Macbeth I wouldn’t kill the King because committing murder is wrong, it will cause disorder among the people of Scotland, and doing it during a war can give the enemy the upper hand. Killing the King for personal gain is wrong, plus not only would Macbeth have to kill the King, but also his son. This would cause people to panic and most people wouldn’t trust Macbeth as king when both the King and his son die of “natural causes”. Killing the King would also cause mass panic among the people of Scotland. Killing the King would be equivalent to assonating the President. The people freak out and disorder would ensue. Also committing this murder during a war can give the enemy the upper hand in the war. The enemy would be fighting a chicken without a head, not very difficult. In conclusion, killing the King could end in disaster for Macbeth, the people of Scotland, and Scotland itself.

alenav said...

If I was Macbeth i wouldn't kill the king. The witches prophecies can have a big impact on the society and if it is meant to be then it will happen. Murdering the king will only cause the people to become scared and confused. The king should not have to be punished, but if I became king, then it would have to be by not killing him. His wife should not have to kill the king either, I would just wait and see what was meant to be.

nilec said...

If I were Macbeth I would not kill the king. The first two predictions came true without him putting in any effort. With this information I would believe that the final thought that Macbeth would become king would come true on its own sooner or later. I think it comes down to MAcbeth and Lady Macbeth getting impatient and greedy for the power that awaits them.

Jake H said...

If i was Macbeth i wouldn't want to kill the king to fufill the prophesis. By killing the king Macbeth would be sentenced to death if he got caught. He would lose the title of king as well as the titles of thane. It wouldn't be worth it to kill the king, there is a better chance that he would get caught. On the other hand, it would be a different story if Lady Macbeth killed the king because Macbeth could always play the I had no idea thing and get off safe. If he loves her then he wouldn't want to watch her die.

Pye said...

If I was Macbeth I would kill the king. If Macbeth wants to be king he has to make sure that the current king and Malcom die so I would take out the king then pay someone to kill Malcom. Then again if Macbeth doesnt want to be king then he should just chill and let the king live. It seems like Lady Macbeth wants to be Queen and if Macbeth wants to be married for much longer he has to kill the king.

Anonymous said...

If i was macbeth, I really do not think that i would have enough courage to kill the king, even if i really wanted to get to be king myself. I would do something similar to what Jason said. Since two of the prophecies had already come true, i would want to wait to see if it would come true on it's own, and then i would not have to deal with hiding what i had done. I would be much happier and feel much better about myself if i just waited and got to the throne the "right" way.

ddenton76 said...

If I was Macbeth i would not kill the king myself, but I would hire someone to kill him and Malcom for me because that way if the kings murderer is revealed then it wouldn't be me. But if the person I hired to kill the king and Malcom is caught and he snitches and tells them that I hired him it wouldn't really matter because I would already be king and I would just say that he was lying and sentence him to death and wouldn't have to deal with it anymore, the problem would be solved

JeniC said...

If I were in Macbeth's place, I would not kill the king. Suppose that Macbeth does kill the king, how would he gain the respect of his newly acquired kingdom? If the king remains alive, Macbeth may be rewarded for his victories in battle (not in the form of being king, but in other ways). He would loose all respect of his admirers. Although I'm sure his wife could try to persuade him, Macbeth should stick with his gut feeling; not to kill the king.

michellev said...

If I was Macbeth and the witches, and my wife were telling me this I would risk it and just kill the king. If that meant that I would be kind if I killed him, I would do it, why shouldn't I? I think that me I like to take the risks doing it and suffering with consequences, rather than do nothing and wonder what could have happened. The withes even told him, that this was what he should do. Why would they tell Macbeth to something if they had no reason to, and it was on random call, so it only makes sense to do it. Plus I would want to make my wife happy and that's what she wants Macbeth to do it, so I would do it.

meghank said...

If I were Macbeth I wouldn't want to kill the king. The witches' prophecy said that he would become king not that he would have to kill to become king. If the prophecy is true Macbeth should not have to change anything that he is doing to fulfill it. If Macbeth truly is the brave guy that he seems to be in battle he should also be brave enough to not give in to envy. I think if I were in his position I would never kill someone just to raise my standing in the world, because any way you look at it that is murder and I would never be able to look at myself again if I murdered someone there is no excuse for that unless it is in self defense. I would never lower myself to that level if I were Macbeth because that is exactly what the witches want him to do.

Liap said...

If I was Macbeth and the witches prophecy said that I would be king, I would feel no need to kill the king, and would simply wait until the prophecy came true. Even if my wife was impatient, I would let HER do whatever she felt was necessary, and leave her to it. Since it would be my conscience that would suffer more if I killed the king, I would not be convinced to do anything so quickly and carelessly, but instead wait to see what the future holds. As Macbeth, I would let things be until I saw my future unfold a little, and then make a decision later.

Liap said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
georged said...

