Sarah Harding

"Macbeth changes during the course of the play, what evidence is there for this and what causes it?"

Macbeth is just one of the plays, written by William Shakespeare, around the period of 1605. The story takes place in Scotland, and is the story of a man who plotted to other throw the rightful King, Duncan. During this time period, society believed in certain cultures and superstitions.

In the period of Macbeth, the stability of the universe was maintained by balancing opposition with each other, the ‘Jacobean Order’ was present. The ‘Jacobeans’ believed society was in a certain order, in a hierarchy. At the top of this hierarchy was God. God ruled all men and nature. Next came the king. He was God’s messenger. God decided who had a divine right, (a right to rule), and therefore the king should not be replaced illegitimately. If this happens i.e. the murder of a king, the balance would be upset. God would be upset at the murderer and as a result would upset nature.

Sleep is nature’s way of curing tiredness. Macbeth kills King Duncan in the plot and this upsets God, which in turn upsets nature. This then results with Macbeth feeling that he can no longer sleep, 

"Still it cried ‘Sleep no more!’ to all the house,

Glamis hath murdered sleep and therefore Cawdor

Shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more."

Act Two, Scene Two, Lines 41-43 

As well as the Jacobean order being an important belief in society, there was also the matter of witchcraft. Throughout England and Scotland society believed accounts described and themselves became superstitious of witchcraft.

Witches were urged to seek vengeance on their enemies just before the meetings ended with a round dance. People accused of witchcraft were poor, old, ugly women and their victims were easily led into their superstitious goings on.

The witches had power to raise storms and fog, hold back day or bring on night. They could strike men or women with sterility, kill animals, cause enemies to waste away and bring fearful nightmares.

In the play, some of the characters, especially Banquo, Macbeth’s best friend, are not really sure whether the witches power and their ability to predict the future is real. Their powers are ambiguous, unknown, as there wasn’t any actual proof or evidence to say the witches’ powers were possible.

Both the Jacobean order and witchcraft are just two themes that arise in Macbeth. The main focus of the play, is the theme of ‘tragedy’.

The play, Macbeth, is a tragedy due to the actions of the main protagonist, Macbeth. Macbeth was a tragic hero, as he was of a high, or noble, birth as he was the Thane of Glamis. Macbeth’s place in society was never enough for him, he always wanted more, slightly greedy really. Another aspect of a tragic hero is a flaw. In Macbeth, his flaw is his ambition.

Due to this flaw, many innocent people suffer due to Macbeth’s actions, usually causing death. Circumstance, the witches and Lady Macbeth, plays on this flaw, and he eventually is killed, along with many others.

Another aspect of tragedy is that half way through the play, Macbeth’s actions cause a downfall in his character. Macbeth loses respect from others and becomes extremely desperate, to hang onto his leadership power.

Pity is felt for Macbeth as he recognises towards the end of the play that he was wrong, he regrets what he has done, and he tries to redeem himself.

At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a successful general, who is described as noble and loyal. Macbeth is loyal towards his king, as he fights for Scotland and King Duncan, in a battle against Norway. He does his job, as one of the King’s army, and fights courageously. He kills many soldiers at war, without worry or hesitation, for the sake of his king and country.

Macbeth is thought of as brave, for preparing himself in battle and resulting with victory. Macbeth had to double his efforts whilst in battle, as he was against double the number of soldiers, than there was in Scotland’s army. 

"For brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name -

Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel,

Which smoked with bloody execution,"

Act One, Scene Two, Lines 16-

18 

He had a particular belief in witchcraft, just like many other people at the time in Scotland. On the way back from battle, Macbeth and his friend Banquo, ran into three witches. During this encounter with the witches, they were both informed of how their futures might be. The witches stated three ‘predictions’ to them. Their predictions are, Macbeth will become ‘Thane of Cawdor’, Macbeth will become ‘king’, and also Banquo’s sons will also become ‘kings’. There was no mention of Banquo. These predictions were very important to Macbeth, also Banquo did not believe. Banquo saw the witches as being evil and therefore did not believe what they said. Macbeth started to show his ambitious and curious side of his character,  

"Of noble having, and of royal hope,

That he seems rapt withal."

Act One, Scene Three, Lines 56-57 

Macbeth believes the witches. He believes as he has a curious and superstitious mind, and believe in witchcraft. He believes so much, that he begins to worry about the prediction, that Banquo’s children will become kings. 

"Do you not hope your children shall be kings, When those that gave the Thane of Cawdor to me Promised no less to them?"

Act One, Scene One , Lines 117-119 

He feels that this is some kind of threat to his future.

Soon after, the first prediction, (Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor), it becomes reality. King Duncan respects Macbeth for his performance at battle and therefore appoints him, the next Thane of Cawdor. This was one example of irony in the play.

 "My worthy Cawdor."

Act One, Scene Four, Line 48 

By this time Macbeth feels that the witches’ predictions are correct, but he feels some disappointment. He feels this way because he expected to become king straight away. His expectations were destroyed. The king’s son, Malcolm, was named heir to the throne. Malcolm had started to get in the way of Macbeth’s ambition to become king. 

"The Prince of Cumberland, that is a step,

On which I must fall down or else o’er leap,"

Act One, Scene Four, Lines 49-50 

Even though Macbeth is disappointed, he still has faith in the witches, and hopes the second prediction, that he will become king, will also become reality soon.

