Macbeth's character devlopment in Act 1 Scene 7

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Macbeth Coursework                2nd Draft                                                            George

Discuss Shakespeare’s use of language in Act 1 Scene 7 to show development in Macbeth’s character (1000 Words)

The following essay will examine Shakespeare’s use of language in the entirety of Act 1 Scene 7. The scene is vital to Macbeth’s character development as well as to understanding of the play. Macbeth’s soliloquy shows us Macbeth’s psyche before the time of Duncan’s death; and this essay will be looking at the use of language in the scene in greatly detail.

Before the witches’ predictions Macbeth was merely a noble soldier free of the lust for power, this was all until he was told of the prophecies. Once awarded the title of Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth’s doubts were diminished as one of their prophecies had come true. The audience is hesitant as to whether or not Macbeth will feel the need to become King. Shakespeare shows us how pivotal the scene is to the play, as it marks a turning point for Macbeth’s character. Shakespeare uses Macbeth’s soliloquy to provide us with a glimpse of the complications Macbeth will face if he makes a decision regarding Duncan’s death. Macbeth himself is in doubt and this is shown when he wishes for “it’ to be done ‘then twere well”. Yet Macbeth is aware of the repercussions of the act and ‘’upon this shoal of time’’ there is no escaping the consequences of murdering a King.

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The tone in which Shakespeare has introduced the soliloquy in reflects upon the mental instability of Macbeth and provides the audience with major trepidation. Macbeth begins to apprehend this severity of murdering a King’ to whom he was ‘his kinsman and his subject’. In Elizabethan times, a King was usually depicted as a holy and righteous leader figure, thus the audience would feel a sense of shock when they witness what Macbeth may be planning. Shakespeare shows us that within Macbeth, there is a sense of morality which does not provide equilibrium between his good and bad thoughts regarding ...

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