Concise Macbeth Character Study

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Macbeth Character Study Andrew Reis

At the start of the play, Macbeth is portrayed as a loyal soldier to the king. But his loyalty towards the king is converted elsewhere, but this was not upon his own judgement but by the prophecies which the witch's foretold and by his wife Lady Macbeth. The marriage between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth is based on love from Macbeth's perspective, but Lady Macbeth sees the marriage as an opportunity to take control of not only Macbeth but also Caldor.

To the people of Scotland, Macbeth is a noble person. He is a good position in life and has no bad intentions. But after the prophecies which were foretold by the witches, Macbeth begins to desire the throne from his father Duncan. But he is unsure of himself and need reassurance on whether or not he should murder his father to take the throne.

He questions himself by saying "If we should fail," (I, VII). Lady Macbeth quickly replies "We fail? But screw your courage to the sticking place and we'll not fail," (I, VII). This means that he becomes brave they will not fail.

When Macbeth is told of the prophecies he at first disregards them, but when it is prophesised that he is to be Thane of Caldor, by the witches, he immediately considers the killing of the king, this is shown by him saying "The prince of Cumberland' that is the step on which I must fall down, or else overleap, for in my way it lies," (I, IV). He later writes to Lady Macbeth pushing her to persuade him into killing Duncan. She then refers to this letter as being an agreement on the matter by saying, "Nor time nor place did then adhere, and yet you would make both"...