English 9

Macbeth Act 2, scene 1

Does Macbeth violate his ethical code?

We know that Macbeth will kill Duncan, but the question is: does this
violate his ethical code? Write a paragraph using the CER model that
answers this question.

Macbeth killing Duncan does go against his moral code as a Thane. As

the Thane of Glamis and now Cawdor, he’s supposed to be loyal and
support his citizens. Macbeth says in his monologue in Act 1 Scene 7,
”First of all, I am his kinsman and his subject, so I should always try to
protect him. Second, I am his host, so I should be closing the door in
his murderer’s face, not trying to murder him myself. Besides, Duncan
has been such a humble leader, so free of corruption, that his virtuous
legacy will speak for him when he dies, as if angels were playing
trumpets against the injustice of his murder...The only thing
motivating me is ambition, which makes people rush ahead of
themselves toward disaster.” He knows and acknowledges it’s immoral
to kill King Duncan, and that what he’s planning is almost like a spur of
the moment but decides that he truly wants to act on it because “...I
would gladly put my soul and the afterlife at risk to do it.” Macbeth
knows that Duncan is a good person and that killing him would mean
taking the life of a kind soul, and that he shouldn’t be doing it as
someone who has enough trust from the king to have him sleep over.

SOURCES:
https://www.sparknotes.com/nofear/shakespeare/macbeth/page_40/

Remember:
● Your claim should answer the questions: does Macbeth killing
King Duncan violate Macbeth’s ethical code?
● Your evidence should be (a) direct quote(s) from the text that
support(s) your claim. Cite the Act and scene that the quote
came from.
 ● Your reasoning should explain how your evidence supports your
claim.
● This should be written in paragraph form.

Grading:

Criterion B: Organizing
1-2 64/69% 3-4 74/79% 5-6 84/89% 7-8 94/100%

The student: The student: The student: The student:

● makes sophisticated use
● makes minimal use of ● makes adequate use of ● makes competent use of of organizational
organizational structures organizational structures organizational structures structures that serve the
though these may not that serve the context of a that serve the context of a context of a literary
always serve the context literary analysis literary analysis analysis effectively
of a literary analysis ● organizes opinions and ● organizes opinions and ● effectively organizes
● organizes opinions and ideas with some degree ideas in a coherent and opinions and ideas in a
ideas with a minimal of coherence and logic logical manner with ideas sustained, coherent
degree of coherence and building on each other and logical manner with
logic ideas building on each
other in a sophisticated
way

Criterion D: Using language

1-2 64/69% 3-4 74/79% 5-6 84/89% 7-8 94/100%

The student: The student: The student: The student:

● uses a limited range of ● uses an adequate range
appropriate vocabulary of appropriate vocabulary,
and forms of expression sentence structures and
● writes and speaks in an forms of expression
inappropriate register ● sometimes writes and
and style that are not speaks in a register and
appropriate for the task style appropriate for the
● uses grammar, syntax and task
punctuation with limited ● uses grammar, syntax and
accuracy; errors often punctuation with some
hinder communication degree of accuracy;
● spells/writes with limited errors sometimes hinder
accuracy; errors often communication
hinder communication ● spells/writes with some
degree of accuracy; errors
sometimes hinder
communication
● uses a varied range of
appropriate vocabulary,
sentence structures and
forms of expression
competently
● writes competently in a
register and style
appropriate for the task
● uses grammar, syntax and
punctuation with a
considerable degree of
accuracy; errors do not
hinder effective
communication
● spells/writes with a
considerable degree of
accuracy; errors do not
hinder effective
communication
● effectively uses a range
of appropriate vocabulary,
sentence structures and
forms of expression
● writes in a consistently
appropriate register and
style appropriate for the
task
● uses grammar, syntax and
punctuation with a high
degree of accuracy;
errors are minor and
communication is
effective
● spells/writes with a high
degree of accuracy;
errors are minor and
communication is
effective