Character Analysis Of Macbeth

Macbeth is a play that is written by William Shakespeare in 1606 and the main goal is to make the audience members or readers think that excessive ambition will have horrible consequences in the end. Macbeth receives prophecies from multiple people, his wife tries to make him something that he is not, by getting him to kill anyone that she wants him to. Over the course of the book the main character Macbeth drastically changes from being brave to being cowardly, he also changes from being loving to being greedy, and last he changes from being very trustworthy to being very untrustworthy.

Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” is a very dark, complex and cynical play written during the reign of King James in the time of Jacobean England. There are many events that occur that will have readers react in many ways and form new opinions while reading, especially with Macbeth’s character. Readers can automatically tell that Macbeth is a very dynamic character because of him in the beginning , describes as honorable and brave, in contrast to how he was in the end, described as cruel and ruthless. However, the remaining question is whether or not he is reprehensible for his actions or is he the victim of his outcome. Macbeth would be more of the victim of his own villainy because even though he did have other outside urges pushing him to do things

In the play “Macbeth” the author furthers the ideas of ambition, manhood and violence throughout the play using a gender lens, mainly for masculinity in men. In the play “Macbeth” ambition plays a big role in the man characters life; Macbeth. In Act 1 scene 3, lines 125-129, “And oftentimes, to win us to our harm; The instruments of darkness tell us truth.” (Shakespeare 1.3.125-129). This quote stated by Banquo foreshadows Macbeth further into the play. Macbeth ends up killing King Duncan because he wants to be in power over the kingdom. When Banquo questions Macbeth about the killing of King Duncan, Macbeth’s ambition to kill Banquo skyrocketed. Macbeth didn’t want anybody to think or know that he ended up killing King Duncan for power. This started a cycle of death for Macbeth’s ambition to kill to stay in power. This example of ambition from “Macbeth” has a very similar motif from the movie called “The Mask You Live In”. In the movie, George Orwell states, “He wears a mask and his face grows to fit it.” The idea of the mask he wear fits his face helps us further the reason for men’s ambitions. Men’s ambitions are driven by power and dominance over people and prized possessions. For men to be able to gain power, they need to prove how masculine they are to society. In doing so they are dehumanizing their biological thoughts and feelings and turning them into artificial ones in order to be seen more powerful or dominate to the public.

Whilst the character of Macbeth is initially portrayed as a noble kinsman, his ambition and motivation, directly influenced by the witches and Lady Macbeth, ultimately transforms him into a corrupt and ruthless tyrant. William Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy “Macbeth” clearly depicts this notion of change, illustrated through Shakespeare's utilisation of literary techniques. The tragic downfall of Macbeth is mainly attributed to Macbeth’s own greed and hubris.

But despite Macbeth’s desire to take the throne, he does not want to kill Duncan. What pushes Macbeth over the edge is Lady Macbeth. She tells Macbeth to follow his ambitions and kill Duncan. She says that murdering Duncan is not a sin, and that it is all worth it for the crown. These words from Lady Macbeth’s mouth are what made Macbeth decide to follow through and commit murder. “I am settled and bend up each corporal agent to this terrible feat.” (1.7.92-93). Macbeth will do the act, but he is very reluctant to do so. In conclusion, Macbeth’s ambitions and his loyalty towards Lady Macbeth are huge factors for why Macbeth was torn, and why he decided to kill Duncan.

Macbeth abuses his power as king by becoming so ruthless that he kills whoever might get in his way or threaten his position as king. Macbeth fears that Banquo is beginning to doubt him and believes that Banquo is his enemy. When he is speaking to the two men he has hired to murder Banquo, he tells them,” Every minute of his being thrusts / Against my near’st of life” (Shakespeare 3.1.128-129). Macbeth is jumping to conclusions about Banquo because he fears Banquo’s sons will become king, as the witches predicted. This turning point in the play shows that Macbeth is not suited to be king and continues to act out against people in Scotland. Macbeth feels the same threat towards Macduff as he did towards Banquo, but since Macduff fled to England, Macbeth had to take a different action. Macbeth chose to attack Macduff’s family, he said, “The castle of Macduff I will surprise, / Seize upon Fife; give me the edge o’ the sword” (Shakespeare 4.2.166-167). Macbeth chose to kill everyone in Macduff’s family so that he would scare Macduff away from Scotland while Macbeth is king. This downfall did not come from no where, but from his sins and the choices he made as king, he did everything for himself instead of for others.

