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Macbeth Character Analysis

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Macbeth is a doer, his deeds and his reaction to them define where he is as a character, because of his lukewarm morals and ability to be influenced by others, he - through the course of the play - becomes desensitized and detached to reality. Macbeth’s morals are characteristically unimpressive. At the beginning of the tragedy, he knows right from wrong and understands that his actions should be thought through logically. However, Macbeth does not follow this logical thinking and relies on emotions for his true decision making. For instance, Macbeth knows that killing the king is morally wrong, and talks many times of why he should not do it. But, Macbeth still goes through with killing the king because his wild ambition drives him to it, even though logically he should not have killed Duncan. After the killing of Duncan Macbeth deeply regrets his actions, in Act II scene II he says “What hands are here? Ha, they pluck out mine eyes. / Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather / The multitudinous seas incarnadine, / Making the green one red.” Macbeth is feeling the guilt from his unholy action come down upon him. As a result, he feels that there is no salvation or forgiveness for his action. At this point in the tragedy Macbeth still feels guilt for his actions, something that he slowly loses as he declines further into wickedness. A clear sign of Macbeth’s weak moral resolve is his ability to be convinced by others

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