Macbeth’s language about: ‘suggestion’, ‘horrible imaginings’ and the word ‘murder’ (Act 1, scene 3, lines 133 – 138), creates a sense of pity and horror even before the pity and horror has arrived. From this the audience feel that we have to keep a close eye on Macbeth.
‘{Aside}’ (Act 1, scene 3, line 117). This ‘aside’ sends a message to us, making us aware that Macbeth is speaking alone, and a sense that Macbeth is secretive and ashamed. He even talks to himself even when other characters are in the room as well. Macbeth is still a good man at this point, as he has done nothing wrong, yet.
As Macbeth owns up to his: ‘Black and deep desires’ (Act 1, scene 4, line 51), horror is apparent from these desires in the language, and the imagery of bats, crows and owls gives a feeling of creepiness. I can see that Macbeth is attracted to the thought of being king and I can observe that he does not give a thought about the evil.
Lady Macbeth’s eagerness towards Macbeth shows how much really she wants him to be king, without even considering how Macbeth feels. This shows the audience how selfish she is, and how evil and inconsiderate she can be as a person. The influence of both herself and the Witches is strong, and both their powers over Macbeth are possible because there is ambition.
By Macbeth planning to kill Banquo without letting Lady Macbeth know, shows the audience that they are keeping secrets and they are not as close anymore. We feel pity that their relationship has gone apart, and what we think is horrifying in the play ‘Macbeth’ is the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.
Macbeth’s restraint of not going ahead with the killing of Duncan shows us that he is not all evil, like his wife, and Macbeth does appreciate that Duncan is a good man. He is aware of the qualities that Duncan has, his drive that he has as a king, and Macbeth does know that to destroy these qualities would be a crime against God: ‘Striding the blast, or heaven’s cherubin hors’d’ (Act 1, scene 7, line 22). The imagery of Macbeth’s own imagination undermines his reasoning’s as he considers Duncan’s good qualities, and pictures of angels and cherubs, which are seeking revenge, frighten him.
When Macbeth is attempting to resist the murder of Duncan he says: ‘I have no spur but only ambition which o’erleaps itself’ (Act 1, scene 7, lines 25-27). This language comes after Macbeth has considered all the good reasons for not murdering Duncan, and only ambition is left to overrule his thoughts.
The speech about the reasons for not killing Duncan is quite wholesome, and the audience say ‘YES, YES’ to Macbeth’s reasons for not killing Duncan. The audience can see that Macbeth’s flaw is that he does not stand up to his wife, he takes her accusations that he is a coward and lacking in manliness and ruthlessness. Macbeth is still a good man also at this point, he is weak and we feel he should be firmer towards his wife.
The audience can clearly see that Macbeth is going mad, he is given into the temptation and the audience think: ‘ NO! NO!’ when Macbeth goes ahead with the killing of Duncan. ‘I have done the deed’ (Act 2, scene 2, line 14). Macbeth now has to act many parts when the body of Duncan is discovered, and he must appear as if he is appalled by the murder. He tries to show that he is a worthy ruler who is distressed by what has happened, but we can see that he is becoming more and more bloodthirsty.
It is apparent that Macbeth’s life is splitting and falling apart, causing a tragic flaw and a downfall as he has done wrong. Even though Macbeth is the king, now that Duncan is dead, and that the witches prophecy was correct, he has nothing, no friends and he is not taking the advice from Banquo.
When it is Macbeth’s first appearance since he has been made king, he plays the part of host and friends but he is not successful at this. He thinks that killing Banquo and Fleance will make him safer. He is especially frightened of his best friend Banquo and full of resentment towards him. We can see that Macbeth is frightened and his character starts to shatter due to the amount of power on his hands. His new found strength mixes with his fear and his desire for power creates him into a tormented king.
The audience see his thoughts and feel sorry for him as he is losing his mind (living in a world with the witches). This new found bravery and power in his character has turned into a flaw on Macbeth’s character. In this second stage of Macbeth’s life, we find him to be stronger, yet he does not use his strength and bravery to good use.
