Macbeth Characterization Essay Justin Walker 2nd Block

Justin Walker

Mrs. Wood

English 11A-2nd Block

19 February 2016

Macbeth Characterization Essay

The greatest evil is fueled by one’s ambition. The Tragedy of Macbeth, written and directed by William Shakespeare, begins after a hard fought battle in which Macbeth is a victorious hero.  Macbeth is then confronted by three witches, who speak of prophecies that have Macbeth as the king of Scotland. Macbeth’s hopes and ambition to become the king drive him off the edge. Macbeth plays foully and murders King Duncan, then becoming king. Macbeth then dives off the edge, killing anyone who poses a threat to him and his throne. These un-solidified threats to Macbeth become his demise. Those he has hurt, such as Macduff, return to Scotland for revenge and justice. Macduff and others find justice once Macbeth is killed, and has been permanently removed from the throne. Although Macbeth was once an honorable and loyal hero, the expectations from others and himself vanquish the morals within him and descend him into a cold hearted and doubtful villain fueled by his greed.

The most tragic part of Macbeth’s demise was that he one was a loyal and honorable hero. Macbeth was once a valiant hero who was regarded in the highest honor by his comrades, as a knight reports to King Duncan “Brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name - disdaining fortune, with his brandish steel, which smoked with bloody execution” (Shakespeare, 1:ii, 16-18).  This not only shows how much his comrades regard him as loyal and heroic, but that he had fought with passion, the same passion and ambition that would lead to his downfall. Macbeth’s comrades are not the only ones to tell of his loyalties, as he gives the reader direct evidence that he is loyal to the king, saying “The service and loyalty I owe… love and honor” (1:iv, 22-27). Macbeth gives a prime source of his personality at the beginning of play, and will be a prime example to look at once he has changed. Macbeth’s good nature is shown in abundance to illuminate his descent.

Macbeth’s descent is highlighted by his loss of loyalty, but still hangs on with doubt and regret. The first sign of Macbeth’s evil intent is found when he says “The Prince of Cumberland! that is a step I must fall down, or else o'erleap” (1:iv, 48-53). Macbeth’s murderous thoughts represent the evil growing inside him, all fueled by his greed. After Macbeth killed King Duncan, he shows his regret through his words “Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!” (2:ii, 91). Macbeth regrets killing his King, representing the emotion and loyalty that still lives within him, but is dwindling fast. And while Macbeth still has his emotions, he still holds onto a small portion of his sanity, as he says “We still have judgment here… but only vaulting ambition” (1:vii, 8-10 and 25-28). Macbeth acknowledges he still contains his sanity and his loyalty, but these feelings are defeated by ambition. Although Macbeth is able to keep his sanity for a short while after killing King Duncan, he soon descends into an unreturnable stage of evil and emptiness.

Macbeth loses everything in the last part of the play, from his family to his feelings. Before Macbeth loses his emotions, he loses his sanity. Macbeth shows this loss in sanity when he asks the three witches “Avaunt! and quit my sight my sight! let the earth hide thee! Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; Thou dost glare with!” (3:iv, 94-97). Macbeth shows his insanity through this scene. The sight of Banquo, a man that Macbeth had killed, highlights Macbeth’s guilt and craziness, as no one else can see the ghost but him. After Macbeth loses his sanity, he is quick to lose his feelings, and turns into a hollow shell. Macbeth talks of his wife’s death saying “She should have died hereafter: There would have been a time for such a word” (4:v, 17). The disregard for his wife’s death is the representation of the end of Macbeth’s humanity. Macbeth’s loss for care on his wife’s death shows that he loves nothing, and that he is gone and hollow. The story of Macbeth is like a hill, he rises to fame and then in an instant rolls back down, never to rise up again.

Macbeth was once a loyal subordinate to the king, but his greed fuels his desires, and because of this, ends up hollow of emotion and untrusting to everyone. Macbeth’s good nature is shown through his comrade’s words and his own. The slow descent of his personality is shown through his murderous actions and a ray of hope is shown through his regret of killing King Duncan. The end of Macbeth’s humility is signaled by the sights of things that no longer exist, and his loss for care of his loved ones. Macbeth is a character every reader can relate to, all humans have ambition, and the want and desire to rise to the pinnacle of fame and power can ruin everything one had before if it is not done fairly.