How has Shakespeare used key speeches to show Macbeth’s flawed and changing character? Is it possible to class him as a villain or a hero?
How has Shakespeare used key speeches to show Macbeth's flawed and changing character? Is it possible to class him as a villain or a hero?
Targets:
. Character:
To show insight into the play and its characters. In particular, to show that you can analyse the motivation of a character.
2. Historical Context:
To show insight into the beliefs of the time and how they affected the way that characters were viewed by an Elizabethan audience.
3. Language:
To show understanding of how language can be used by a playwright to reveal a character and create a mood.
Macbeth is a character in the play that turns from a hero to a villain. He is seen as a hero as he is winning battles for Scotland. He is then seen as a villain later in the play as firstly he murders the king, then he finds it easy to get others he dislikes murdered.
The definition of a villain is a person who is evil and does offensive things including murdering.
The definition of a hero is a man who has done courageous actions. Also, it can mean that you are the main character in a play or a novel. At the start of the play, Macbeth fits both of these descriptions.
This play is made a tragedy as the main character, Macbeth, turns from good to evil and kills the king. Also because he gets murdered himself at the end.
As this is a play to be seen on stage, the soliloquies are essential. This is because if the character is imaging things, the audience cannot see, and would probably not understand what is going on. This is why the character has to say them out aloud. In a film, for example, you would not need to do that because of the special effects you can do with the cameras. In a novel, the author would put the speech in speech marks and then write 'he thought.'
The play 'Macbeth' was written by William Shakespeare in 1606. James I was the king at this time and would have watched this play along with other royal and poor people. Because of this, Shakespeare would have had to make it an exciting and pleasing play, but not letting the witches, the evil of the play, in control. This had to be done also, as it is thought that James I had an encounter of witchcraft and he subsequently had written a book about it. This contained information on how to tell who is a witch and a test for witches.
Shakespeare used witches at the very beginning of the play to seize the attention of the audience. This is because of the increasing interest people had with witchcraft at the time of the play being staged. In the first scene the witches discuss when they shall meet again;
"When the hurlyburly's done, when the battle's lost and won." (Act 1 Scene 1, Lines 3-4)
This alerts the audience that there will be something interesting and exciting coming up in the play.
The true details of Duncan and Macbeth are that Macbeth was a good king and Duncan was weak. Also the play covers a period of a few months, whereas Macbeth ruled Scotland for seventeen years. I think Shakespeare altered these details in the play to make it more interesting and effective as it gains more action. Shakespeare probably cut down the timescale as other wise it would be too long for a play and it might not have been as successful.
Being a flawed character means that you are weak and imperfect and may be mentally ill - seeing things that are not really there and hearing voices. This type of character would be more intriguing and dramatic in the play as you will be able to see all the different emotions that he will go through. Also you will be able to see whether it causes him any damage to his mind or physical appearance. You will see if being flawed makes him do things that he wouldn't normally do.
The scenes where Macbeth's flawed and changing character is reflected are: Act 1 Scene 3, Act 1 Scene 7, Act 2 Scene 1, Act 3 Scene 1 and Act 5 Scene 5.
Macbeth is aware of his feelings and is trying to structure his ideas in the first soliloquy in Act 1 Scene 3. At this point he is also confused and scared, as the witches' predictions seem to start to come true. We can see that Macbeth thinks they are true as he says;
"And make my seated heart knock at my ribs..." (Line 136)
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The scenes where Macbeth's flawed and changing character is reflected are: Act 1 Scene 3, Act 1 Scene 7, Act 2 Scene 1, Act 3 Scene 1 and Act 5 Scene 5.
Macbeth is aware of his feelings and is trying to structure his ideas in the first soliloquy in Act 1 Scene 3. At this point he is also confused and scared, as the witches' predictions seem to start to come true. We can see that Macbeth thinks they are true as he says;
"And make my seated heart knock at my ribs..." (Line 136)
Macbeth uses personification to describe his heart trying to escape the dilemma. His tone of voice would be harsh which indicates that he is unable to cope with what is going on around him. The audience may see this as the first sign of being flawed.
Macbeth seems unsure of what to do. The audience can see this as he asks himself questions but has no answers to them. Asking the questions shows that he is inquisitive and perhaps shows strength of character. The fact that he has no answers to the questions he asks could suggest that he will have problems coping as the play progresses;
"Shakes so my single state of man that function is smother'd in surmise..." (Lines 140-141)
This suggests that Macbeth is agitated as he uses longer sentences and alliteration to express his feelings.
We can see that Macbeth is beginning to analyse the witches and what it would mean if their third prediction comes true;
"This supernatural soliciting cannot be ill, cannot be good; if ill, why hath it given me earnest of success, commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor." (Lines 130-133)
This indicates to the audience that Macbeth is taking the witches seriously - this is not surprising because of the belief in witches and their work at the time this play would have been performed. This could be seen as a flaw in Macbeth as witches were powerful and, in some cases deadly. Because of this, the audience might also sympathise him. Macbeth states the last sentence trying to reassure himself of what is still to come. This shows that Macbeth has taken the witches predictions seriously and thinks the others are going to come true as well.
