Macbeth Characterization Essay- Nolan Rowland

Macbeth Characterization Essay

Although Macbeth is clearly devoted to the pursuit of goodness and duty early in the play, his underlying desires and otherworldly influence corrupt his mind and reveal his greed.

In the beginning acts of Macbeth, Macbeth is being described by an officer in the King's army, the description goes as follows “For brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name-disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution.” This is the first description we see of Macbeth’s character, and it looks to be a good one. Based on the officer’s description we can assume that Macbeth is very loyal to the king and has fought many battles, enough to earn a name for himself. After the battle he is summoned by the king and we get another glimpse at how loyal Macbeth is to the king, and how much the king trusts him. “The service and the loyalty I owe, In doing it, pays itself. Your highness part is to receive our duties: and our duties are to you throne.” This quote is one of the most enlightening quotes in the first act because it displays how much Macbeth loves the king and how devoted to the king he is.

During the first scene, Macbeth and his friend come across three witches. They tell Macbeth that he will be king and that Banquo, Macbeth’s friend, will be the father of kings. This encounter is very important because it not only sows seeds of doubt and confusion in Macbeth’s mind, but it also brings out a feeling that he has never had before, greed. “The prince of Cumberland! That is a step I must fall down, or else o’erleap. For in my way it lies.” This quote is a very powerful indicator of things to come. Before this, Macbeth was to be the prince of Cumberland, or next in line for the throne. But instead it is given to the king's son. In this quote Macbeth is starting to realise that he has to make a decision. He must either wait or “fall down.” Or he can act and “o’erleap” that step and go straight to the throne. We see that the seeds that the witches have planted are starting to grow into something more sinister.

When Macbeth arrives back home he learns that he will be hosting the king for a banquet that night. Macbeth’s wife has already put some thought into “o’erleaping” that step. She has devised a plan to kill the king while he is sleeping and now she just needs Macbeth to agree and help her. This part is very important as it signals a change inside of Macbeth, one that cannot be reversed. “Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Come let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still… I go and it is done: the bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan (the king), for it is a knell, that summons thee to heaven, or to hell.” This is a very important quote, one of the most in the entire play. Here we see Macbeth getting ready to kill the king and he starts hallucinating. He sees the dagger in his hand, but he knows that he is really seeing things. Macbeth has reached a turning point in this very quote. From now on he is no longer the noble knight we knew him as, no. He is now a monster seeking only greed. Later down the road he comes to the realization that Banquo is supposed to be the father of kings, but of what he asks. Will he be dethroned by is best friends children. He sends out his assassins and kills Banquo in the middle of the night. He has committed a most atrocious deed and here you can see the monster he has truly become.

He loses all emotion after killing Banquo. He becomes an emotionless husk, incapable of feeling. “She should have died hereafter.” Macbeth says, “There would have been a time for such a word. Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day… Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more… Signifying nothing.” Macbeth has reached his lowest point here, his wife has just died and all he can say is that she should have died earlier. He has truly become a monster. He doesn't even hardly have the will to live. He is a husk of a once noble man who is now just ready to give up.