The play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, is an example of a moral play.
In the novel, the protagonist, Macbeth, commits the murder of King Duncan in his
quest to become the new king.
Macbeth, together with his wife, conducted immoral acts that included killing the king
and also executing members of the community, hence rendering the story to be
classified as a moral play.
Macbeth kills the king.
It is evident from Lady Macbeth’s statement, “when you durst do it, then you were a
man,” that Macbeth killed the king.
The play can be considered a moral play due to Macbeth’s immoral actions towards
King Duncan.
Lady Macbeth and Macbeth also kill members of the community.
Macbeth kills Lady Macduff and her family. “A child crowned, with a tree in his
hand,” this was Macbeth’s words on learning that Macduff had run to England and
decides to kill his family.
Macbeth’s actions of killing Macduff’s entire family also were an act of immorality.
The protagonist is killed at the end of the play.
Macbeth pays for his evil deeds. After discovering that Macbeth had killed King
Duncan and Lady Macduff and her family, Macduff kills Macbeth in the end of the
play.
Macbeth receives justice for his immoral acts of murder.
The immoral acts mentioned above are responsible for the classification of the novel
as a moral play.
Every action has its consequences. Macbeth paid for his immoral acts through death.