The Question of Justice in Macbeth

In the play Macbeth, many different major choices are brought forth to a certain character and the
decision that is chosen affects the entire play. The results of these actions or decisions can be a
positive or negative outcome towards the character. Does justice always prevail in the play Macbeth?
If a character decides to commit a crime, will he/she be punished? If a character does a noble deed,
will he/she be rewarded? As is represented in the play Macbeth, justice always prevails due to the
guilty character's developing sense of remorse and/or the character receiving fair punishment. For
every action there is a reaction and whatever the result is, it is meant to happen and it is just.

The first malevolent decision chosen by Lady Macbeth and her husband Macbeth was to kill King
Duncan. The death of Duncan would mean the birth of a new Macbeth, King Macbeth. Lady Macbeth
decided to have her husband kill Duncan and said in Act I scene 5, "He croaks the fatal entrance of
Duncan." (p.33) This quote says how the presence of Duncan would turn fatal once Macbeth kills him.
Once Duncan is killed, Macbeth has second thoughts about the murder of Duncan and his conscience
starts to kick in. His wife then puts his conscience at ease. The wife was being immoral by persuading
Macbeth to kill Duncan and trying to soften the blow of Duncan's death by reassuring her husband
that everything was going to be all right. Macbeth was being immoral by actually killing King Duncan.
Macbeth is already starting to feel guilty, but Lady Macbeth seems not to be affected, as of now.

The second malicious decision chosen by Macbeth and Lady Macbeth was to have Banquo and his
sons killed. This would cancel out the possibility of Banquo's sons becoming kings. In Act III scene 1,
Macbeth states that Banquo and his sons would be murdered by saying, "Banquo, thy soul's flight, if it
find heaven, must find it out tonight." (p.91) The consequence of the decision to kill Banquo and his
sons started when Macbeth felt more guilt and developed a worried conscience in the form of a vision
of Banquo's ghost. This vision terrifies Macbeth and he starts to break down emotionally.

Throughout most of the play, Lady Macbeth has been that little devil sitting on her husband Macbeth's
shoulder. Lady Macbeth was the one who persuaded Macbeth to kill Duncan, and then to have
Banquo and his sons killed, and then have Macduff's wife and children killed. Lady Macbeth didn't
actually kill any of these people, but had them killed by convincing her husband to kill them. Lady
Macbeth seems not to be affected by any of her actions. When you hold something in for so long, it
will increase until it finally bursts and explodes. This is exactly what happened to Lady Macbeth in Act
V scene 1 when she says that famous line, "Out, damned spot, out I say!" (p.163) Let's just say that
Lady Macbeth is a few fries short of a Happy Meal. Lady Macbeth let the guilt of the murders she has
caused overpower her and she killed herself. Justice has been prevailed and she got what she
deserved.

If Lady Macbeth went crazy and killed herself for having Macbeth kill Duncan, Banquo, and Macduff's
wife and children, imagine how Macbeth must feel. Of course Macbeth is filled with guilt, but that is
not what kills him. Macduff slays Macbeth by cutting off his head in Act V scene 8. Macduff declares
that he has killed Macbeth by saying, "Th' usurper's cursd head. The time is free."(p.189) Now
Macbeth is dead, Macduff cut off his head, Malcolm is king, fairness is everything, now you know, not
to overthrow, because you reap what you sew.