Macbeth Guilty Or Innocent example essay topic

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, I will be brief. You are about to see the testimonies and the evidence which will convict this man of murder and it is now time for the fate of Macbeth to be decided. I believe beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant Macbeth killed King Duncan, his life-long friend Banquo and Lady Macduff and her children. Over the last six months we have seen Macbeth degrade from a fearless and heroic warrior to a murderer, a conscious villain who felt tremendous guilt after killing his King out of pure greed and desire.

His servant overheard Macbeth express his guilt to his wife on the night of the murder: "I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on 't again I dare not". Following his crowning, King Macbeth hired three assassins to murder his friend Banquo, in order to protect his crown. It was after the murder of Banquo that Macbeth then turned into an un compassionate, non-regretful tyrant. This man, once proclaimed a hero, became the aggravation of Scotland and his people. The defence has tried to manipulate facts to persuade you that Macbeth is not to blame for these murders and has placed responsibility for these deaths on everyone from Lady Macbeth to the witches, who occasionally conversed with the accused. The witches did not directly influence Macbeth to assassinate his King, they only speculated as to what the future may hold and these predictions ignited his overwhelming ambition to become King.

I have the proof right here in my hand that Macbeth is a cold-blooded murderer. Macbeth used this weapon, which is evidence item #1, and it has been thoroughly examined and the DNA found matches Macbeth's. Speculations that Lady Macbeth is responsible for Duncan's murder have been made by the defence. But blood found on this cloak, evidence item #2, hidden in Macbeth's quarters proves without doubt that it was Macbeth who actually committed the murder.

The accusations made by Macbeth's lawyer that Lady Macbeth pressured her husband to assassinate Duncan are irrelevant. It is unthinkable that such a brave and courageous soldier could be so weak as to be influenced by his wife to commit murder, unless he had already considered doing it, or had something to gain from the death of Duncan, such as the throne of Scotland. The defense has tried to convince you that Macbeth was insane at the time of King Duncan's murder. If he were not sane, would he have been seen as such a well-loved and daring soldier? Would he have been so respected by his King to be honoured with the title of Thane of Candor, had he been ill at mind? These notions themselves are insane!

Macbeth was sane and rational at the time of the murder! ... Yes, and Macbeth did show signs of disorder and confusion a week after the murder at the banquet. Could an innocent man be driven mad over a period of a week? It was his conscience, which drove him insane! After the intended murders of Duncan and Banquo, the pressures of being King, and the increasing guilt of the murders he had committed, were growing.

Overheard by his servant, Macbeth said to his wife "I am in blood, Stepp'd in so far... ". The outlet for his rage was Lady Macduff and her family. This pointless, and unprovoked, slaughter shows the cruelty and corruption that has become a part of Macbeth. He did not stand to gain anything from the deaths of these innocent people. No longer was he the honoured soldier, or the compassionate King, but the vicious tyrant.

We must stop making excuses for this cold-hearted man. He was not influenced by his wife or witchcraft. He was sane when he brutally murdered his King. He was influenced only by his ambition and greed to become King; he was influenced by his selfishness and desire for power. From hero to merciless tyrant, this is the tragedy of Macbeth. Ladies and Gentlemen, his time has come.

Macbeth's fate lies in your hands. I trust that you will make the right judgment..