Identify one of the darker actions examined in a story or drama from this unit. In what piece is the action highlighted? What intentions or emotions prompt the action? How would the story or drama change if the character involved were able to overcome the darker impulse and indulge a higher intention? Explain.
One of the darker actions examined in a story from this unit is the murder of King Duncan in "Macbeth" by William Shakespeare. The action is highlighted in Act 2, where Macbeth, driven by ambition and pressure from his wife Lady Macbeth, kills the King of Scotland while he is a guest at Macbeth's castle.
The intentions and emotions that prompt the action are varied, particularly the desire for power and the need to fulfill the prophecy that Macbeth will become king. Lady Macbeth's manipulation and coercion also play a significant role, as she dismisses her husband's concerns about the consequences and morality of the act, questioning his manhood and asserting that he would be more of a man for following through with the murder.
If Macbeth were able to overcome the darker impulse of ambition and greed and choose not to kill King Duncan, the entire course of the story would change dramatically. Macbeth would remain as a loyal and respected subject to the king, and Duncan's children, Malcolm and Donalbain, would likely be the ones to inherit the throne.
The tragedy and bloodshed that follow the initial murder in the play, including the deaths of Banquo, Macduff's family, and ultimately Macbeth and Lady Macbeth themselves, would have been avoided. Scotland may have experienced stability and peace under the reign of Malcolm, and Macbeth could have retained his honor and reputation as a valiant warrior.
By resisting the darker impulse, Macbeth would have essentially transformed the tragedy into a story about the triumph of morality, loyalty, and integrity over ambition and power-hungry pursuits. The play would serve as a lesson on the importance of self-control and virtue over personal gain.