Idea: Macbeth (trying) hiding from God, and how it leads to his, and Scotland’s downfall.
Throughout the play, Macbeth does many things he knows to be morally wrong, and does them knowing they are against Gods will. This is one of the main things that people (at the time, less so nowdays) would have blamed his downfall on. When Macbeth says “Stars hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires:” he is using stars as a metaphor for God and heaven, and is wishing that his evil intentions will not be exposed to God. Macbeth also says “Thou sure and firm-set earth, Hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear Thy very stones prate of my whereabout,” when he is about to kill King Duncan, (who is Gods chosen ruler…) showing that the once noble and respectable Macbeth is now scared of stones and the very Earth betraying his actions and thoughts. This shows the audience that he knows his actions are wrong, and is trying to hide them, from God, others, and even his own conscience. Trying to hide his intentions from God was a cause of Macbeths deterioration, as he knew that God was the boss and he knew his thoughts, so trying to deny those ideas and make excuses for himself inevitable led to dishonesty and mistrust, which in turn destroyed his life, undermined the authority of himself as King, and also the faith people had in his laws and powers. This is why order in Scotland quickly deteriorated after Macbeths crowning as a result of Macbeths actions against Gods will.
