How the audiences’ perceptions on Macbeth change through out act one.

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I am writing an essay on the audiences’ perceptions towards Macbeth through act one. This means what the audience’s feelings and thoughts to Macbeth are. Macbeth’s characteristics are up and down through out the whole of the act, from bad to good and evil to noble. This makes the audience unsteady on their thoughts about Macbeth. This essay will be my perception on what the audience’s thoughts of Macbeth are as he changes through act one.

Right from the beginning, the witches show that they want to involve Macbeth in their evil plans. For instance in scene 1 line 8 they say, ‘There to meet with Macbeth.’. Unfortunately this shows Macbeth has been chosen as their victim. This starts the suspense up. The audience now wants to know who Macbeth is? But this would also make them feel sorry for him because the witches have now involved him in their plot.

We hear about Macbeth again, when a Sergeant is talking to the king. In scene 2 lines 16-18 Captain says, ‘For brave Macbeth-well deserves that name-

Disdaining Fortune with his brandished steel

Which smoked with bloody execution,

Like Valour’s minion carved out his passage’. So now we get the point that he is a noble and a brave warrior.

The king replies to the sergeant in scene 2 line 24 by saying, ‘O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman.’. This means the king Duncan, recognises Macbeth’s bravery and values his loyalty. The king very well respects Macbeth, he must be important! At this point we now think he is a good man and do not want the witches to get involved with him.

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In return the Sergeant talks to the king in scene 2 lines 22-23, when he says, ‘Till he unseamed him from the navel to the chaps

And fixed his head upon battlements.’.  Macbeth shows that when he is determined to defeat someone, he is violent and ruthless. The audience are now thinking he is very extreme and he would do anything to get what he wants.

The king finally finished the conversation in scene 2 lines 64-65 by saying, ‘        Go pronounce his present death

And with his former title Macbeth’. King Duncan is so pleased with Macbeth’s loyalty ...

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