MACBETH
Throughout William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth the character of Macbeth is constantly changing right through the play. You can see this happening when he changes from being a noble war hero to being a paranoid murderer, when he changes from being best friends with Banquo to being enemies and finally when Macbeth changes from being bullied by Lady Macbeth to acting independently upon her. These examples of Macbeth’s character make it distinctly clear to the reader or viewer of the play that he is changing throughout the course of the play.
Before Macbeth becomes king, he is an honoured war hero in Scotland and is praised upon constantly by the King in the art of war. “For brave Macbeth, (Well he deserves that name.) This quote is said by the king to Macbeth for his well fought battle against Norway. This quote shows that Macbeth is well respected by the king and was awarded the title of “Brave”. Once Macbeth kills the king and becomes king himself, his mind is flooded with guilt and horrible thoughts, and becomes very paranoid. “They pluck mine eyes, will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hands.” This quote said by Macbeth shows that the murder of the king has caused him severe psychological damage an he cant handle it any longer. What this quote means is that Macbeth keeps having reoccurring hallucinations of blood that can’t be washed away from his hands, and he is saying that even all of the ocean from Neptune god of the sea, his hand still will not be clean of the king’s blood.
Before Macbeth murders the king he is also best friends with Banquo, however their relationship does not last long once Macbeth becomes king. At night Banquo hears a rattling noise and shouts “Who goes there?” Macbeth then replies “A friend”. This quote shoes that Macbeth and Banquo are definitely friends. Their friend ship soon ends once Macbeth becomes king and Banquo is the first person to figure out it was Macbeth that murdered the king. “Thou hast now king, Cawdor, glamis all and I fear thou playdst the most foully for’t.” This quote said by Banquo shows that he clearly isn’t friends with Macbeth anymore and suspects him of being the murderer of the king. What the quote means is that Banquo suspects Macbeth has killed the king and accuses him of foul play. “Our fears in Banquo stick deep, and his royalty in nature reigns that which be feared.” This quote said by Macbeth shows that Macbeth feels that Banquo has found out about what he has done to become king, and fears Banquo will tell everyone so he can become superior to him. This proves their friendship is over.
Throughout the beginning of the play Macbeth is constantly bullied and tricked into doing things by Lady Macbeth, such as when he murders the king. “When durst do it then you were a man.” This quote said by Lady Macbeth is her trying to trick Macbeth into killing the king. What Lady Macbeth means is if Macbeth kills the king then he will be a man. She is basically saying he hasn’t got the guts to kill the king and constantly questions Macbeth’s man hood. When Macbeth is king he starts becoming more independent and thinking less of what lady Macbeth has to say. “Ourself will Mingle with society, and play the humble host.” This quote shows Macbeth telling Lady Macbeth what’s happening instead of the other way around which is usually the case.
In conclusion William Shakespeare makes it very clear throughout the play that the character of Macbeth is constantly changing, whether he is changing from being a noble war hero to being a paranoid murderer, changing from being best friends with Banquo to being enemies or changing from being bullied by Lady Macbeth to acting independently upon her. Macbeth was one of the very first rise and fall plays or scripts and has influenced and inspired many plays and movies of today. The rise and fall of the character Macbeth showed the contrast between changing from being the hero to becoming bad or dying and the changes that occur to Macbeth right through out the play such as being a noble war hero to becoming a murderer is a perfect example of a rise and fall in the character of Macbeth.
Before Macbeth becomes king, he is an honoured war hero in Scotland and is praised upon constantly by the King in the art of war. “For brave Macbeth, (Well he deserves that name.) This quote is said by the king to Macbeth for his well fought battle against Norway. This quote shows that Macbeth is well respected by the king and was awarded the title of “Brave”. Once Macbeth kills the king and becomes king himself, his mind is flooded with guilt and horrible thoughts, and becomes very paranoid. “They pluck mine eyes, will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hands.” This quote said by Macbeth shows that the murder of the king has caused him severe psychological damage an he cant handle it any longer. What this quote means is that Macbeth keeps having reoccurring hallucinations of blood that can’t be washed away from his hands, and he is saying that even all of the ocean from Neptune god of the sea, his hand still will not be clean of the king’s blood.
Before Macbeth murders the king he is also best friends with Banquo, however their relationship does not last long once Macbeth becomes king. At night Banquo hears a rattling noise and shouts “Who goes there?” Macbeth then replies “A friend”. This quote shoes that Macbeth and Banquo are definitely friends. Their friend ship soon ends once Macbeth becomes king and Banquo is the first person to figure out it was Macbeth that murdered the king. “Thou hast now king, Cawdor, glamis all and I fear thou playdst the most foully for’t.” This quote said by Banquo shows that he clearly isn’t friends with Macbeth anymore and suspects him of being the murderer of the king. What the quote means is that Banquo suspects Macbeth has killed the king and accuses him of foul play. “Our fears in Banquo stick deep, and his royalty in nature reigns that which be feared.” This quote said by Macbeth shows that Macbeth feels that Banquo has found out about what he has done to become king, and fears Banquo will tell everyone so he can become superior to him. This proves their friendship is over.
Throughout the beginning of the play Macbeth is constantly bullied and tricked into doing things by Lady Macbeth, such as when he murders the king. “When durst do it then you were a man.” This quote said by Lady Macbeth is her trying to trick Macbeth into killing the king. What Lady Macbeth means is if Macbeth kills the king then he will be a man. She is basically saying he hasn’t got the guts to kill the king and constantly questions Macbeth’s man hood. When Macbeth is king he starts becoming more independent and thinking less of what lady Macbeth has to say. “Ourself will Mingle with society, and play the humble host.” This quote shows Macbeth telling Lady Macbeth what’s happening instead of the other way around which is usually the case.
In conclusion William Shakespeare makes it very clear throughout the play that the character of Macbeth is constantly changing, whether he is changing from being a noble war hero to being a paranoid murderer, changing from being best friends with Banquo to being enemies or changing from being bullied by Lady Macbeth to acting independently upon her. Macbeth was one of the very first rise and fall plays or scripts and has influenced and inspired many plays and movies of today. The rise and fall of the character Macbeth showed the contrast between changing from being the hero to becoming bad or dying and the changes that occur to Macbeth right through out the play such as being a noble war hero to becoming a murderer is a perfect example of a rise and fall in the character of Macbeth.