The economy has hurt even the richest of us. Please understand, I must eat too! We have nothing left, nothing, I tell you. The filthy English swine swept through Inverness leaving nothing but a trail of flame and smoke behind them, all the while I battling to keep the Norwegians out! The majority of my subjects have fought valiantly along side me in the field of battle, and we returned triumphant, but at a great cost of life and blood. Now with all my fields destroyed, my subjects dead, and that woman that won't stop nagging me, I am left with no other choice. This is not out of greed, not out of a will to fulfill the prophecies. No. This is out of necessity. Our King, as wonderful a man he may be, is incapable to keep out invaders, rule this nation, but most importantly to provide for the people. The King must die!

BrianW said...

If I were Macbeth I wouldn’t kill the king, because all of that responsibility would be too much for me. It would also bring havoc and chaos to Scotland because they would probably want to know who killed the king. If I was forced to kill him I think I would run away because murder is wrong and Malcolm would want me dead. If Malcolm and Duncan both died I would gladly take the thrown think my wife would kill him for me just to succeed at the witches’ prophesies so they wouldn’t kill me.

samh said...

If I was Macbeth I would not kill the king in order to take over his thrown. My reasoning behind this is even if I was to kill the king something would still have to happen to Malcolm for me to become the new king. Also, if the witches' prophecy is really "meant to be" then me becoming king would happen without me having to harm the king or his son in any way. I would not let my wife harm or kill the king either because my conscience would not be able to handle the guilt once I was "awarded" the thrown.

Nicole said...

In being hesitant, I would try to calm her down and explain how even if I did kill Dunac, that would just make Malcolm take the throne quicker. Instead I would go the more stealthy route and find something politically wrong with the family in general. Dig in to their past and see what dirty little secrets they have. Should worse come to worse, I would set someone up; what's the point of being king if there isn't a loved one to share it with? Not to mention the people would question the king who had a killer wife and how much I knew. No, the best answer to the problem is a stealthy in the shadow resolution istead of a frontal assault.

Macy D. said...

If I was Macbeth and the witches prophecy said that I would become king, I would not have the want to kill the king. I would wait for the prophesies to come true. I would also probably let my wife do as she pleases, if she doesn't agree with me then she can do it on her own. I would suffer more with having the memory of killing someone. I feel that if I wait longer to see how things unfold, I would have a better way of making a choice.

NowlanS said...

If I was Macbeth I believe I would probably kill the king. With all the pressure Macbeth had on him I believe it would be impossible for him to resist. I would not be able to stand above all the pressures. I would find it difficult if my wife, especially a manipulative person like her, urged me to fulfill the prophesy. Also with having three witches who practically worshiped me tell me that i would kill the king after they already accurately predicted two other things about me would be hard evidence to dispute. I would probably kill the king even though it was against my morals because of the numerous pressures on me.

elizabeth k said...

I think that when Macbeth hears from the whiches, if I were him I would be happy and excited to kill the king but as I think about it, I really dont know if I should. I would be hesitant. Even if my wife told me I should i still might not. that is a big decision to make quickly. I think in the end I would end up doing it, because I want to be king.

annies said...

I would not take the killing of Macbeth into my own hands. I agree with what Jason said about the prophesies. If it was a prophesy than there wouldn't be much interacction needed. If most of the prophesies the witches predicted came true without Macbeth having to do much, than he shouldn't have to kill the king. But, if it was getting close to some deadline and the king hasn't died, then I would take it into my own hands. Actually, I would maybe have my wife help me because if I got caught then I couldn't be the king. And that would be bad.

Shay N said...

If I was Macbeth I wouldn’t have the nerve to be able to kill the king and live with it. If I did kill the king my conscious wouldn’t allow me to live with the deed that I have done. With the pressure that Macbeth is under though he might be forced to do it between the witches and his wife. With Macbeth’s kind hearted nature he won’t be able to kill Duncan for his own gain. On the other hand Macbeth’s wife has an evil mind that desires the power and easy going life of a king. In the end Macbeth will kill the king against his will but will and there will be people who figure out that he has killed the king. Macbeth won’t be able to cope will what he has done and kill himself.

allison t said...

It depends on how the witches prophesy will come true... If the only way it would come true is for Macbeth to kill the king then I would listen to his wife and go for it. If there is a different way it will happen then I would just sit back and let whatever it is happen on it's natural course. My only fear would be that his wife can't wait for things to happen naturally and she will do it herself. But who knows, maybe that's the way it was meant to be...

adamc said...

What I would do if i was Macbeth was just let the events play out. I think that if I was told by three witches that i was to become king i would be a little hesitant. I also think that i would just let the events play out and if i became king cool but if I then I just wouldn't change position. I wouldn't want to be in a position that isn't rightfully mine anyways.

KatieW said...

If I were Macbeth and my wife was peer pressuring me to fulfill the prophesies I would tell her no. First of all, how would I know that the witches are a credible source? Yes, they were right about the first two (Thane of Glamis and Thane of Cawdor) but this might still be a trick of some sort. Next, it would take a lot of planning and courage to kill the king even though he is innocent and has always been a great leader. Finally, once obtaining the "King" title what would come next? I think I would just feel really guilty the rest of my life and I don't know if I would be able to live with that. Also, Macbeth getting everything he wants could lead up to him wanting even more. In summary, this is my reasoning for why I would not do as my wife says in killing the king to fulfill a prophesy.