Macbeth
Characterization is a vital component of a text. How does Shakespeare utilise character traits to demonstrate characters as either heroes or villains?
Macbeth is a play about a man who is told three prophecies about his future and he decides to make sure they come true quicker, by killing his friends, but things don’t turn out well. Shakespeare uses character traits and characterisation to demonstrate characters as either heroes or villains. Macbeth is characterized as ambitious, power hungry, cruel and vicious to represent him as the villain in the play. Macduff is characterized as brave, loyal and intelligent to represent him as the hero. Therefore, shakespeare demonstrates characters as either heroes or villains through the
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A key scene that shows Macbeth's viciousness, is in Act 4, Scene 1 when Macbeth decides this plan. Shakespeare uses dramatic technique in this scene to help the audience understand Macbeth’s cruelty towards Macduff and create dramatic irony to add suspense to the play and foreshadow upcoming events. This is seen in the quote,”The castle of Macduff I will surprise seize upon Fife, give to th' edge o' th' sword his wife, his babes and all unfortunate souls,” This aside shows Macbeth’s instant decisions, thus showing his vicious and cruel personality.
In contrast, Shakespeare presents Macduff as a brave and loyal hero. He is a Thane of Scotland who turns on Macbeth to replace him with the rightful king. After hearing his wife’s death he becomes brave by not letting it bother him. A key scene that shows this is in Act 4 Scene 3 when Macduff shows his bravery. Shakespeare uses characterisation to convey how Macduff maintains his composure and desire to destroy Macbeth after hearing the bad news. This is seen in the quote,”Front to front, bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself,” Another scene in 4:3 shows Macduff proving his loyalty to Malcolm. Shakespeare uses truncated sentences to create tension and to make a point that Malcolm needs to save Scotland. This is seen in the quote, “Fit to govern? No, not to live. O nation miserable!” These quotes highlight Macduff’s heroic actions, thus showing bravery and loyalty.
Before Macbeth meets with Macduff, he thinks of ways to handle Macduff so he would no longer be a problem. Macduff was considered to be a problem because he left the kingdom in order to assist an opposing force. Macbeth states “Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee? But yet I’ll make assurance double sure, and take a bond of fate.” (Act IV scn i, ln 82-84) He wants to make sure Macduff will not be a problem; he wants to keep Macduff out of his way. In this scene Macbeth is attempting to discover ways to inforce his superiority through the phrase “The castle of Macduff I will surprise; seize upon Fife; give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword his wife, his babies, and all unfortunate souls.” (Act IV scn i, ln 150-152) He hired men to kill Macduff’s family, so he will be depressed and will grieve; he wants to keep Macduff out of the way of him still being King. The main reason he did this, however, was to exert his leadership over Macduff and send a message. This paragraph explains how Macbeth was disloyal to Macduff and how he did anything to keep Macduff out of his way, but things did not turn out as he
Shakespeare not only presents the actions of characters, but also helps us to understand what motivates characters to act the way they do. The tragedy, Macbeth, is a play where there are many dreadful events, and strong motivations behind them. Macduff and Macbeth are two characters of Macbeth who encounter great, but not always good, motivation for their actions.
Another theme shown through the play is that things are not always as they seem. In the play things are often not as they seem. Often characters mislead each other or misinterpret information. In the play Macbeth says to Lady Macbeth "Go now, and pretend to be a friendly hostess. Hide with a false pleasant face what you know in your false, evil heart."(I.vii.81-82) They are talking about misleading Duncan into a false sense of security when in reality they are planning to kill him in his sleep. Also, one of the apparitions told Macbeth to not fear anyone who was born from a woman. This lead him to underestimate Macduff who was born via C-section. This teaches the audience that we can't always trust what we see or here.
An important character in ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare was Macbeth. Macbeth is shown as the protagonist of the play and is the person who drives the plot of the drama. Macbeth changes dramatically throughout the play as in the start he is portrayed as the tragic hero who would do anything for his King and country. As the plays continue he becomes ambitious and, encouraged by a prophecy. After that, he ends up killing a lot of people/becoming a tyrant.