In Shakespeare’s Scottish tragedy, Macbeth, the corrupting world of uncontrolled ambition and its toll on a person are explored through the main character’s eyes. Ambition- a vital part of human nature that sparks self-betterment and progression- can be beneficial, however, an excess can lead to destruction. Macbeth was leading a noble life until the witches prophesized the potential of his future success, which was the beginning of his downfall. Everyone has desires, but when a seed of ambition is planted in a persons’ mind, it can only be amplified. Although this seed was set by the witches, Lady Macbeth is the one who pushed and manipulated his ambition. Macbeth’s interactions with Lady Macbeth are the major factors that influenced Macbeth

Some individuals who strive for success and power cease to intentionally hurt others around them to obtain self satisfaction. Through the duration of the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth is a tragic hero that has promise for further greatness, but instead chooses to follow his fatal flaw and his blind ambition for power, which leads to his downfall and death. Macbeth possesses all the characteristics of a tragic hero, he is of noble birth and has heroic abilities, has a tragic flaw that leads to his destruction, and ultimately suffers complete ruin and death. Firstly, Macbeth is of noble birth and has heroic abilities. Secondly, Macbeth has a tragic flaw that leads to his destruction and lastly at the end of the novel, Macbeth suffers complete ruin

Role in Plot: He is another person that Macbeth has to fight in order to secure the thrown.

In spite of Macbeth was influenced by outside sources, he was motivated by his ambition and has a desire to become King

In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, trust is an important topic throughout the play and is displayed through the character Macbeth as he rises and falls from power. Shakespeare conveys the idea of trust though Macbeth. In the play, Macbeth may seem loyal and trustworthy, but he actually is a fraud and has evil intentions. He trustworthiness to other characters directly corresponds to the amount of power he has in the play. When Macbeth is talking to King about Macbeth’s amazing service to the King, he claims that, “The service and the loyalty I owe in doing it pays itself,” (Shakespeare, 1.4 25-26) Here, Macbeth claims that serving King Duncan in itself is a gift. This quote displays exemplary loyalty from Mr Loyal himself, Macbeth, as he is enthusiastic about serving the King. In this part of the play, Macbeth is trusted enough to gain power and move up the ranks, as he is trusted by all and doesn’t seem to be hiding anything.

Following the murder of King Duncan, Macbeth’s thoughts that stimulate his actions turn from good to evil. At this point in the play, Macbeth's ambition begins to come into sight. Macbeth starts seeking his future on his own and will overcome any obstacles in front of him. Macbeth then ventures even further to defend his crown by plotting to have Banquo, whom was seen as his ally, murdered. This is seen as the major climax in the play as well as the pinnacle of Macbeth's ambition. He is so preoccupied with reigning as king that he does not recognise that what he is doing to make himself more powerful is in fact leading him to a tragic

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is an excellent illustration of a Shakespearian tragic hero. Although Macbeth has many noble qualities, he is, indeed, not without his flaws. The following essay exemplifies how Macbeth is more of a tragic and ill-fated character rather than a loathsome one. Ultimately, the tragic characteristics of Macbeth is what leads to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s downfall. In fact, there are many factors, which portray the downfall of Macbeth. The two, which will be discussed in this essay, are: how Lady Macbeth influenced Macbeth and Macbeth’s longtime vaulting ambition, which drove his psychotic desire to be King.

Macbeth’s character develops consistently throughout the play. The key to his character development is his unchecked ambition, which is powered by the three witches and his strong desire to become the King of Scotland. Macbeth ends up achieving his goal but ultimately, it leads him to a downfall such as the suicide of Lady Macbeth. Macbeth’s ambition has played a significant role in the play ever since the three witches tell him that he would become the King of Scotland. His ambition has led Macbeth to become gullible. He is easily manipulated and convinced to take immoral actions. Moreover, Macbeth also becomes selfish as he only thinks about himself and not the citizens of Scotland. He fails at his job as a King in making Scotland a better place to live. Lastly, due to his unchecked ambition, Macbeth starts acting violently by murdering his closest allies and friends. Therefore, Macbeth’s ambition has driven him to become manipulative, selfish and violent; and thus, ambition is Macbeth’s greatest weakness.

One of the reasons that Macbeth is eviler than Lady Macbeth is because he doesn't stop killing after Duncan. Macbeth decided to use his power for evil, by hiring to murders to kill Banquo. He chose to kill him because he’s worried that the witches prophecy will come true. The prophecy was that Banquo will father kings. Lady Macbeth had no idea that he was going to murder Banquo. Which therefore makes Lady Macbeth innocent and has nothing to do with killing Banquo. “Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck, / Till thou applaud the deed.” (Shakespeare, 95). Macbeth was just too selfish, evil and power hungry to realize what he was doing would hurt people like Fleance, Banquo’s son.