Passage Analysis Macbeth

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The passage between lines 128 and 156 of act one, scene three in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth reveals multitudes of information about the characters and their dynamic personalities, the path for the rest of the play, and the many themes present in the play. An example of this is Macbeth says “If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, without my stir” (1.3.151). His dynamic character becomes evident as he quickly shifts from being a noble and righteous follower of the king to a man consumed by new found power and willing to do anything to get it. It shows the reader that Macbeth is a rash decision maker, as he immediately begins to plot murder after seeing that power is in his grasp. While he remains the protagonist, his thoughts …show more content…

conscience through Macbeth’s aside when he struggles with the idea of killing the king to gain power and the repercussions of his future actions. “Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair” (1.3.142). The style of writing is in iambic pentameter, which gives the stanzas a subtle rhythm whilst being read aloud, it helps to carry the reader through the story and the actions of the plot. Macbeth has the first soliloquy of the play in this passage, which gives the reader private information (such as his plans to kill the king) and makes the themes clearer. Some of the themes found in this passage include guilt, fate/superstition, and ambition. This is shown through the dialogue of the passage, and is often spoken by Macbeth himself. For example when Macbeth states “If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me” (1.3.151) the repetition in the line is used to show determination, which leads back to the theme of ambition. The line also goes back to the theme of fate/superstition, with chance representing fate. As well, in Macbeth’s second aside when he says “Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair” (1.3.142) it shows how guilty Macbeth feels about his own thoughts, which is the ever present theme of guilt. In conclusion, this passage reveals an enormous amount about the development about the characters, and their futures in the

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