Abby Venhaus Ms. Ratay English IV 3, March 2023 Macbeth Character Analysis The story of one man's slide into evil is told in William Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth. Initially, Macbeth, the main character, is portrayed as a valiant and noble soldier who is well-liked by his fellow soldiers. But as the narrative progresses, we witness Macbeth's character go through a tremendous change as his greed for power and ambition lead him down a perilous path. This essay will examine Shakespeare's underlying concepts as well as the development of Macbeth's characters. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a man of honor and honesty. He has fought valiantly for his country as a devoted soldier. But, his run-in with the three witches and their prophecy …show more content…
To get rid of anyone who gets in his way, he acts violently and ruthlessly. He will not let anyone come in the way of his fate for the throne. As in Act 3, Scene 2, where he says, "It is concluded: Banquo, thine soul's flight, if it reaches heaven, must find it out tonight," ordering the killing of Banquo and his son Fleance (91). With this quote, Macbeth shows how he would kill even his own friend to become king. Up until this point in the play, Macbeth's change in character was gradual. He had previously killed King Duncan, but was guilt-ridden as an effect. He hoped that he would not have to kill anyone else for the title. However, things didn't go as planned. He figured he had to kill Banqou and Fleance to complete his fate. Fleance got away, but Banqou was killed by Macbeth. It was all because Macbeth was so determined to clear anyone in his way from stopping him from becoming king. As his desire for power grows, Macbeth's behavior becomes more unpredictable and …show more content…
He eventually crumbles because of shame and terror that devour him. Act 5, Scene 5, Macbeth's lament is as follows: "Life is but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing"(179). This passage emphasizes how hopeless and dejected Macbeth has become. It is better well shown when the audience realizes that his wife, Lady Macbeth, commits suicide. He is portrayed as indifferent, and shows no remorse or humanity. He stated that she would have died anyway. This proves the idea that he was apathetic towards anything except his
He tries everything he can to rid himself of the witches' forecasts. He dispatches assassins to kill Banquo and his son as soon as he recalls the prophecy that Banquo will be greater than him. When the three witches reveal their final prophecies, he feels safe. Macbeth's murder of the king exemplifies his attempt to
Macbeth starts out being an excellent warrior in the battles that he is fighting in for the good. He is spilling blood over the right reasons and in doing so he earned the title of Thane of Cawdor. However, this all begins to change once he and Banquo, his right hand man in battle, meet the three witches and they get their prophecies told to them. This begins the downfall of Macbeth, causing corruption, greed, and guilt coming from the actions after the prophecies are told to them. Immediately after Macbeth’s mental state switches as a result to the first prophecy coming true already, he begins thinking that he has to kill King Duncan in order to fulfill the rest of them.
No matter how confident a character may appear to be, the smallest of words and the smallest of actions can have the greatest impact. Macbeth is an example of a tragedy by William Shakespeare that dramatises the damaging effects of selfishly seeking ambition. Lady Macbeth who is perhaps the most memorable character within the play, commits a surprising suicide considering her first appearance as a dominating and strong-willed figure. Her drastic character development shows the audience the influence that external and internal forces can have on an individual’s choices and actions. Three key factors that lead to her change in character are: the murder of Duncan, her loss of control over Macbeth, and the revelation of her crimes.
In the beginning of the play, Macbeth met with the Weird Sisters, the catalysts of his change. After his destiny to be king was prophesied by them, he desired to murder King Duncan and usurp the throne. Despite his confidence on the battlefield and being seen as brave, he struggled with these inner thoughts. Macbeth knows that what he is imagining is corrupt, yet can not help but think of it. This is shown in his soliloquy: “... why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, Against the use of nature?”
