The Character of Macbeth in Shakespeare's Play

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The Character of Macbeth in Shakespeare's Play

Shakespeare uses the Aris Totle tragic pattern in many of his plays

and Macbeth is no exception. Using the Aris Totle tragic pattern the

audience witness Macbeth's downfall from his height of happiness and

power (Hubris) to a low bloodthirsty killer (Nemesis).

The Audience of that era and even today love to hate the villian, in

this case Macbeth.

In the beggining the audience see Macbeth as a 'brave' and loyal

warrior, who had just defeated the Nowegians, everyone was

celebrating.

In Act 1 Scene 3 Macbeth, accompanied by Banquo, comes across three

witches and they start a conversation of the most sinister nature.

This conversation makes the audience question Macbeth's character, in

those times talking to witches was bad enough but the subject of the

conversation just made things truelly bad. ' All hail Macbeth Thane of

Glams... All hail Macbeth Thane of Cawdor... All hail Macbeth King.'

This was the prophecy of which the witches spoke and as soon as

Macbeth seemed to be intriged with, this above all would make anyone

in that era question Macbeth's character, to even think of conspiring

against the King was diabolical. 'Stay tell me more...' was enough to

seal Macbeth's fate as villian, this is point where the audience see

Macbeth change.

Macbeth was not the only one who became obsessed with the prophecies,

Lady Macbeth soon became obsessed once she heard of them from a letter

written by Macbeth. Both Macbeth and his wife hatch a plan to KILL!

king Duncan and become rulers of Scotland, which starts with the King

going to Dunsenain (Macbeth's Castle) to 'celebrate the victory

against the Norwegians. During the celebration feast the audience see

Macbeth's soliloquay, he is unsure of the plan, 'If it were done when

'tis done, then 'twere done quickly... ...He's here in double trust;

First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the

deed; then, as his host, Who should against his murderer shut the

door, Not bear the knife myself.

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