Macbeth's Transformation Essay

Macbeth's transformation essay:

How does the character of Macbeth transform over the first three acts of the play? To effectively answer this question you need to offer specific analysis of particular scenes and trace how Macbeth's character has moved from a loyal warrior, to a reluctant murderer to a remorseful tyrant.

Macbeth's character has shifted throughout the duration of the play due to a range of both external and internal forces. Macbeth undergoes a transformation from a heroic and loyal soldier to a treasonous and cold-blooded murderer. While the three witches and his wife have influenced his actions, it is Macbeth's flaws, which allow him to be manipulated into committing regicide. His ego, and ambition cause him to use skewed logic to ignore his conscience and proceed down the murderous pathway, which ends in his downfall. These two forces have made the character of Macbeth develop from a loyal warrior, to a reluctant murderer to a remorseful tyrant.

As the play opens Macbeth is shown as a loyal thane to King Duncan. He comes into the first scene with Banquo after being in a battle and fighting for King Duncan proving his devotion to the King. "You shall be king." "And Thane of Cawdor too: went it not so?" This rhetorical questioning about Macbeth questioning the witch's prophecy proves that Macbeth has no intentions to be king, or even Thane of Cawdor, showing his loyalty to the King. Macbeth has the idea and temptation of being the King after the witches tell him their prophecy. "If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, without my stir" This aside shows us that Macbeth is starting to me tempted by the thought of being king but he is not willing to act on it and id still quite loyal to his King by not acting upon it, rather leaving it up to fate. As Macbeth's wife hears of the vision from the witches she influences Macbeth to Murder King Duncan so he can become king. "Its too full o'th milk of human kindness" is a metaphor that lady Macbeth uses to manipulate the thoughts of Macbeth. "Is this a dagger which I see before me" Macbeth's soliloquy states that Macbeth is seeing a bloody dagger to kill King Duncan with but as he is hallucinating he is seeing evil images in which shows he is unwilling towards the murder.

As Macbeth has come back from the killing of King Duncan he cannot use religious terms, as he feels guilty and immoral. "But wherefore could not I pronounce "Amen"? I had most need of blessing, and "Amen" Stuck in my throat." This biblical reference shows Macbeth has an inability to use religious words, as the murder was sinful and unethical. This incapability to use religious terms shows Macbeth knows what he did was wrong and he is reluctant towards the murder.

Macbeth's character