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Macbeth (Tyrant (Macduff's House Murders (Worst deed of the entire…
Macbeth
Tyrant
All of Scotland suffers under Macbeth's rule.
Malcom personifying Scotland: 'weeps, 'bleeds' 4.3
At the end of the play, Macbeth is described as a 'dead butcher'.
This is quite a fall from the start of the play, when Macbeth was the god-like war hero who fought the Norwegians single-handed.
Banquo's Murder
He has betrayed his best friend.
Macduff's House Murders
Worst deed of the entire play.
Horrendous
Witches: "Be bloody, bold and resolute" 4.1
Brave Soldier
Macbeth ends the play like he started, a soldier and a man of action on the battlefield.
He even fights on with Macduff, knowing that his death is certain.
Still an element of him being a hero.
Final scene remembers him as a tyrant.
Easily Manipulated
In the beginning, Macbeth is easily manipulated, mainly by his wife.
By the end of the play, he no longer needs this manipulation, when he murders Banquo.
Lady Macbeth recognises his ambition but also sees the obstacles to achieving what he wants
She manipulates him by calling him a coward, questioning his manliness, and reassuring him that their guilt can be concealed.
Macbeth is propelled towards evil by his wife. Despite his better judgement, he goes against the king, which he knows is wrong.
Her words imply that Macbeth is too good a man to commit murder.
However, he is also presented to be manipulated through the supernatural power of the witches.
If Duncan's murder was the witches' influence, than less blame can be put on Macbeth as in Jacobean times, people debated whether or not humans had free will, or were controlled by forces such as God, Satan, the supernatural, luck, and fate.
Ambitious
Fatal Flaw
Macbeth has a strong, sinful ambition to be king.
When Macbeth receives the news that on of the witches' promises has already become true, his thoughts immediately turn to murder, but he decided to leave the fulfilment of the prediction to chance.
Possibly wanted the throne prior to his meeting with the witches.
Conscience
Macbeth is a true tragic hero because of the combination of both good and evil in his character.
Macbeth commits some appalling actions but his conscience and imagination trouble him.
We see this through Shakespeare's use of soliloquies.
"Is this a dagger I see before me?"
The soliloquies, and other moments when Macbeth talks to the audience allow the audience to understand what Macbeth is thinking, as exemplified in the 1978 film with Ian McKellen and Judi Dench.
Macbeth's guilty conscience is revealed by subconscious imaginings and visions.
"Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood / clean from my hand?" (Act 2, Scene 2)
First Impressions
Shakespeare introduces us to Macbeth in a way that immediately makes him ambiguous.
In the opening scene, the witches plot to meet him, connecting him to evil at the very start of the play.
The Captain (Act 1, Scene 2) describes Macbeth as 'brave'.
A fearless soldier.
A man who fights on the side of right for his king
Dispatches the king's enemies with ruthless efficiency.
Quotes
"Too full o'th'milk of human kindness" 1.5