MACBETH DEBATE PRESENTATION
Topic: Who is More Guilty — Macbeth or Lady Macbeth?
Speaker 5 | Team Against
Argument: Macbeth is More Guilty — Continued Crimes
Opening Statement
Good morning everyone. Building on what my teammate has established, I will now present
the strongest evidence that Macbeth is the more guilty party — his continued and
independent crimes long after Lady Macbeth's influence had faded.
Main Argument: Continued Crimes Beyond Lady Macbeth's
Influence
Macbeth is more guilty because he continues committing crimes completely independently
— crimes that Lady Macbeth neither planned nor knew about. After the murder of King
Duncan, Lady Macbeth's influence begins to fade. Yet Macbeth does not stop. He becomes
increasingly violent and ruthless entirely on his own.
Crime 1: The Murder of Banquo
Macbeth secretly arranges the murder of his closest friend, Banquo, without consulting Lady
Macbeth at all. He fears the witches' prophecy that Banquo's descendants will be kings, and
so he orders the killing purely out of selfish ambition and paranoia. This is a decision that
originates entirely within Macbeth himself.
• Lady Macbeth is not involved in this plan
• Lady Macbeth is not even informed beforehand
• Macbeth acts entirely on his own will
Crime 2: The Massacre of Macduff’s Family
Perhaps the most disturbing of all Macbeth's crimes is his order to slaughter the innocent wife
and children of Macduff. These are people who pose absolutely no political threat to him.
This act reveals how far Macbeth has descended into pure cruelty.
• This crime is not planned by Lady Macbeth
• This crime is not influenced by Lady Macbeth
• It is completely Macbeth’s own decision
Key Evidence: Macbeth Hides Plans from Lady Macbeth
A crucial point is that Macbeth deliberately hides his plans from Lady Macbeth. When she
asks him about Banquo, he says:
“Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till thou applaud the deed.”
This single quote proves that Macbeth is now fully in control of his own villainy. He no
longer relies on Lady Macbeth. He is not being manipulated. He makes his own evil choices,
and even keeps them secret from the very person our opponents blame.
Topic: Who is More Guilty — Macbeth or Lady Macbeth?
Speaker 5 | Team Against
Argument: Macbeth is More Guilty — Continued Crimes
Opening Statement
Good morning everyone. Building on what my teammate has established, I will now present
the strongest evidence that Macbeth is the more guilty party — his continued and
independent crimes long after Lady Macbeth's influence had faded.
Main Argument: Continued Crimes Beyond Lady Macbeth's
Influence
Macbeth is more guilty because he continues committing crimes completely independently
— crimes that Lady Macbeth neither planned nor knew about. After the murder of King
Duncan, Lady Macbeth's influence begins to fade. Yet Macbeth does not stop. He becomes
increasingly violent and ruthless entirely on his own.
Crime 1: The Murder of Banquo
Macbeth secretly arranges the murder of his closest friend, Banquo, without consulting Lady
Macbeth at all. He fears the witches' prophecy that Banquo's descendants will be kings, and
so he orders the killing purely out of selfish ambition and paranoia. This is a decision that
originates entirely within Macbeth himself.
• Lady Macbeth is not involved in this plan
• Lady Macbeth is not even informed beforehand
• Macbeth acts entirely on his own will
Crime 2: The Massacre of Macduff’s Family
Perhaps the most disturbing of all Macbeth's crimes is his order to slaughter the innocent wife
and children of Macduff. These are people who pose absolutely no political threat to him.
This act reveals how far Macbeth has descended into pure cruelty.
• This crime is not planned by Lady Macbeth
• This crime is not influenced by Lady Macbeth
• It is completely Macbeth’s own decision
Key Evidence: Macbeth Hides Plans from Lady Macbeth
A crucial point is that Macbeth deliberately hides his plans from Lady Macbeth. When she
asks him about Banquo, he says:
“Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, Till thou applaud the deed.”
This single quote proves that Macbeth is now fully in control of his own villainy. He no
longer relies on Lady Macbeth. He is not being manipulated. He makes his own evil choices,
and even keeps them secret from the very person our opponents blame.
