character analysis of Macbeth

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  • Created by: loupardoe
  • Created on: 28-10-16 09:47
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  • Macbeth
    • guilty conscience
      • However, he is caught in a spiral of evil and does not seem able to stop himself.
      • Throughout the play, Macbeth is tormented by thoughts of the evil things he has done.
      • act 3 scene 4- lines 93-96
      • Banquo's ghost appears to Macbeth alone, showing his overactive imagination triggered by a guilty conscience.
      • Although he is now a king, Macbeth cannot command his own emotions and feels irrevocably set on this course of action.
      • The court thinks he is going mad.
    • brave
      • At the end of the play, when he knows he is about to die, Macbeth regains some of his old bravery, as he faces Macduff in single combat.
      • At the start of the play, Macbeth shows that he is a mighty warrior when he leads the Scottish troops to victory over an invading force. Duncan, the King, rewards him by making him Thane of Cawdor.
      • lines 16-23(Act 1 Scene 2)
      • The Captain describes Macbeth's actions on the battlefield particularly when he seeks out and kills the traitor Macdonwald.
      • The Captain uses a number of strong verbs and adjectives to show how brave Macbeth has been: 'brandished', 'smoked', 'carved', 'unseamed', 'fixed'.
    • changable
      • This is particularly so in the early part of the play.
      • Macbeth keeps changing his mind about whether to murder Duncan or not
      • His ambition conflicts with his sense of loyalty and morality.
      • Lady Macbeth is key to persuading him and keeping him determined.
      • act 1 scene 7, lines 32-35 and lines 79-80
      • Macbeth has just spent a difficult time convincing himself that killing the King is wrong.
      • He tells Lady Macbeth that he will not carry out the deed
      • Within the space of a couple of minutes she argues the case for Duncan’s death and Macbeth is, once again, set on murder.
    • ambitious
      • He quickly becomes the more powerful Thane of Cawdor and then murders his way to become and remain King of Scotland.
      • At the start of the play, Macbeth is Thane of Glamis.
      • The Witches' predictions seem to waken the ambition already in him and he is spurred on by his wife.
      • lines 48-53(Act 1 Scene 4)
      • Macbeth is clearly worried by the strength of his own ambition which he refers to as black and deep desires
      • He knows there will be obstacles in his way but is determined to get round them.
      • He just hopes that nobody will see what he is up to which is why he wants the stars to stop shining.

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