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Title: Macbeth characterisation
Description: Notes on the character of Macbeth from Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'
Description: Notes on the character of Macbeth from Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'
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Macbeth
In scene 2 Macbeth is continuously being praised for his valour and bravery in both messenger
speeches (the first by the Captain and the second by Ross) that this scene is built on
...
By the end of this scene the audience is
given a glowing picture of Macbeth who seems to be a good, brave and loyal soldier
...
His first words are paradoxical and echo those
spoken by the witches in scene 1
...
This may be an indication of his hidden
ambition
...
Soon after Ross arrives to deliver the news that Macbeth had been made Thane of Cawdor
...
Macbeth says that "the greatest is behind" meaning that all that is left to do is to become King
...
When Macbeth learns of Duncan's decision to have Malcolm succeed him as king, Macbeth
changes his mind about letting chance take its course and decides to take his destiny in his own
hands
...
Even though Macbeth may have pangs of conscience, and his wife may drive him
on, there is no doubt that he first had the idea of seizing the throne
...
Whereas in the beginning he was
portrayed as a decisive man of action, this moral problem makes him hesitate as he knows the
murder would be wrong and that he would somehow end up paying the price for his crime
...
Macbeth's resolve to not kill Duncan crumbles under the scornful attack of his wife especially
when she questioned his bravery and accused him of being a coward
...
" False face must hide what false heart doth
know"
The vision of the bloodied dagger shows us how much his mind has been tainted by dark
thoughts and evil
...
"Macbeth does murder sleep, the innocent sleep" "wherefore could I not
pronounce 'Amen' "
When the King's murder was discovered, Macbeth uses over the top rich language which is an
indication of his deception and his 'false face' - he is trying too hard to appear innocent
...
Macbeth decides to kill Banquo as he is determined to battle fate and deliberately try to stop his
sons from being kings
...
It seems Macbeth is now committed to the path of evil
...
The lack of
peaceful sleep reflects his lack of innocence
...
In his next meeting with the witches, the witches themselves say that Macbeth has become evil
like themselves " Something wicked this way comes"
...
Macbeth decides to kill off MacDuff's family just for the sake of it and this shows how ruthless
and decisive he has become in contrast to the Macbeth who felt guilty about murdering
someone and spent ages deliberating whether he should or not do it
...
This murder which served
no purpose whatsoever marks the lowest point in Macbeth's moral decline
...
Nevertheless, he seems to realise
that his time has come
...
Shakespeare makes us feel pity for him, despite all the evil things he
has done
...
He has done and seen too
many horrible things
...
Although tired of life, Macbeth vows to die a soldier
...
That was his role
...
It is his ambition that leads Macbeth to murder, treason, hypocrisy, corruption, deepest evil
...
Title: Macbeth characterisation
Description: Notes on the character of Macbeth from Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'
Description: Notes on the character of Macbeth from Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'