Security In "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare: The downfalls of Duncan, Banquo and Macbeth.

Essay by twilkinson33High School, 11th gradeA+, November 2005

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Security in Macbeth.

William Shakespeare's Macbeth revolves around the downfall of several key characters during the course of this tragic play. Security or overconfidence is a feeling of freedom from danger, care, or fear. When one feels invincible, they may lose all rational thought in their heads as well as in their hearts. By the end of the play, overconfidence can be linked to the downfall of three important characters in the play: Duncan, Banquo and Macbeth.

Duncan was killed mainly because of his poor judgment of a person, namely Macbeth. We see from the first act that Duncan has trusted two people, Thane of Cawdor and Macdonwald, who would betray him and Scotland. This shows he has a record for establishing trust with the wrong people. Duncan believes, "There's no art to find the mind's construction in the face: he was a man whom I built an absolute trust"(I,iv,14-17) This quote shows yet again that he does not know the right people to trust.

Due to the lack of judgment and the ambition of Macbeth to take the throne, Duncan was transformed from a king to a pawn in Macbeth's chess game.

The murder of Banquo occurred because he had confidence that he would be safe from Macbeth's overarching ambitions because the two have been great friends for years. In Act Two, Banquo reveals that he would stay loyal to Macbeth as long as it did not interfere with his loyalty to Duncan. This is revealed in the quote, "So I lose none in seeking to augment it, but still keeping my bosom franchis'd and allegiance clear, I shall be councell'd"(II,i,26-29) Banquo was counting on Macbeth's protection based on their long standing friendship. But, Macbeth would stop at nothing to ensure his own security, disposing all who stood in...