Show How Much Macbeth Changes

At the beginning of the play Macbeth possesses many qualities of a great man: gentle kindness, justness, obedience to God and King, truthfulness, and definitely loyalty and courage. He deserved to be called `brave` and `a worthy gentleman` because he chopped the head of an enemy and fixed his head on King Duncan's battlements. The first witch greeted Macbeth as Thane of Glamis, his title. The second witch greeted him as Than of Cawdor, because she was prophesising this title would be given to him. The third witch said that he would be King. Soon after this Macbeth found out that King Duncan made him Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth wrote to Lady Macbeth telling her about the witches' prophecy and how the first prediction came true. When Lady Macbeth read the letter she thought about what it would feel like to be queen. She cast a spell to make her heartless and persuade Macbeth to kill King Duncan.

When Macbeth arrived to his castle, Lady Macbeth tells him to hide his feelings from King Duncan and let her think of a plan.

Macbeth thinks about what Lady Macbeth had said. King Duncan was praising them both throughout the evening, and thought again about murdering him. He tells Lady Macbeth that he cannot kill King Duncan because he would be betraying his King and country. Lady Macbeth is spiteful to her husband and accuses him of not loving her the way he used to (emotional blackmail). Macbeth re-thinks killing King Duncan and seems confused. Lady Macbeth tells him the plan, and he is impressed both by her plan and by her attitude. He is now determined to kill Duncan.

Macbeth fears that, if the witches' prophecies come true, he has killed Duncan for the benefit of Banqo's descendants. He hires two murderers to kill Banquo and makes them believe that it's Banquo's fault they became murderers. Macbeth tries to persuade them that becoming assassins will prove that they are `real` men. The murderers agree to kill Banquo.

Macbeth hears from the return of the murderers that Banquo was dead but Fleance got away. Macbeth was not pleased. He rejoined the banquet. He saw the ghost of Banquo on his seat. His reaction startled the guests. Lady Macbeth makes excuses for him and scornfully speaks about Macbeth's behaviour. When the ghost leaves he rejoins his guests, but the ghost reappears and Macbeth's reaction to it returns. The ghost leaves again and Macbeth wants to continue with the banquet. Lady Macbeth tells the guests to leave because she's afraid Macbeth will say too much. Macbeth wants to learn his future from the witches and continue his bloody course.

The witches wait for Macbeth's arrival. He commands the witches to tell him whatever he asks. The witches show Macbeth the first Apparition. It was a helmeted head and it warns Macbeth to be cautious of Macduff. The second Apparition appears and tells him that only the man who is not born from a woman can harm him. Macbeth thinks of Macduff, and although the future has been assured he wants to be double certain. The third Apparition tells Macbeth that he will not be beaten until Birnam Wood moves to Duninsane. Macbeth is filled with confidence at this news and believes he is infallible. Macbeth kills Macduff's family to be certain that nothing will happen to him.

Macduff, driven by grief, goes to England to raise an army to defeat Macbeth and free Scotland from the tyrant Macbeth has now become. In the meantime, Macbeth finds himself deserted by his friends. Lady Macbeth commits suicide that has devastating affects on him. He says, ('I am sick at heart, I have lived long enough). There are still times when Macbeth sees occasional flashes of bravery and defiance. The witches gave him the idea at first but when his nerve was failing Lady Macbeth pushed him into it. Overall, Macbeth himself was the one who followed the path of evil. Macbeth as a tragic hero because he had great qualities that he wasted in taking the throne that was not rightfully his, and he would do everything in his power to get it. Towards the end of the play the witches tell Macbeth that no one can kill him unless they are not born from a woman. They also said to beware of Macduff. Macbeth killed Macduff's family to be certain that nothing will happen to him. Macduff goes to England and meets Donalbain. They come back with an English and Scottish army. They hid behind bushes in Birnam Wood, and carried branches so that Macbeth couldn't see how many of them there were. Macbeth had no choice but to fight. Macbeth thought he could not be defeated but Macduff told him that he was not born naturally. He killed Macbeth and showed everyone his head. Scotland was finally free from the evil Macbeth had brought with him. Malcolm was declared King and Scotland lived in peace.