Change of Macbeth in William Shakespeare's Macbeth

Change of Macbeth in William Shakespeare's Macbeth

Throughout the course of the play, Macbeths character changes from

good to evil. As the audience we are given plenty of opportunities to

look at the way in which he changes and the influences that help bring

about the alteration in character. Shakespeare also uses dramatic

devises to highlight Macbeths change. In this essay I am going to

explore the influences that Macbeth was exposed to and the effect that

Shakespeare use of dramatic devices has on the audience's awareness.

It is clear from the beginning of the play that Macbeth is a brave war

hero. He is also the king's cousin. He may have been simply fed up if

being just a war hero and may be tempted by the thought of being more,

Thane or even King. Ambition may have driven him. In Act 1 Scene 3 the

three witches greet Macbeth as Thane of Cawdor, Glamis and finally

King. When Macbeth hears the witch's prophecy we see how willing he is

to believe it. Later in the scene Macbeth is actually announced Thane

of Cawdor. In a soliloquy Macbeth ponders upon what the witches have

predicted:

'This supernatural soliciting

cannot be ill cannot be good.

If ill why hath it given me earnest

of success commencing in a truth?'

At this point Macbeth is trying to convince himself that there is

nothing wrong with what has happened that if it were evil then

something good would not have come from it. He then says;

'If chance will have me king then

chance will crown me without my stir'

From this quote we can see that Macbeth is willing to let fate take

its course, and accepts that what will be will ...

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...eth's alteration in disposition I believe that his wife, Lady

Macbeth had the greatest effect on Macbeth and his actions. Although

Macbeth's ambition brought him problems, he realised his flaw and was

able to control it until Lady Macbeth intervened. Although I would

probably be right in saying that the witches brought about all the

events that occurred in the play and told Macbeth of his future, it

was only when he spoke to Lady Macbeth that she told him to act upon

it, had he not, he would have almost certainly left it down to fate.

Fear and insecurity doubtlessly played the smallest part in Macbeth's

fall into iniquity, although they were present for the majority of the

play. Lady Macbeth herself was truly evil due to her own request for

malevolence and hunger for royalty. She had the most immense effect on

Macbeth.