How does Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
Change throughout the play?
Introduction
In the following essay I will be discussing how Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have changed through out the play and I will outline the incidents that take place to show how they change.
Macbeth is first shown at the start of the play, through the second scene with the wounded captain and King Duncan, as a brave and loyal soldier. Everyone thinks well of him, and he is seen as a true hero. He is a brave and bloodthirsty.
Then he meets the witches and hears their predictions that he is Thane of Glamis, and will become Thane of Cawdow and then the King. As soon as the witches disappear and, he begins to have thoughts that he really might be king. But the only obstruction is that that Duncan is still alive
His best friend Banquo is there as well and the witches predict that he will not become king but his son will. After the predictions Macbeth I very confused he says to him self ’’The Thane of Cawdor live a prosperous gentlemen, and to be king’’ (Act 1:3:71/72). He immediately sends a letter to his wife Lady Macbeth telling her everything that happened. At this point Duncan declares Malcolm to be next in line to the throne, Macbeth is angry at this decision ‘’the prince of Cumberland that is a step on which I must fall down or else o’erleap for in my way it lies’’ (Act 1:4:55/56) Him and his wife start plot the murder. Macbeth is confused and he feels weak at this point of the play he doesn’t want to carry out the murder But when he tells his wife, she so insults him that he changes again, and swayed by her, resolves to kill Duncan and he does, so he is pressured into it by Lady Macbeth. When he finally agrees he is determined to carry out the murder he wants to get it over and done with this is the quote he uses ‘’Bring forth men children only, for thy undaunted mettle should compose nothing but males’’ (Act 1:7:72/74) at this time his confidence is influencing him. After the murder Macbeth feels regret and remorse for what he has done, so he looks at the blood on his hands and says: "this is a sorry sight". Macbeth clearly feels regret for what he has done. The murder is successful and Macbeth becomes King Macbeth, his character starts to change into something more dangerous and harmful. He remembers that Banquo was predicted that his son will become king so Macbeth has to have him killed so when he is out with hi on he hires men to kill him, the men manage to kill Banquo but his son escapes. On that same day Macbeth prepares a banquet to which he invites Banquo but he knows he is dead. At the banquet Banquos seat is empty, Macbeth hallucinates he sees Banquos ghost on his chair and No one else in the room sees Banquo and Macbeth thinks that they are messing with his mind. Macbeth says "Which of you have done this?"
