Before and after the killing of Duncan, Macbeth looses his nerve. On the first occasion he says “first, I am his kings man and subject, both strong against the deed” showing that he really does not want to do it at all although he regains his composure and does. On the second occasion, after the murder of Duncan. Macbeth says “wherefore could I not pronounce amen” meaning that when he had “done the deed” he could not say the holy word amen and therefore is not recognized by god and shows us the recognition he has of the awfulness of his crime.
Macbeth has gone from being a powerful warrior to almost a nervous wreck going through stages of doubt, (before the murder of Duncan) seeing ghosts, when he saw the bloody dagger pointing him to Duncan's room and at the dinner party when Banquo’s bloody corpse is sitting in his chair he says “Thou canst not say I did it; never shake thy gory locks at me” this shows that Macbeth is very jumpy because he knows he has done something wrong.
At this point Macbeth turns into a man determined to keep the throne at all costs, at the last minute before the murder of Banquo; he says to lady Macbeth “there shall be done a deed of dreadful note” this shows that he has frozen out lady Macbeth by only telling her at the last minute and that he will even kill his best friend to keep his power. He also says to her “be innocent of the knowledge dearest chuck” which shows a certain amount of mistrust and a dedication to himself and no one else.
Macbeth now feels that the joy of life is gone and that there is no going back because whatever he does it will be unhappy for him Shakespeare shows this when Macbeth says “I am in blood, stepped in so far that should I wade no more returning would be as tedious as go o’er” and so decides to go on committing evil acts.
After Macbeth goes to see the witches, he decides that none of the apparitions could possibly come true so he is essentially invincible. While in his castle he says “Bring me no reports, let them fly all till birnam wood comes to dunsiane” This shows that he feels his happiest because he fears nothing. To prove his invincibility, Macbeth slaughters Mac duffs children and wife. He had no reason to do this and it was an act of no remorse, which shows that he feels no sense of what is right and wrong. When lady Macbeth dies, Macbeth shows no emotion; he says only that “ she should have died hereafter” showing that he has almost lost the will to live and is numb inside. He now starts to feel that everyday is the same, he says” tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, creeps on at this petty pace from day to day” showing that he really doesn't care.
The next stage for Macbeth is when he finds out that one of the apparitions was coming true, he says “...and now a wood comes to dunsiane. Arm, Arm and out!”
This shows that he is very scared because the impossible was coming true.
The final change in Macbeths character is when he accepts that he is facing the end and so decides that he will fight until he is killed, he says “at least we will die with harness on our back” meaning that when he dies at least it will be a honorable death, a warriors death, with his Armour on. When Macbeth is confronted by Macduff he says “my soul is too much charged with blood of thine already “ this shows that Macbeth is finally showing remorse for his crime and feels guilty about what he has done to Macduff.
I believe that Macbeth made his own choices in his life and no one could take the blame for his actions because whatever sate of mind you are in at the time I don't believe anyone can make you kill unless you see some reason for doing it. I don't think Macbeth was forced into anything.
Tom Williams 10 CY