Shakespeare has intended the audience to feel sorry for Macbeth. I think this because Macbeth's speech does not show confidence, but a mixture of different feelings.
Macbeth can already be seen as flawed by the end of this soliloquy as he is scared and questions himself but has no answers to them. He cannot stay calm, even if he tries.
Macbeth is still aware of his feelings and is generally able to keep his mind logical in Act 1 Scene 7. In this soliloquy Macbeth is weighing up his feelings and asking himself whether he should go ahead with the murder of King Duncan;
"If it were done, when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly..." (Lines 1-2)
The audience can see that Macbeth is willing to murder the king and to do it quickly. This suggests that, even though he is meant to be King Duncan's host and loyal friend, Macbeth is prepared to kill him if it makes him king. He also hopes that going against God's natural law will pass without any consequences. The audience will not feel sympathy for Macbeth at this time but will go against him instead.
Macbeth hopes that the assassination could be;
"The be-all and the end-all - here, but here, upon this bank and shoal of time, we'd jump the life to come." (Lines 5-7)
This shows that Macbeth knows that if he gets away with the murder, it will only be here on earth. He tells himself that he will certainly get punished in the afterlife. He describes the afterlife as an ocean and his life is the "bank" or "shoal" on the edge. But if the murder is the first and last murder, Macbeth wants to take the chances with the afterlife.
Macbeth then tries to disassociate himself from murder;
"We'd jump the life to come...we still have judgement here." (Lines 7-8)
He uses 'we' instead of 'I' in the speech. This suggests that may be he is referring to Lady Macbeth as well as himself. This could also show that, as he is including Lady Macbeth, he must be under a lot of pressure from her. She could be the one who gives him the last little push to commit the murder. The audience would feel that Macbeth is weak as he cannot control himself and is giving in to his wife's commands.
Macbeth realises that after going through his reasons for the murder, that his only real reason is "vaulting ambition" which will make him jump too far and fall on the other side. His ambition is more likely to do him bad instead of good.
In Act 2 Scene 1, Macbeth is not talking to himself, but to a dagger, which he is hallucinating. This shows that he has changed in his personality as well as in his mind. He imagines that the dagger is leading him towards Duncan's room;
"Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand?" (Lines 33-34)
The first sentence of this soliloquy and Macbeth is already asking questions. He goes on to ask another question;
"Or art thou but a dagger of the mind, a false creation, proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?" (Lines 37-39)
Macbeth can again be seen as inquisitive but also confused as he was in Act 1 Scene 3. But he has changed from then, as he is aware that he is under stress and that he is possibly talking to an invisible object.
The audience would feel sorry for Macbeth as they can see he is under pressure from the witches' prophecy, his wife persuading him and his own state of mind. The audience of that time would probably see it as a flaw as even though witchcraft was greatly practised, everyone knew that it was evil and only caused trouble.
The sentences are longer from line 49 onwards in this soliloquy. This shows that Macbeth is more stressed and confused. He is imaging that murder is a withered man who is called to action by his guard, the wolf. Normally, a guard would look out for danger, but Murder's guard is keeping watch for an opportunity to kill. At this point, he asks the earth;
"hear not my steps, which way they walk, for fear thy very stones prate of my whereabout, and take the present horror from the time, which now suits with it." (Lines 56-60)
This shows that Macbeth wants to be as silent as possible and is telling the ground not to tell any one of his whereabouts. This also shows that Macbeth is under stress.
At the end of this soliloquy, Macbeth is obviously flawed and was having trouble actually committing the murder, until his imagination and the ringing bell pushed him.
In Act 3 Scene 1, Macbeth is suspicious if what he wants to do is good or if it is bad like he does in the previous two speeches;
"To be thus is nothing, But to be safely thus." (Line 48-49)
This means that Macbeth is paranoid and wandering whether he is safe. This also shows that his ambition has got the better of him. Macbeth also says that Banquo has "royalty of nature", which indicates that Macbeth is afraid of Banquo and that he has king-like qualities unlike himself.
Macbeth is aware that evil has overcome him;
"I fil'd my mind; for them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd" (Line 65-66)
Macbeth knows that he has made it happen. But he doesn't blame himself completely. In the past speeches, he involved Lady Macbeth and the witches for the responsibility. In this soliloquy, he blames Banquo because he "chid the sisters" and for putting "rancours in the vessel" of his peace. He then progresses to say;
"mine eternal jewel given to the common enemy of man" (Lines 68-69)
This shows that Macbeth has sold his soul to the Devil. We could also say that his soul is sold to make the "seed of Banquo kings!" The exclamation mark indicates that Macbeth is angry and is perhaps shouting.
