How significant in the context of the play is the extract from Act 1 Scene 7? Refer specifically to the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. In your answer refer to the changes in both in the play.

Essay by simplycomplexHigh School, 10th gradeA, November 2004

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Out of the many famous plays shown in the Elizabethan era, Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, outstands from the others and is well-known to people in contemporary society. The changes in characteristics of the two protagonists, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, develops as the play progresses and successfully brings unexpected surprises for the audience to maintain interest. Act 1 Scene VII is one of the most significant and important scenes of the play, as it is the beginning of all the action which leads Macbeth to the tragic ending death; the great insight of character for the audience; and is the starting point of themes, including ambition, good and evil, appearances vs. reality and the overthrow of the natural order.

Macbeth is a play full of emotional and physical action. Act 1 Scene VII is one which deals with emotions. This particular scene is about how Lady Macbeth successfully persuades and manipulates Macbeth to murder Duncan to fulfill the witches' prophecies.

Macbeth's character changes as the play progresses. Right at the beginning of the play, even before his first appearance (Act 1 Scene II Line 16-24) he is described as brave, noble, determined, intelligent and morally aware. Lady Macbeth suggests Macbeth is "too full of the milk of human kindness". However, his ambition and the willingness for power causes his tragic flaw. He changes and becomes isolated, brutalized, greedy, corrupted and ultimately dies in the end.

Act 1 Scene VII is the turning point for Macbeth. Through his siloquy at the beginning of the scene, we learn that Macbeth is in doubt and contemplating the consequences of the murder of Duncan and he thinks Duncan doesn't deserve to die. It illustrates that he is not as corrupt as he later becomes. However Lady Macbeth plays on his weaknesses...