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Macbeth Character Profile: Macbeth (First impression (Effectively saved…
Macbeth Character Profile: Macbeth
First impression
Highly respected figure
Effectively saved Duncan's Kingship
Put down rebellion within Scotland
Repelled an attack by the king of Norway
Fierce warrior
Cuts a bloody swathe through the ranks of his enemies
His ferocity almost splits the rebel Macdowald in two
Described as
"Brave Macbeth"
"
Bellona's bridegroom"
"
Noble Macbeth"
Held in high regard by Duncan
plans to reward his loyal subject with the title Thane of Cawdor
treachery of the previous holder of his prestigious title
Begins play as Thane of Glamis
Root of his moral decline
He is flawed by ambition
Becomes lost or "
rapt withal"
when witches predict he will be Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland
3 Witches use his weakness to bring about his downfall
Finds himelf fixated on the idea of killing Duncan
Supported by Lady Macbeth
Crisis of conscience before murdering Duncan
He reflects on the loyalty he owes Duncan as his subject, kinsman and guest
Realising his only reason for killing this good king is for for his own "
vaulting ambition"
Tells lady Macbeth they "
will proceed no further un this business"
Easily manipulated when Lady Macbeth questions his Manhood and his cowardice
re-dedicates himself to the murder "I am settled and bend up each corporal agent to this terrible feat"*
Unnerved by the murder
Pangs of consciences re-emerge after he murders Duncan
Filled with guilt, regret and horror
Relies on his calm and composed wife to attend to practical details as retuning the daggers to the crime scene
Achievement of his ambition brings no sense of contentment
never again enjoying any sense of inner peace
Has a "
mind full of scorpions"
- envies Duncan in his tranquil sleep of death
Filled with insecurity
Feels Banquo is a threat
essential nobility - "
royalty over nature"
prophecy tha the would be father to a line of kings
Moral declines continues as he murders with greater ease
engages in no soul searching - decides Banquo must be killed
Acts alone, does not consult Lady Macbeth
Evidence of his troubled consciences is to be seen in the ghost of Banquo conjured up by his lively imagination
Kingship is associated with falseness and deception
Both Duncan and Banquo are murdered under cover of darkness
tells the assassins hired to murder Banquo that the murder must be kept secret "
for sundry weighty reasons"
Trusts nobody, has spies in every castle in Scotland "
There's not a one but in his house I keep a servant fed"
His kingship is inextricably bound up with evil
Seeks to see the evil witches again
Demands to know the future
Witches conjure up a series of apparitions that fill Macbeth with false sense if security
Lowest point of moral decline
Motivated by an overwhelming lust for vengeance
Declared to act on impulse so as to deny his conscience the opportunity to trouble him
Unlike the murder of Banquo and Duncan the murder of Macduff's wife and children is committed in broad daylight
No need for deception as all of Scotland is aware of Macbeth's 'secret murder's'
Contrars in innocence and the courage of Macduff's wife and son to the malevolent cruelty of Macbeth's henchmen cast teh evil anutre of Macbeth
Butchery of innocence represents Macbeths moral nadir
Becomes an increasingly violent figure
Isolation begins when Macduff registers his disapproval of Macbeths kingship by refusing to go to Scone to see his coronation
His relationship with his wife breaks apart as they are driven apart by a shared sense of guilt
Relationship is completely broken down when she takes her own life
Filled with Melancholy towards the end of the play
Dramatic nature of his downfall is reflected by others description of him: "
hellhound"
"devilish Macbeth"
"
tryant"
"
this dead butcher"*
Filled wit despair and a sense of futility "
.. i t is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing"
Defies his enemies
Despite his total isolation he will not surrender and face humiliation
Warrior instinct remain strong as he his courageous defiance toward his enemies remains strong
"I'll fight till from my bons my flesh be hacked"
His bravery is one aspect of character that remains strong
Maintains his stance even after Macduff reveals the circumstances of his birth
"Lay on Macduff, and damned be he that cries Hold! Enough!"