The last two lines of the soliloquy show that Macbeth lacks fear;
"come fate, into the list, and champion me to th' utterance!" (Lines 71-72)
Macbeth uses personification to call fate to challenge him in a fight to the death. This could show that Macbeth is still a bit heroic and not totally a villain as he shows no fear. The exclamation at the end of this sentence describes Macbeth's tone of voice. Also it warns the audience that he is not frightened as he is asking for a fight. The audience would not feel sympathy for Macbeth as he is bringing trouble on to himself.
In the beginning of this speech, Macbeth appears to be flawed, as he is paranoid and aware he is full of evil. The audience can see this as he uses different lengths of sentences, mainly long. This shows that he may not be thinking clearly. He also uses a few exclamation marks to express his feelings. At the end he does not show this, but complete lack of fear instead. But the audience might not see it that way as they would know that fighting fate should not be done and will most likely end in a catastrophe.
The "taste of fears" is "almost" forgotten by Macbeth in Act 5 Scene 5. The word "almost" means that Macbeth has still got a bit of hope left. Macbeth has not given up and probably will not give up as he still thinks he can make it through the battle and win;
"The time has been my senses would have cool'd to hear a night-shriek, and my fell of hair would at a dismal treatise rouse and stir as if life were in't" (Lines 11-13)
These lines can be compared with line 135 in Act 1 Scene 3;
"whose horrid image doth unfix my hair "
This suggests to the audience that Macbeth is aware he has changed because he used to have fear of bad things but now he has no fear at all. This would make him less sympathetic as he changed himself with the help of his wife and the witches.
When Macbeth discovers that his wife, Lady Macbeth, dies from illness he progresses to say how meaningless he thinks life is. He says that Lady Macbeth was going to die soon, but it should not have been now.
Macbeth has no need to hide any of his feelings any more as he has not really got any and he has lost someone who was close to him;
"To-morrow, and to-morrow, and to-morrow, creeps in this petty pace from day to day." (Lines 19-20)
The pace and tone of this line is slow and quiet compared to the rest of the act. It is very noisy and chaotic. The repetition in this line shows that Macbeth does not care about life any more. The words 'creeps' and 'petty' are not powerful words compared to the commotion in the past speeches. Before he used words like 'murder', 'bloody', 'plague' and 'poison'd'.
Macbeth uses metaphors in this speech to describe life;
"Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets..." (Lines 23-25)
Macbeth carries on to say that life means nothing but is just a tale told by an idiot. He then ends the speech with a negative word, "Signifying nothing."
In this soliloquy, even though he has no emotions, Macbeth uses thoughtful and clear imagery. He does not ramble as much as he did in the first two soliloquies. This shows that Macbeth feels more in control.
The audience can see that Macbeth has changed a great deal and is flawed by the end of the last soliloquy. This can be seen as Macbeth seems to have given up on life but still has a bit of hope of winning the battle between him and Macduff. Also because Lady Macbeth has died, there is no one to push him to do something except himself. The audience would feel less sympathetic towards him because they now know that Macbeth has given up and has lost himself.
In conclusion, Macbeth begins as a hero but gradually changes and becomes a villain and a flawed character.
Macbeth can be seen flawed as early as Act 1 Scene 3 as he is afraid and asking himself questions but has no answers. This can also make Macbeth inquisitive but he becomes agitated and cannot stay calm.
The audience goes through different feelings for Macbeth as firstly they feel sympathy for him because he is confused and fearful at the beginning. They then progress to feel less sorry for him as he allows the witches' predictions to over rule his mind by the end of Act 2. Also because Macbeth kills King Duncan and then goes on to kill his closest and loyal friend, Banquo. The audience hardly feels any sympathy for Macbeth by the end of the play as they have seen how easy he finds it to murder and do evil instead of becoming an admirable and trustworthy king like Duncan was.
I feel that Shakespeare has been quite successful in creating a character that changes from being a hero to being a villain. He used different lengths of sentences, alliteration and commonly used personification to describe Macbeth changing. Different tones are used throughout the play to show this as well.
I think that Macbeth can no longer be called a hero by the end of Act 2 as he has killed the King so he can become king instead of Duncan's son. His main turning point into a villain, I would say is when Macbeth hallucinates a dagger in Act 2 Scene 1, pointing to the king's room.
I think the witches', Lady Macbeth and his own mind has caused Macbeth to change. The witches' gave him the first idea by giving the predictions that he would become King. Lady Macbeth, I think, is the main cause for Macbeth's downfall as she pressurises him to go ahead with the murder and helps him to blame the guards.
When Lady Macbeth dies, Macbeth just gives up and this is when we can definitely see that Macbeth is flawed and can be classed as a villain.
Sofia Tahir.