Macbeth’s character has developed significantly up to the second act. We are first introduced to Macbeth character in a way that we view him as powerful and Nobel. We get this idea from the quote “oh valiant cousin, worthy gentleman” which is what he is described as by Duncan, who at the time is the king. From this quote Macbeth is portrayed as a loyal and heroic figure who has done much for many, however as we know this was not a smart move for Duncan to make as it makes him come across and weak and seems like Duncan should be giving Macbeth a higher title, which is what the witches had told him before. In addition, this idea of the king complementing Macbeth about all the good that he has done seems to trigger the belief that Macbeth has the ability to be king, even in the eyes of Duncan who is so ecstatic what he has done for the county.
In the play Macbeth written by William Shakespeare, an important character is Macbeth. The writer develops the personality of said character throughout the play using contrast, dialogue, actions, thoughts, and commentary. Through this the audience is able to observe the personality transformation Macbeth undergoes throughout the course of the play.
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.
Another flaw of Macbeth’s readers can learn from was his internal conflict and jealousy of anyone who could possibly come in between him and crown. Macbeth was often threatened by other people who could possibly take the crown from him. The first time the reader can see this jealousy arise was when Macduff said, “Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter, Prince of Cumberland;” (1.4.38-39). Macbeth’s first reaction was to fear the whole family line of Macduff. This intimidation lead to one of Macbeth’s most careless destructive decision when he
As Macbeth rises in power, Macduff’s role in the play becomes more prominent. Macbeths first major villainous deed was killing Duncan. In the next scene after the murder, Macduff is introduced to the audience. In the following quote Macduff has a conversation with Macbeth and his only concern is going to see the king:
Although at the same time, it touches on the theme of masculinity, “tend on mortal
Macbeth’s acts cannot be attributed to his ambition once he has killed all of Macduff’s family. Since his family was gruesomely slaughtered, Macduff can only be inclined to seek revenge upon Macbeth. Macbeth has spent the entire play laying the foundation for his death by Macduff. The two finally meet with fierce tension, to which Macbeth urges, “Lay on, Macduff; / And damned be him that first cries ‘Hold, Enough!’” (V.viii.33-34). After a brief fight, Macduff slays Macbeth and declares an end to Scotland’s
In the beginning of the play Macbeth and Macduff are very similar in many aspects including rank, leadership, belief, and loyalty. But as the play unfolds, Shakespeare reveals these two characters are as different as night from day. In this essay I will compare and contrast the characters of the murderous Macbeth, and the forthright Macduff. I will consider their status within the Scottish society and the depth of their intelligence. I will also evaluate their actions and their relationships with other characters, including their families and I will discuss their degrees of ambition.
Finally, act 5 scene 3 adds to the plot by using Macbeth’s stubbornness of the witches prophecy against him. Because of the seemingly impossible requirements that need to be met before Macbeth’s death, Macbeth develops a feeling of immortality to all things. In line 2, he reports, “Till Birnam Wood to Dunsinane I cannot taint with fear.” The reality of this event’s likelihood has struck Macbeth. This makes him seemingly unaware and unprepared for the army that approaches the castle and lessens the distance every hour. At this point in the story, Macbeth can be seen as either a protagonist or an antagonist. Macduff seems to be the one working for the cause of good, while Macbeth strives for power and immortality. This statement that Macduff makes leads us to the climax of our story, where the thought and imagination of Macbeth get’s ruined by the reality of Macduff’s birth.
Macbeth is the play of a warrior’s rise to power and tragic downfall based in medieval Scotland. Macbeth, a successful soldier, is the main character of the play whose goal is the kingship of Scotland. Three witches inform Macbeth in the beginning of the play that he will become the next king of Scotland. The witches also predict that the kings after Macbeth will not come from his descent, but actually from Banquo. While in the beginning Macbeth wants to just sit back and wait for fate to happen, but when King Duncan nominates his on Malcolm as the next king Macbeth wants to spring into action. Macbeth is not completely sure what he should do, but his wife persuades him that regicide, the murder of the king, will be the fastest way for her
More people start to become treats along with becoming suspicious to Macbeth. In order to make sure that he stays in power without letting anyone know about his previous scandals Macbeth hires people to do it for him. Macduff finds out that his family was murdered and wants to kill Macbeth before he destroys the kingdom. At the end of the story. Macduff battles Macbeth saying “I have no words,My voice is in my sword. Thou bloodier villain,Than terms can give thee out! (Act 5 Scene 8) meaning that Macduff is full of rage and wants Macbeth dead. As the battle continues, Macbeth is defeated knowing that he couldn't be killed from anyone born from a