Final answer:
Macbeth has several reservations about killing King Duncan that include moral responsibility as Duncan's kinsman and subject, fear of the consequences and future retribution, and Duncan's virtuous nature as a leader.
Step-by-step explanation:
In William Shakespeare's play Macbeth, Macbeth contemplates several arguments against the murder of King Duncan.
Macbeth's Arguments Against Regicide
- Moral Responsibility: Macbeth recognizes his double trust as Duncan's kinsman and subject, which he sees as reasons not to harm Duncan.
- Consequences: He is wary of the consequences, suggesting that if the assassination doesn't solve everything, they may be caught in a cycle of violence. He fears that the 'bloody instructions' may 'return to plague the inventor'.
- King's Virtue: Duncan has been a virtuous king, and Macbeth feels that murdering such a leader would be unjust and met with consequences from both heaven and earth.
These arguments indicate Macbeth's internal conflict and his awareness of the moral and political implications of regicide.