he awfulness of the projected murder: If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly. If th’ assassination could trammel up the consequence, and catch, with his surcease, success; that but this blow might be the be-ball and the end-all -- here. But here, upon this bank and shoal of time, we’d jump the life to come. But in these cases we still have judgment here. (I, vii, 1--8) At this point, Macbeth’s character has fallen to the point where he has the desperate courage to commit the murder, but is afraid of the consequences. He gives three reasons for not performing the murder. First, it would be imprudent. Secondly, it would violate the blood-tie of a kinsman, the allegiance of a subject, and the duty of a host. Finally, he suggests that Duncan has been so blameless a king that to kill him would be monstrous. He controls his ambition for the moment and resolves not to kill the king. However, if he assures the safety during his life, he would gladly "jump the life to come". Finally, Macbeth’s wife, Lady Macbeth, reveals Macbeth’s weakness of his decision, by calling him a coward without manhood and says that Macbeth does not really love her. Her speech changes Macbeth’s mind, all his fears are vanished. He is then no longer troubled by any sense of morality, and determines to proceed the murder. From that time, he plunges into a life of evil. Consequently, the conflict between Macbeth’s conscience and his evil instincts is enormous. However, his struggle against the temptations becomes weaker and weaker each time: from the point he is able to reject the idea of murder to gain the kingship, to the point he is will to commit it only regarding the risks, and finally his decision to perform the evil deed. All these suggests that he has brought his own deterioration in character. It is mainly due to his weakness in the face of temptation and his ambitious character....
