Duncan arrives at Macbeth’s castle where they talk. Later that night when the king is fast asllep in his room. Macbeth’s wife creeps up to his dormitory. But she doesn’t feel brave enough to kill Duncan as something in his face reminded her of her own father. She is not evil enough to go through with the plan.
She returns to discuss it with her husband. He feels unsure and thinks there are strong reasons against the murder. His mind is full of answers at why he should not commit this terrible crime. He is a near relative of the king, he has made him Thane of Cawdor and is a favourite of the king. At this particular aspect Macbeth struggles with his conscience. Killing Duncan will result in vengeance. There are compelling reasons against the murder. Only ambtion and his wife spur him on.
Macbeth tells his wife he has decided not to kill Duncan, from hearing this she is a woamn who is not easily shaken from her purpose. She pours words imto his ears and gives him reason upon reason at why he should not shrink from what he has undertaken. She accuses him of cowardice and lack of manliness. We can distinguish here what Lady Macbeth is truly like she seems to have major power over Macbeth., she can control him like a robot. The power she has over him prevents him from answering back to her.
I deem that Macbeth can recognize what he is doing is wrong. He knows his own mind. At the beginning he is happily married, he is brave, loyal and is well respected by the king and his friends. He agrees to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth gives him some daggers and he goes stealthily up to the king’s room alone. He hallucinates thinking he sees a blood stained dagger. As he moves to murder Duncan, his thoughts are filled with evil images. At this point he suffers agonies of canscience as a result he cannot presume what he is doing.
He obsessed by his inability to say the word Amen and by a voice crying that he has murdered sllep and will never sleep again. Lady Macbeth dismisses his delusions and ordrs him to return the daggers. He refuses as he is on the verge of a breakdown and his downfall at this moment. He can’t believe what he has done and his mind is overtakne by sorrow.
Mainly in Act One things are not what they seem. It principally starts by how the witches prophecies come to control Macbeth. Macbeth conquers the guilt and gradually returns to his normal self. He ahs been elected king and goes to Scone to be crowned. His friend Banquo fears that Macbeth has become king by evil means He lacks heart from the witches predictions for his own descendants. Macbeth requests Banquo to attend tonight’s banquet.
We can tell Macbeth has gained what he wants. He is powerful now that he has become king. His brain is destroyed, he is ruthless now. Macbeth has changed dramatically from being well respected to a mindless maniac who wants and will do anything to achieve prominence.
We see he has evil intentions for Banquo but he hides them behind apparently well meaning words. He mentions several times that he wants Banquo’s advice. Even though he has been taken over by the witches prophecies, deep down inside him there is a part, which is trying to stop him it is screaming for help. But the power of evil has possessed him to strongly and the Macbeth that was once faithful and courageous is now diminished.
Macbeth plots Banquo’s murder. He broads on his fears that Banquo’s descendants will become kings. Macbeth orders murderous this time round to kill Banquo. He reminds them of a conversation when he told them that he is the enemy. He arranges a time and place for them to kill Banquo and also Fleance.
We observe that Macbeth is a traitor, he gets people to do his dirty work. He may of killed Duncan, and it shows he doesn’t have the guts to do it himself again. Lady Macbeth is also trouled. She advises Macbeth not to dwell on what is done, but he is still racked by fears of uncertitude. He even spites the peace of death Duncan enjoys. We witness here that Macbeth’s wife is being domineering yet thoughtful towards her husband. He appears though in his own shell of worries.
His conscience is one of the primary courses of his downfall. The guilt of his moral sense is with him none stop. He visulises the universe shattering and heaven and earth in nguish. He seems to know hi future and knows what is going to happen. He hints terrible deeds will be performed that night. He tells his wife to pay special regard to Banquo at the banquet.
The murder is now took place, Banquo is killed and Fleance escapes. All things appear to be going well at the banquet, everyone is enjoying themselves. The murderers report back to Macbeth , they tell him they have killed Banquo an the news of Fleance’s escape. The news of Fleance’s getaway disturbs Macbeth and renews his fears.
Soon after this event which has took place he sees Banquo’s ghost. He is traumatized, his conscience yet again comes back to haunt him. I would say Banquo is one of the feats answerable for his ruin because he has lost a close friend. It is only Macbeth who notices the ghost none of the other people at the banquet can see the ghost, not even his wife. At the sight of seeing Banquo’s ghost he is nervous and frightened.
By losing most of his friends; Duncan and now Banquo and nearly Fleance it is leading up to the climax of his comedown. Lady Macbeth attempts to calm the Lords but feel it is best if they leave. Macbeth broods on murder and unnaturalnessHe vows to visit the witchs to know his future, swearing that from now on there is no turnin back. He will kill anyone standing in his way. We see Macbeth has completely transformed. He is not afraid anymore and he has chosen to be forceful. He is obsessed with the witches’ predictions and it is thanks to them and they’re persuasive language that they are alwasys on his mind.
When Macbeth meets the witches a second time he is determined to stay king even if it means doing anything evil that furthers his own interests He has a deep-seated desire to know the future. He tells the witches to answer him even if they’re next word maybe destructive. His language becomes like the witches “I conjure you.” Spirits rise from the potion the witches brew. The first one tells him to becareful of Macduff. The second spirit proclaims to him not to fear the power of man, for no one born by a woman could hurt him and told him to be bloody, bold and resolute. The third spirit in the form of a crowned child comforts him against plots saying that he would not be beaten until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinance.
Macbeth thinks that everything will go his way. He is definite he will stay king. He leaves saying that the illusion of seeing Banquo’s ghost is only the faer of a beginner who needs experience. We witness here that Macbeth has been taken over entirely. The power of control is also responsible for his downfall. Macbeth is convinced that he can overcome Macduff in battle. He is confident he cannot be exterminated.
From hearing what the witches have just said he resolves to kill every member of Macduff’s family he can catch. Conscience plays a big part between Macbeth and his wife. They have got what they wanted, but it has not brought them happiness. Macbeth is tortured by his conscience and although his wife tries to comfort himshe is too racked by anxiety. They have achieved their desire at great cost. They have accomplished immense authority and status by amoral means and have suffered the psychological consequences. From Macbeth’s dominaion he totally forgets about his wife.
