Sarah Higdon

4th

Characterization Essay

Although Macbeth may have been seen as a noble and well admired man, when determined to become king, an evil side is shown as the story turns for the worst when his demeanor changes and the guilt becomes too much to handle. The story unfolds when Macbeth realizes that there might not be a chance for him to take the throne and he tries everything in his power to make it happen even if it means ruining his reputation as a figure to his people.

In the beginning of the story, Macbeth is known for being very brave which is recognized in Act 1, Scene 2 where it says, “For brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name- Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution, like valor's minion carved out his passage till he faced the slave”. That quote said by Captain, Is a direct characterization on how he see’s Macbeth as a brave man. As seen in the story, Macbeth has a big impact on Banquo, they are best friends so Banquo thinks the world of him. In Act 1, Scene 3, banquo refers to him as noble saying, “ which outwardly ye show? My noble partner”. And yet again in Act one Scene 3 where he says, “That, trusted home…” which is saying he trusts Macbeth, little does he know how much he really can…

Macbeth takes a turn for the worst when he realizes how much he really wants to be king. He plans to kill King Duncan to take the royal throne from him. Once the evil deed is done, he shows many signs of guilt. When he completes the task, he comes to his wife and tells of the horrible outcome, with the blood still on his hands, he says ““Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather The multitudinous seas incarnadine,Making the green one red.” He says this because he cannot believe what he had just done, he thinks about the fact that he committed a horrible crime and he can feel nothing but guilt.

Macbeth feels so overwhelmed and guilty about his wrong doing that he loses sleep and he says right after the murder that he heard someone say, “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep”—the innocent sleep,Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care,The death of each day’s life, sore labor’s bath, Balm of hurt minds, great nature’s second course, Chief nourisher in life’s feast”. This means that the innocent get better sleep because they have nothing to worry about and guilty people get little sleep because they have many worries on their mind.

Macbeth eventually starts to feel less guilty once he starts feeling more confident about murdering the people that could possibly take the throne from him. He then hires people to commit the murder for him and sees a threat in Banquo's family and orders…”Seize upon Fife; give to the edge o' the sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool” He has realized that there could be possibly more threats on his throne by whoever shares the blood of Banquo so he orders death on whoever traces his relation.

The story of Macbeth concludes with his death, it was said that he could not be killed by a person born of  a women but Malcolm, son of Duncan joins forces with Macduff and kills Macbeth because he was born of C-section  and was successful in killing Macbeth and putting an end to his horrible doings. Although Macbeth may have been seen as a noble and well admired man, when determined to become king, an evil side is shown as the story turns for the worst when his demeanor changes and the guilt becomes too much to handle.