In Shakespeare's tragic story Macbeth, The character of Macbeth undergoes many changes.

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In Shakespeare’s tragic story Macbeth, The character of Macbeth undergoes many changes. From the opening act up until the curtains close Macbeth’s character is slowly tainted socially, and also psychologically. In the first scene Shakespeare paints a picture of Macbeth as being courageous, loyal, brave and well respected. Toward the end, however, Macbeth decomposes into a cowardly, materialistic tyrant, loathed by all of his people. As the story progresses, Macbeth becomes more and more desensitized to the world around him, and even loses his sense of reality and the meaning of life.The story illustrates the failure of Macbeth, and also how the relationships he shares with the people around him change. The greatest change is the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

The downfall begins with Banquo and Macbeth’s meeting with the 3 witches. The witches prophesize that Macbeth will be Thane of Cawdor, and also that Macbeth will be king one day. They call Banquo "lesser than Macbeth, and greater," and "not so happy, yet much happier"; and they also tell Banquo that he will never be a king, but he will have heirs to the throne. Macbeth is very shocked by their prophecies, and when the first prediction comes true and he is named the Thane of Cawdor, it leaves him wanting more. He writes to Lady Macbeth, and tells her about his recent experiences, his odd meeting with the “strange women”, and of his new title. From this letter there is a sense of closeness between Macbeth and his wife. After reading this letter Lady Macbeth thinks Macbeth may have too much of "th'milk of human kindness" to take the steps necessary to make himself king. When Macbeth arrives home Lady Macbeth declares “… Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full Of direst cruelty.” Clearly Lady Macbeth is the more powerful of the two, and at the time being Lady Macbeth is also the most evil of the two.

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Duncan, king of Scotland is very trusting in Macbeth. He views Macbeth as a loyal warrior and respectable companion. So when Duncan is  invited to Macbeth’s castle for dinner, he goes without hesitation. Lady Macbeth is very convincing and persuades Macbeth into murdering the king. Macbeth trusts Lady Macbeth, and he also feels very inferior to her. He commits the murder more or less to prove himself to Lady Macbeth, and show her he is not a coward. After the murder however, Lady Macbeth’s power seems to fade away. He begins to plan murders on his own in order to ...

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