What factors contribute to his change in character and which dramatic devices help the audience become aware of this descent into evil?

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In committing Duncan’s murder and organising the murder of other influential characters, Macbeth’s character changes from good to evil.

What factors contribute to his change in character and which dramatic devices help the audience become aware of this descent into evil?

The play ‘Macbeth’ gives the audience plenty of opportunities to consider the reasons for the main character’s actions. In this essay I will consider the many factors which contribute to Macbeth’s descent into evil; many factors play a pivotal role in deciding his ill-fated future. With his wife’s cajoling, and the three witches’ foretelling of his future Macbeth, will stop at nothing to gain position as King of Scotland. Macbeth’s ambition also drives this same will as well as his feelings of fear and insecurity.

The witches and their prophecies are the first major influence on Macbeth’s actions. Macbeth is content with his position as Thane of Glamis, until the three witches tell him,

“All hail Macbeth, hail to thee Thane of Glamis.

All hail Macbeth, hail to thee Thane of Cawdor

All hail Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter.”

This prophecy startled Macbeth. He believes that his title is still Thane of Glamis; yet here he has just been told that he shall be King. After hearing this Macbeth and his loyal friend Banquo find out that Macdonwald has been sentenced to death for betraying his country, and that King Duncan has named Macbeth Thane of Cawdor. After Macbeth hears this news he begins to think that the witches’ predictions will all come true and he will be King. Although in the Elizabethan times witches were seen as evil and part of the supernatural, this is supported by the quote,

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        “Fair is foul and foul is fair”

This shows that Shakespeare wants the audience to perceive the witches as evil as they believe that Bad things are good and good things are bad. Despite this Macbeth cannot see through this and the witches plant the idea of being King into Macbeth’s thoughts, which encourages Macbeth to consider his future. In the following soliloquy, Macbeth shows the audience his initial plan to murder Duncan, so that he shall have power to the throne, this will happen as previously Macbeth had defeated the recently named heir to the throne, Malcolm, ...

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