Banquo, thy souls flight, if it find heaven, must find it out tonight” (3.1.161-162). Here, in this quote from Macbeth, it can be seen that he has decided that he is going to kill Banquo and his son Fleance to prevent their bloodline from becoming king, and to make sure he and his bloodline continue to reign. This shows us that Macbeth is willing
Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a play about a man named Macbeth. Later on, this play shows us his moral sense and the result of guilt in his head as well as the effects this causes. At the beginning of the play Macbeth is known as a brave and very noble warrior who led his army to victory. Macbeth was also highly rewarded for this act as Thane of Cawdor.
He commits this heinous act with the hopes that doing so would aid him in becoming king. By killing Duncan, Macbeth turns his back on what he knows is right and good, all for the possibility of power. (A) After becoming king, Macbeth fears losing his new authority, and convinces three murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance by telling them that their “health but sickly in [Banquo’s] life, / Which in his death were perfect” (3.1.107-108). (IQ) The murder of Banquo is greatly significant as he and Macbeth had no prior qualms and were quite close.
Hussein Alshahad Mrs.Seifert English 10 13 March 2023 Analyzing The Character Lady Macbeth In Macbeth By William Shakespeare In Macbeth by William Shakespeare the play revolves around the life of a Scottish general named Macbeth who was given a number of weird prophecies that predicted his future by 3 witches he met after a battle. Later in the play Macbeth was pushed by his wife to act upon those prophecies. This mistake will later prove to change the course of both their lives.
Murderers were hired to kill both Banquo and Fleance. The murders inform the "Most royal sir, [that] Fleance is 'scaped" (3.4.19-20). It's weird how "some people are willing to betray years of friendship just to get a little bit of spotlight" (Conrad). This just shows that he wanted to be and stay the king no matter what even if that meant killing his own best friend while keeping it secret from his wife. Macbeth felt threatened by the fact that Macduff knew that he killed Duncan and that he went all the way to England to find Duncan's son to take his title as king away.
Banquo gets killed but his son flees. Upon hearing this news, Macbeth is glad that Banquo died, and he is not worried about his son at the moment. In act 3 there is a quote from Macbeth “…you must kill Banquo and his son Fleance…” Macbeth is talking to 2 people he gathered to perform this task for him. Macbeth is a corrupt leader who is using his power to do what he wants simply because 3 witches told him it was his fate.
Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare, that goes deep into problems of human nature, exploring the darker side of ambition and power. In this story a Scottish general named Macbeth who receives a prophecy from three witches that he will become King of Scotland. Macbeth later commits murder and becomes a tryant, leading to his downfall. This essay will discuss Macbeth’s character and how it develops through the play. At the start of the play, Macbeth and his wife Lady Macbeth have a strong supportive relationship.
Macbeth orders the murder of Banquo and his son Fleance, simply because he believes that they pose a threat to his seat on the throne. Macbeth remembers the prophecy Banquo was told when he asked of his future which they responded “lesser than Macbeth and greater. Not so happy, yet much happier. Thou shall get kings though thou be none.” (I.III.68-70).
“If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me” (1.3.154-155). After taking the throne through murder to gain undeserved kingship, Macbeth again displays his arrogant dignity in killing his friend. In Banquo’s obvious superiority to Macbeth both morally and mentally, Macbeth orders to have him killed in fear of his greatness and honor possibly being overshadowed by another. “Whose being I do fear, and under him my genius is rebuked, as it is said” (3.1.59-60). Later in the story, as Macbeth is nearing his doom for his traitorous actions, Macbeth’s dignity of himself is the final act that leads
He decides to kill Banquo because of a prophecy that the witches had shown both Macbeth and Banquo earlier in the play. The prophecy stated that, although Banquo would not be king, his sons and future ancestors would be great kings. Macbeth’s ambition to have a line of kings from his own blood starts to lead him to the conclusion that Banquo and his son must die. Shakespeare writes, “To be thus is nothing, / But to be safely thus.
In the rest of the play, Macbeth is driven by ambition. He starts out as a brave soldier but becomes more ruthless as he tries to become and stay king. He struggles with his desire for power and his guilty conscience. He feels really bad about what he's done, and it eventually leads to his downfall.