Trace the development of Macbeth's character

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      Macbeth

In this essay I will be attempting to trace the development of Macbeth’s character throughout the play pointing out significant scenes that mark turning points in Macbeth’s behaviour noting how these affect his relationship with Lady Macbeth. I will also be looking at the social and historical context of the play.

Macbeth was written between 1603 and 1606 during the reign of James the first of England. Shakespeare wrote Macbeth for James who was fascinated with the supernatural, witchcraft, apparitions and ghosts. Shakespeare had a lot of respect for the King and thus, he represented King Duncan as an honourable man to reflect on James. Shakespeare makes James’s ancestor, Banquo, a hero in the play. During this time it was common for people to believe in witches and their powers and they were seen as evil and going against Christian values. In 1604 an Act of Parliament decreed that anyone practising witchcraft should be executed. People also believed that the King was appointed by God and the King had Divine Rights and was not answerable to the people or to Parliament. The plot of Macbeth to kill the King would also go against Christian values of Shakespearean times. We can only speculate but it is possible that many of those who condemn the King to death 45 years later would’ve seen the plays of Shakespeare. Shakespeare also shows in Macbeth that kings can be stupid as well.

In Act 1 scene 3 the witches came to Macbeth and Banquo and make their prophecies. They tell Macbeth he will be King and Banquo that his offspring will be King. This scene marks the beginning of Macbeth’s decent into pursuing his ambition as he begins to think of killing the King. Shortly after, Macbeth is named Thane of Cawdor so quickly after the witches’ prophecies and this gives him further motivation.

“My thoughts, /whose murder yet is but fantastical, / Shakes so my single state of man/that function is smothered in surmise, and nothing is, But what is not”.

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These lines are part of Macbeth’s soliloquy which is a literary device that Shakespeare uses regularly throughout the play to show the audience Macbeth’s inner most thoughts. In these lines, Macbeth begins to reveal his thoughts about killing the King. He knows this is wrong and it will destroy the natural the order that the King has. In this scene some of the plays themes become evident. One of the most important themes in the play is ambition.

It is also interesting here to note that Macbeth and Banquo react differently to the witches and their prophecies.

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