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Summary Explore how the character of Macbeth changes during the play
Explore how the character of Macbeth changes during the play — English coursework and i got an A in English
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Explore how the character of Macbeth changes during the playAt the beginning of “Macbeth”, Macbeth is portrayed as a 'fierce warrier’. This
shows Macbeth is a brave, strong and determined soldier. "For brave Macbeth
well, he deserves that name disdaining fortune with his brandish'd steel which
smoked with bloody execution" says the Sergeant. This shows us that Macbeth
is truly a great and excellent warrior and he is positive and admiring. This
phrase uses triplets and this makes Macbeth seem stronger. It shows us that
he has killed a lot of his enemy’s with his sword and his sword is “smoked”
with the blood of King Duncan’s enemy. Macbeth has shown brilliant and
excellent courage in the battle and has to save Scotland and King Duncan.
Duncan calls him ‘valiant’, ‘worthy’ and ‘noble’. This shows us that Duncan
praises Macbeth and is grateful.
However, Macbeth is also portrayed as ruthless, angry and strong when he
fights as he kills his enemies apart "unseamed him from the nave to the chaps
and fix’d his head upon our battlements.” The audience will feel that Macbeth
is a brave, strong Warrior who will not betray King Duncan and he is
determined to fight and help King Duncan.
Subsequently, we are shocked when Macbeth decides to kill King Duncan. The
witches have told Macbeth that he will eventually become king. "I have no
spur" but he has "vaulting ambition". This suggests that he really wants to be
king although he admits he has no real justification for killing Duncan. The
Witches influence him because, when he met them, they said “all hail
Macbeth, hail to thee Thane of Cawdor All hail Macbeth that shalt be King
hereafter”. Lady Macbeth influences Macbeth because she was being very
persuasive and she was calling him a coward if he does not kill Duncan. The
audience must be shocked because he was loyal to King Duncan and now he is
betraying him.
However after, Macbeth kills King Duncan, he regrets doing it and he “cannot
say Amen” because he is shocked he has done this and he cannot ask for
forgiveness and he feels remorse. Macbeth becomes overwhelmed with guilt
and anxiety. “I think his belief in the supernatural has done this to him. The
audience may not forgive Macbeth because he committed regicide. This is
because Murder is the worst way to commit a crime and it is a crime against
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