In this essay I intend to examine the way in which Macbeth is presented in the opening three scenes of the play.

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        English Coursework Essay                                  Macbeth   In this essay I intend to examine the way in which Macbeth is presented in the opening three scenes of the play. At the beginning of the play Macbeth is seen as a brave warrior who is loyal to the King but is tainted by the witch’s prophecies and by his Lady Macbeth’s ambition. In the beginning of the play Macbeth is a strong soldier who fights for the King without mercy but his curious nature leads him to the witches who give him a prophecy. In Scene 1 Act 1 the witches are waiting for Macbeth, this seems to suggest that they have something in mind; they are creatures of supernatural origin.        “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”        “Hover through the fog and filthy air.”This quote is taken from the first scene of act 1, when the witches meet and discuss where to meet. This is a paradox as well as a prophecy, where one thing seems like another, or about how things will change through the story. The words like ‘foul’ and ‘filthy’ are used within this quote to connect the witches to unpleasant images.  In Act 1 he is described as a brave war hero. But by Act2 he has become a murderer. These changes are influenced by his ambition and conscience, the prophecies of the Witches and pressure to act on the prophecies from
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Lady Macbeth. In Scene two we are aware of Macbeth’s bravery because of the way in which the Captain speaks about him.”….with his brandish’d steel, which smok’d with bloody execution”  Macbeth’s bravery in battle shows us that he is being loyal to his king, Macbeth earned the respect of many people, including Duncan, by fulfilling his duty to fight for king and country. King Duncan asks the Captain if Macbeth and Banquo are dismayed by the Norwegians army’s fresh assault. The Captain uses irony by saying, “As sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion” to show the determination for Macbeth ...

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