The murder of Banquo produces consequences for Macbeth. He begins to recognise an unreality about his life. He is suddenly struck with guilt and great fear at his banquet as Banquo’s ghost makes an appearance to haunt Macbeth. Macbeth is trusting no-one and his faith has gone in everyone, and it now seems that Macbeth will not even trust the witches and their masters. Macbeth turns into a king who is afraid of losing his power and being found out of killing both Duncan and Banquo. He is determined to: ‘make assurance double sure’ (Act 4, scene 1, line 82), so he kills Macduff’s family. This shows that Macbeth is not a good person anymore, but a crew person who has changed Scotland into a country who is afraid of him: ‘Some say he is mad, others that lesser hate him, do you call it valiant fury’ (Act 5, scene 2, lines 13-14). He continues to abuse his power by killing people off, and from this his people are starting to turn away from him. The Macbeth that they had once known is gone, because he is going mad on the outside. He is suffering from his sinful deeds, and he is becoming another person who is being eaten up by his own power- crazy self.
While Macbeth is alone he is not mad or furious, but himself feels old and lonely: ‘My way of life is fall’n into the sere, the yellow leaf, and that which should accompany old age’ (Act 5, scene 3, lines 22-24). We feel life has no meaning for him, and once again we tend to feel sorry for him. His suffering and his downfall bring him to a fatal end. He has lost everything, and when he hears that his wife is going mad and that the army is coming, he knows that he is defeated.
He realises at the end of the play that nobody respects him and that deep down he does not have any friends. Macbeth sees that he has learnt something, he is a king but useless at it and he also learns about respect and friends. (Flowing with anger, Macbeth goes along with the prophecies, but when he’s found out that the prophecies where wrong, he is killed and defeated by Macduff.)
Macbeth is a free agent and has freewill. He freely chooses a course of action, so from this point of view of killing Duncan, Banquo, Macduff’s family and Fleance, which ultimately causes him suffering and brings him to a fatal end. Macbeth did believe the witches prophecies and did not have to, so I do not feel sorry for him for killing those people, as he did this just out of greed and to gain power.
From this, Macbeth went on his own strategy to become king and to have power. He did not have to pay attention to the witches and their prophecy’s just because they were correct once because he does have his own mind and he should of thought twice about his actions before going ahead. Macbeth should have the courage to stand up to his wife, and this might of stopped him from doing what he did. It is also the subject of his manhood on, which Lady Macbeth temps and persuades him to do the deed.
I think that towards the end of the play, it is Macduff’s final taunt that makes Macbeth die. I can say that therefore in Macbeth’s character there is a need to prove himself, which he identifies as manly. Physically, I believe that Macbeth is strong emotionally, and he proves weak.
Macbeth is a hero when it comes to fighting, and I think that he did deserve to become Thane of Cawdor as he earned it in the battle against the Rebel Army. I believe that Macbeth just became too greedy when it came to wanting to be the king, so from this view I believe that Macbeth is to blame for his downfall as so with the witches who forced Macbeth into a false sense of security.
At times I do feel sorry for Macbeth i.e. when he saw Banquo’s ghost, as from this stage it is clear to us that Macbeth is going mad, and this new found bravery and power in his character has turned into a flaw on his part. Macbeth’s character develops and changes. When he starts at the beginning of the play, he is a classical tragic hero, and towards the end of the play he becomes too greedy for power. When we initially meet Macbeth, he is defined by his courage in the battle, and when we last hear of him, his courage is at stake. The courage he shows in facing Macduff in the final scene does, however, suggest a hero as well.
Therefore, he faces Macduff but not because he has courage, but maybe he was frightened of what people would think of him, or perhaps he faces Macduff not out of courage but one out of loyalty.
Macbeth is the perfect example of a classical tragic hero. He goes through all the stages, such as a noble birth, which leads to a position of great dignity and honour, to then committing sinful acts to put him into darkness. This darkness therefore leading him to his downfall and death.
