Discuss the soliloquy in Act III, i. How does Shakespeare convey the change in Macbeth since the soliloquy in Act I, vii?

In modern society, murder brings much horror upon us. However, a murderer can have two different intentions whilst committing the murder. The first is with conscience, whether it is economically driven or revenge. The second is without conscience, such as the serial killers and psychopaths, who amorally commit murder. The former can at least be justified, while the latter is simply petrifying. In context to the play, Macbeth represents the former intention of murder, that is, he is fully aware of the outcomes of the murder. On the contrary, King Richard in a very closely related Shakespearean play, Richard III, exemplifies the latter. Unlike Macbeth, Richard is morally corrupt from the beginning, and we can blame little for his wrongdoings, as he does not have any control over his actions.

In conjunction with Macbeth's contemplative mind, he is also ambivalent. He admires Duncan's prestige as King ("so clear in his office"), but subsequently, has thoughts of killing him: "if it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly". Also, the fact that he wishes to carry out the deed so "quickly" hints at his impatience and recklessness, but also his fear of committing the act of murder. Also, the fact that Duncan is to be killed whilst staying at Macbeth's suspicious castle suggests at the duplicity of the murder, as he his the King's loyal host, yet he is to be the one who kills him.

In addition, his uncertainty about the murder suggests that he has not yet recovered from the shock he received upon finding out that he "shalt be King hereafter". Nevertheless, he is convinced that his position as King is guaranteed after the murder of Duncan according to the witch's predictions. However, he does not allow himself to see beyond the murder of Duncan, and he, though not deliberately, is reckless to the true meaning of the witch's words: "lesser than Macbeth, and greater". In a larger sense, he does not know that Fate has predetermined his death-marked journey.

By the end of this soliloquy, he is helpless against his own ambition. In real life, ambition is a positive characteristic that enables a worthy Thane, like Macbeth, to overcome difficulties. However, the "vaulting ambition which o'erleaps itself" and the lacking ability to restrict its dominance is not what it seems. It is the only overpowering force, and also the fundamental flaw, that urges him to become a traitor and a 'moral coward'. The latter is apparent in the sense that he tries to satisfy his desires by using unjustified, and moreover, immoral means. For instance, in Act IV he plans to kill Macduff's family, but not the man himself; another cowardly act.

By contrast, the soliloquy in Act III, i evokes a completely different image of Macbeth. After King Duncan has been dispatched, Macbeth begins to feel insecure: "to be thus is nothing, but to safely thus". He develops paranoia as he sees even his best, loving friend as a direct threat to his throne: "out fears in Banquo stick deep". He is now in retrospect, as he recalls Banquo's sceptical reaction to the witches: "he chid the sisters when first they put the name of king upon me and bade them speak to him". He realizes that Banquo, too, is obsessed with the witch's predictions about his descendants.

Macbeth also remembers that the witches "hailed him father to a line of kings". Consequently, he regrets that he has committed a bloody act on behalf of Banquo when he says "for them, the gracious Duncan have I murdered". The realisation that he is a mere 'stopping stone' or even a sacrifice for the benefit of another is imposed upon him. In fact, he has eliminated any remaining obstacles for Banquo's descendants to become King, other than himself. The "fruitless crown" placed upon on his head and the "barren scepter" in his hand are indeed both meaningless since they do not have any true value. Both "fruitless" and "barren" implies the absence of fertility and growth, which confirms that there will be "no son of mine succeeding".

Moreover, Macbeth makes a critical mistake in the last two lines:

"Rather than so, come Fate into the list,

And Champion me to th'utterance. Who's there?"

He begins to think that he can invalidate the witch's prophecies by killing Banquo and Fleance, even though the first part has come true: "All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter". He tries to deny the undeniable "Fate" and challenges its authority. He also finds that the murder of Duncan has made the murder of Banquo inevitable as he feels that his throne is in continuous jeopardy with Banquo alive; one "bloody act" leads to another. His want for power is ever-present with his "vaulting ambition" escalating in Act III. However, he is unable to restrict himself, as "a man" should. Instead, he believes that "a man" is someone who follows orders from his wife and continues to act, not ambitiously, but cowardly.

After closely examining the two soliloquies, a few points can be deduced. We find out that the change in the character of Macbeth is only minor, as he continues to rationally contemplate the consequences in Act III. This shows his conscience still at work. The only variation is that in Act I, he feels remorse and sympathy for Duncan, as apposed to his apathetic rage in Act III. However, he still presents a generous analysis on his enemy as he acknowledges Banquo's "royalty of nature" and his "dauntless temper of his mind", in the same way he praised the King's "virtues will plead like angels". It is only later in Act III, iv that he completely loses his rationality, and evil culminates to its peak. Hence, the change outlined is very subtle.

"Macbeth" is a tragic story about the fatal flaw of an honourable Thane who is defiled by his own ambition. The two soliloquies in Act I, vii, and Act III, i, Shakespeare conveys the development in Macbeth's character into a power-hungry tyrant. Against others, he may have been the "brave Macbeth", but when the enemy was the man himself, he never proved to be a worthy opponent. It seems that ambition has been given a bad reputation, for the character of Macbeth, due to its defects, was never the right medium to accommodate and, unlike that of Banquo, suppress its malice for the benefit of the greater good.

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