Essay and feedback

In this extract from Act 1 Scene 7, Shakespeare presents Macbeth's internal conflict through his soliloquy, revealing his moral dilemma about killing King Duncan. The extract shows Macbeth wrestling with his conscience, demonstrating the complexity of his character as he contemplates the consequences of regicide.

Shakespeare uses powerful imagery to convey Macbeth's internal struggle. The phrase "poison'd chalice" suggests that the act of murder will ultimately harm Macbeth himself, while "bloody instructions" implies that violence begets more violence. This imagery creates a sense of foreboding and shows Macbeth's awareness of the consequences.

Throughout the play, Macbeth's internal conflict intensifies. Initially, he is hesitant and moral, as shown in this soliloquy where he acknowledges that Duncan is a good king. However, Lady Macbeth's influence and his own ambition drive him to commit the murder. After killing Duncan, his guilt manifests in hallucinations and paranoia.

The theme of ambition versus morality is central to Macbeth's character. In this extract, Macbeth knows that killing Duncan is wrong - he recognises that "we still have judgment here" and that "bloody instructions" will return to "plague the inventor". Yet his desire for power overcomes his moral compass.