Analyse and evaluate the techniques by which Shakespeare presents Macbeth’s changing feelings across the 3 major soliloquies.

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Toby Bennett 9H

GCSE English Literature - Macbeth Acts I - III.1

Essay on Macbeth's 3 Major soliloquies in I.7,II1 and III.1

Analyse and evaluate the techniques by which Shakespeare presents Macbeth's changing feelings across the 3 major soliloquies.

In the following essay, I aim to provide an in-depth analysis of the change in feelings, emotions and even judgements which Macbeth experiences throughout the first three acts, focusing specifically on the three major soliloquies (I.7,II.1 & III.1). I am also looking to evaluate, compare and contrast the linguistic and theatrical techniques Shakespeare suggests to project this.

In the first act, the major soliloquy (beginning, "If it 'twere done when 'tis done") is one of the first times we, as an audience catch a glimpse of the strange emotional turmoil that troubles Macbeth. In this speech, Shakespeare begins to convey the doubt and fear which is stopping Macbeth from going ahead with the plans that would lead to such an all-powerful position. He cannot bring himself to even confront the words which mean murder, let alone do the deed himself. For example he uses synonymous phrases such as, "assassination", "surcease" and, "jump the life" rather than "kill".

This is an incredible contrast to the tyrannical figure who appears later on, in act III. If you compare the two main soliloquies, you can see that Macbeth is a completely changed man. He talks quite openly with himself about how he must rid himself of the dangerous Banquo when he says, "Our fears in Banquo stick deep", comparing them with a knife with which, of course, he brutally murdered Duncan. He is no longer infringed by the fear of retribution and can therefore, he feels , do as he pleases.
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If you compare these speeches again with act II.7, there is again a difference in language techniques. In this scene, Shakespeare aims to convey the range of emotions Macbeth is experiencing due to his position. As he is about to kill King Duncan, he has a lot of mental troubles upon his mind which put him into a state of shock and to some extent confusion. This can be seen when he talks of almost hallucinating, saying "I have thee not and yet I see thee still!", He also says that, "the stones prate of my whereabout", meaning ...

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