The Character of Macbeth in William Shakespeare's Play

The Character of Macbeth in William Shakespeare's Play

Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ is a play about murder and tragedy. When we

first meet Lady Macbeth’s husband, Macbeth, we see him as a loyal and

honourable man, however as we read further into the play his character

changes. Macbeth says to Lady Macbeth:

“False face must hide what the false heart doth know.”

Macbeth creates an alter-ego to help hide the truth. Macbeth becomes a

power-hungry, determined man with no emotions, all he cares about is

becoming King and making sure that the throne will remain in his

family. Macbeth’s determination develops from the three predictions

presented to him by the three witches. Macbeth strives to make the

predictions true after much persuasion from his wife Lady Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth on the other hand, first appears a strong, evil and

forceful woman determined to get what she wants , which is for the

predictions to come to pass. As the play progresses we see Lady

Macbeth change, she becomes weak, haunted and guilt-ridden by her

actions throughout the play. By studying Lady Macbeth’s character we

can look at how her strength deteriorates gradually.

Lady Macbeth’s first appearance in the play, Act 1 Scene 5, consists

of her reading a letter from Macbeth informing her of the three

witches and their predictions. Lady Macbeth gives the immediate

impression that she is already considering murder, her biggest worry

is that Macbeth is too soft-hearted to kill Duncan. She says:

“It is too full o’th’milk of human kindness

To catch the nearest way.”

This reveals Lady Macbeth’s true desire to kill the King in order to

become the Queen. When L...

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...at, will these hands ne’er be clean?”

What Lady Macbeth says here is ironic, as in Act 2 Scene 2 after

Duncan’s murder she told Macbeth to wash his hands, they would be

clear with a little water. Lady Macbeth’s language reflects her own

and Macbeth’s words about the murders: Duncan, Banquo and Lady

Macduff. In this scene we see Lady Macbeth at her weakest, she has

become insane with guilt, her past haunts her sleep.

Lady Macbeth tried to be strong for Macbeth but only grew weaker as

the play progressed. Lady Macbeth told Macbeth to hide his deadly

intentions behind welcoming looks, this is something she could do

before the murder of King Duncan. Lady Macbeth told her husband to be

normal, this was something Lady Macbeth found herself unable to do.

“Look like th’innocent flower,

But be the serpent under’t.”