Examples of Conflict Within Shakespeare’s Macbeth
conflict within Macbeth Conflict between Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth, who doesn’t think he’s enough of a man to get the job done (the job of murdering the king) • Conflict between Macbeth and himself. His soliloquy showed us that he was fighting himself inside. • Conflict between Duncan and Macbeth. He murdered the King of Scotland in his sleep. • Conflict between Banquo and Macbeth because Macbeth is afraid that Banquo’s descendants will become kings of Scotland, despite the throne having been “promised” to Macbeth by the witches. Conflict between Hecate and the witches because they took it upon themselves to speak to Macbeth without her permission • Conflict between Macbeth and the Apparitions because he wishes to speak to them, to question them further, but they refuse to allow him to speak. • Conflict between Lady Macbeth and her guilty conscience. The guilt starts affect her, leading her to madness and suicide. • Conflict between Macbeth and Macduff because of Macbeth having had Macduff’s family murdered. Conflicts between the armies of Macbeth and Malcolm (Macbeth’s men are serving simply out of fear of Macbeth, while Malcolm’s men are serving to help Scotland escape the tyranny of Macbeth). Conflict between Macduff and Malcolm: Malcolm tests Macduff’s loyalty by pretending to be a villain. • When people started to realize the truth about Macbeth they started to flee to England to join Malcolm and his army. Conflict between Macbeth and Scotland’s population. • Macbeth fought with and killed Young Siward. Most of Macbeth’s friends desert him and are against him. • Finally there’s conflict within Macduff over killing Macbeth in battle.