Miles Renwick Rough Draft

Miles Renwick

Wood

ELA 11A

19 February 2016

Characterization of Macbeth

In the Shakespearean play of “Macbeth”, we find a storyline involving many intriguing and dynamic characters. The main character of the play, Macbeth, undergoes many changes of views and attitudes throughout the course of the play. Towards the end of the play, Macbeth’s state of mind was nowhere near where it was in the beginning. But how did become so evil so fast? Although Macbeth can be characterized as a vicious villain at the end of the play, he once had innocence until it was invariably being overhauled through his malicious actions and vulnerability towards gaining the throne.

Macbeth was vulnerable to taking evil actions toward his destiny. He was left with no decision but to do what was expected of him. A passage in the first act brilliantly displays how his mindset is completely focused towards gaining the throne, and his little capability of changing his mindset. “If good, why do I yield to that suggestion Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair… my ribs” (I:iii 142-143). Here, Macbeth realizes that he cannot put his evil thoughts away. He wants to get rid of them, but it is nearly impossible to get the thought of how he will become king out of his mind, proving his mind's vulnerability towards becoming king. This was not the only quote that demonstrates how incapable he was to turning his head the other way and ignoring his predicted future.“This supernatural soliciting Cannot be ill, cannot be good.” (I:iii 130-131 ) Macbeth realizes that he’s been exposed by the witches to take action towards the throne. He is initially hesitant, because he cannot tell whether their visions are good or not, but he knows he must take action.

Macbeth was completely innocent until his malicious actions took over his mind. The malicious actions included killing his own king, in hopes that by doing this he would be even closer to taking over as king. The line, “Macbeth shall sleep no more,” (II:ii 50) shows that Macbeth notices that the innocence in his mind has completely been lost. He knew he had good in him up until his malicious action of killing the king. The other passage worth noting is when he first acknowledges the evil he now has in his head. “O full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!” (III:ii 36) The excerpt shows that he’s listening to others instead of listening to what he wanted. He is busy trying to please his wife instead of himself. This confirms that he never really had many evil thoughts throughout his life, except for only recently after he committed his evil deeds.

The good Macbeth once had, was completely lost at the end of the play. All of his nobility and loyalty had evaporated into the cold, Cawdor castle. The passage, “I have almost forgot the taste of tears” (V:iv 9) shows Macbeth admitting he has lost all of his good intentions. This passage proves that Macbeth once could remember the taste of tears, but now with his evil he has forgotten it. In the same scene we hear some more admittance from Macbeth that he is now entirely evil. “Thou'lt be afraid to hear it,” (V:vii 5) is Macbeth saying that everyone should fear his evil self, admitting that he’s lost all of his innocence and self-control.

Macbeth’s innocence weaved its way towards evil through his ambition and vulnerability to the throne. His malicious actions led one to another, creating even more villainous decisions and aspirations. His susceptibility towards taking action was all too much for Macbeth, as he followed what his confidants desired. However his confidants weren’t necessarily people, in fact the majority of the time he allowed his mind to take all of the actions and make all of the decisions. Macbeth was once innocent, but it was rapidly taken over by evil.