Macbeth: a Good or Bad King

Macbeth: Good or Bad King?

Aspects of a good leader include being trustworthy, confident, and respectful, Macbeth possesses none of these qualities making him a bad king. Macbeth has shown us in these first couple of scenes that he can’t be trusted, isn’t very confident, and is not respectful, His decision to go through with the plan of killing Duncan with Lady Macbeth played a big roll in comfirming that Macbeth possesses none of the traits I mentioned above.

An example which proves that Macbeth cannot be trusted is when Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are discussing Macbeths doubts about killing Duncan, Macbeth finally makes up his mind to go through with the plan. “I am settled and bend up, Each corporal agent to this terrible feat. Away, and mock the time with fairest show. False face must hide what the false heart doth know,” this quote comes at the end of Lady Macbeth’s and Macbeth’s speech(act 1 scene 7 lines 92-95) and it is Macbeth confirming with lady Macbeth that he is determined and will exert all of his power to do his best to go through with this plan.

Just by Macbeth making this decision to go through with the murder plan he has showed us that he is not respectful, if he was indeed respectful he would have realised that Duncan is of higher authority and that he should not ruin what he has already earned(being thane of cawdor).

As a result of Macbeth killing Duncan Macbeth has to live with knowing what he has done, this will lead to him becoming less confident and more regretful. This can be shown in the text when Macbeth realizes what he has done is wrong and that he could redue things if he had the chance, it’s shown by the quote “To know my deed ‘twere best not know myself. Wake Duncan with thy knocking. I would thou couldst,” (act 2 scene 3 lines 93-95) this is saying that Macbeth will be best off forgetting that he has committed this murder, and that if he could he would take all this back and never do it again.

In conclusion in order to...