Macbeth Character Analysis

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.

Throughout the book, as Macbeth continues to progress in power, it seems as though his morals fade away while dark and destructive ideas spread through him quickly. While Macbeth contemplates his first evil deed of killing Duncan, he often talk’s himself into doing it, or gets outside persuasion to gain the courage that he is lacking. After talking to Lady Macbeth about how he has to murder Duncan, he exclaims, “I am settled and bend up / Each corporal agent to this terrible feat. / Away and mock the time with the fairest show. / False face must hide what the false heart doth / know” (1.7.92-96). Later in the novel we learn that Macbeth thinks that Banquo has become a threat to his power. Macbeth then takes this problem into his own hands and assigns murderers to kill Banquo. Macbeth then says, “So is he mine; and in such bloody distance / That every minute of his being thrusts/ Against my nearest of life. And though I could / With barefaced power sweep him from my sight/ And bid my will avouch it, yet I must not, / For certain friends that are both his and mine, / Whose loves I may not drop, but wail his fall who I myself struck down. And thence it is, that I to your assistance do make love, masking the business from the common eye for sundry weighty reasons” (3.1.132-142). Macbeth is saying that if he absolutely has to do this terrible deed he will, it doesn’t mean he wants to, but he is going to do it anyways. Macbeth uses the motif of appearance versus reality when he

Despite the manipulation from Lady Macbeth, Macbeth is the one who ultimately makes the decision to murder King Duncan in order to become king. When Macbeth is given the title of Thane of Cawdor and the witches’ prophecies come to him, the thoughts of murdering King Duncan to become King emerge in Macbeth’s mind. Macbeth has mixed-feelings about the prophecies and asks himself, “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? Present fears are less than horrible imaginings: my thought, whose murder yet is

Making poor choices and treating others with disrespect can affect you in the long run and can easily contribute to a downfall. Macbeth was fully aware of the choices he made with the inhumane torture and disrespect he had on the citizens of Scotland. Being a tragic hero is when one experiences an immense tragedy which leads to a downfall, but Macbeth never had a tragedy because his death originated from the choices he made and reactions he had while he had authority as king. Macbeth being selfish and only caring about himself creates an undeserving and improper image as king which brought chaos into the land of Scotland. In Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, Macbeth does not fit the formula for a tragic hero because he is not a moral

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

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.

As human beings, there are occasions where we choose between right or wrong. Certainly, It can materialize into effect on how other people judge you based on their glimpse of moral senses. In the play Macbeth, William Shakespeare displayed a dark and erroneous side of humankind. The three preeminent characters accordingly demonstrate identical attributes of greediness. For instance, Banquo who appears to be noble fails to resist his desires, and in relation to Lady Macbeth, she overrules herself with greed to a fate of anguish, and thus, Macbeth becomes engulfed with greed that leads to horrendous deeds. In general, Shakespeare emphasizes that ambition for power and wealth can invalidate morality in human nature.

Macbeth is portrayed to be a very evil character throughout the play of Macbeth. The most back stabbing scene in the play is when Macbeth murders King Duncan, But the real evil genius behind the murder is Lady Macbeth, who forced Macbeth to kill King Duncan, which brings up the argument, whos responsible for the murder of King Duncan? A Lot of people also ask, who’s more evil? Macbeth, or Lady Macbeth?

The story of Macbeth is no doubt an interesting one, but would it still be if some minor characters were taken out? Although the three witches are not main characters, they have a large role in the play Macbeth. The witches advance the plot of Macbeth by telling Macbeth his fate, by telling Banquo his fate, and by showing Macbeth the three apparitions.

From the sinister acts of killing the innocent, to betraying loved ones and best friends, who is to blame for all the constant chaos caused by these despicable acts? The story of Macbeth is about a man whos naive faith in prophecies leads him to selfishness. Not only this, but due to this trait of his, it causes mass destruction and deaths of many. Although there is many people to point fingers to, who is most responsible for determining the course of events throughout Macbeth? Even though Macbeth was the killer, did he alone create his own destiny? While Macbeth and Lady Macbeth were a factor of Macbeth’s downfall, the We’ird sisters take most of the responsibility for the murders.

All humans can be manipulated or changed by inside and outside affects, some that are good while others are bad. This can all be related through books/plays and the characters change throughout them. In the play Macbeth written by Shakespeare, the title character has a major conquest to become king. Throughout his process, he is affected by both internal and external forces. These affects really come in to play as the play progresses and several terrible things happen. In the end, Macbeths demise can ultimately be said from the causes of Lady Macbeth’s controlling actions, his murderous ways, and the witches’ trickery.

In the opening of the well known tragedy Macbeth, the captain says, “And Fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling, Show'd like a rebel's whore” (Shakespeare 1.2. 16-20). The captain refers to Macbeth escaping his death, but implies that fate will seize him in the end. The concept of fate being inescapable is presented in Macbeth just as it is presented in many naturalist texts. One naturalist who captures this concept comprehensively is Frank Norris. In Norris’ tragic novel McTeague, those who defy fate are met with chaos and destruction while those who accept their fate can avoid fate’s wrath.

appreciated for its diverse array of characters- as well as the personality's possessed within the story- and the noteworthy themes of betrayal, fate, love, greed, and of course death. Shakespeare provides an in-depth perspective into the enticement of power and just how pernicious it can be hidden beneath all the glory blocking it. This concept is showcased by the man himself that the play is named after- Macbeth. Macbeth’s choices throughout the story influenced it as a whole and eventually, in the end, caused his inevitable death as well. Macbeth himself is the one who should be viewed responsible for his demise. As the nature of his persona changed from a trustworthy

Guilt, power, and vengefulness are only a few examples of what drives our actions. Being born guilty, power-hungry, or craving revenge is not plausible. The need to satisfy those feelings develop because of what influences the individual is under. In the tragedy Macbeth, William Shakespeare flawlessly captures the very embodiment of what makes us human. Nevertheless, it provides the idea that there are forces that can encourage an individual’s actions. The characters Macduff, Macbeth, and Lady Macbeth, all portray this idea.

“When facing a dilemma, choose the more morally demanding alternative” (Harold S. Kushner). In Macbeth, he did not have a high standard of morality, instead he chose the path of anger, greed, and ruthlessness. At first he was reluctant, but once he started there was no stopping him, as he was longing the throne of King Duncan. His killings become easier and easier as he no longer feels the remorse and becomes a cold hearted individual who exhibits iniquity. His ambition only takes him to a much darker place where he struggles with himself and his wicked thoughts. Macbeth faces many predicaments within himself, and the outside world caused by the need for his prosperity.