A final way of describing Macbeth’s character in the beginning is that he was caring and shared his thoughts and news with his wife, Lady Macbeth. He wrote a letter to her, informing her of his recent news and what has been predicted for his future. In his letter Macbeth showed that he was optimistic towards his future and obviously wanted to share it with his wife. He was excited, as he had been told that he would become king. 

"This have I thought good to deliver thee,

my dearest partner of greatness,

that thou mightest..........."

Act One, Scene Five, Line 9-11

Macbeth’s character soon changes dramatically. The change that takes place, is the beginning of a different Macbeth, an evil Macbeth. The change is one for the worst.

Macbeth’s character changes with Lady Macbeth’s cunning, dominant, and persuasive ambitions. As soon as Lady Macbeth receives the letter from Macbeth, her ambition for both of them arises and she starts to plan the death of King Duncan,

"That which cries thus thou must do, if thou have it,"

Act One, Scene Five, Line 21 

When Macbeth hears of her plans he is reluctant and he dismisses any such thing, because Macbeth believes in the Jacobean Order, and doesn’t want to hurt the king, which will hurt God, and nature will be destroyed from him. He will be haunted in his sleep. 

"We will speak further."

Act One, Scene Five, Line 69 

Even though Macbeth does not agree with killing the king, Lady Macbeth cunningly used her persuasive ways to convince Macbeth, that the only way he will achieve his ambition, he will have to begin being evil and stronger than he usually is. This is when Macbeth’s character changes due to the brainwashing of Lady Macbeth.

Although he does agree to go ahead with the killing of Duncan, the first steps of the killing were hesitant. Macbeth began to see images before him, 

"Is this a dagger I see before me..."

Act Two, Scene One, Line 33 

He proceeds with the act of evil and kills the king. After the murder Macbeth feels regret towards what he has done and his character suddenly gets very weak and nervous. At this point Lady Macbeth is a lot stronger than Macbeth,

"These deeds must not be thought

After these ways; so, it will make us mad."

Act Two, Scene Two, Lines 34-35 

Macbeth feels regret, he is scared of what he has done, he is desperate, but sometimes his ambition, or his wife, takes control again. He dismisses his regret and what he has done and that it is evil, but the temptation is too strong and his ambition gets the better of him. Macbeth is later crowned King, and his wishes have been fulfilled.

Although soon his life is going to spiral downwards as his ‘want for more all the time’ will get the better of him, and the relationship between the witches, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth will take the turn for the worst.

Macbeth doesn’t stop here, oh no, he remembers that the witches predicted the Banquo’s sons will become kings. Macbeth fears Banquo as he is the one with children and Macbeth feels that his future as king will be short-lived. Macbeth decides that he is deliberately going to prevent any of Banquo’s sons becoming king.

Macbeth ‘swaps’ roles in character with his wife, as he becomes the dominant one and begins to plan the next stages in his life.

Murderers are hired, so that Banquo and his sons can be killed. He cannot kill himself because he does not have the courage to kill his best friend.

"And bid my will avouch, yet I must not,

For certain friends that are both his and mine,"

Act Three, Scene One, Lines

120-121 

His character begins to be contriving, by asking where Banquo will be and when, so he can be killed, 

"Is’t far you ride?"

Act Three, Scene One, Line 24

Banquo is killed and so are his children and Macbeth begins to be haunted by nightmares. The effect of nature causes him to have tormenting dreams and not be able to sleep due to the feeling of guilt,

 "Hence, horrible shadow!

Unreal mockery, hence!"

Act Three, Scene Four, Lines 106-107 

Macbeth doesn’t trust anyone, not even his wife. He is always in a hurry to proceed with his ambition and is impatient. 

"Call’em, let me see’em."

Act Four, Scene One, Line 67 

Macbeth’s flaw in his character causes him to experience a downfall. He begins to lose respect from others and finds it hard to stay in control of the country. The loss of being able to control the country and others is shown in Act Four in the banquet scene. Macbeth hallucinates and sees the ghost of the late Banquo. He fears the ghost and shows his fear and insecurity by losing control of himself. As a result of this he later goes to visit the witches again.

Macbeth thinks that the supernatural powers of the witches will help him, but instead they add to his downfall. By nature witches are evil.

Macbeth loses respect as Macduff realises that Macbeth could have killed King Duncan. Macbeth then plans to kill Macduff. Macduff flees to England, which is unfortunate for him and his family.

Macbeth takes control, without guilt or hesitation, and commands that everyone at Macduff’s castle must be murdered. Unlike the previous murders, Macbeth carried out, these last murders served no purpose. This was needless. It was an act of brutality on Macbeth’s side and shows that Macbeth was very desperate and was really in decline of the throne. The predictions made by the witches said that Banquo’s sons were going to become kings. This worried Macbeth and this is what caused him to kill the people he did. 

Macbeth’s drastic actions and desperation to stay in control, reflect on Lady Macbeth. She collapses mentally, due to guilt, and eventually commits suicide.

Macbeth had converted into a ‘mad animal’. His language becomes more powerful and using stronger words to try and manifest his manhood and power, 

"Throw physic to the dogs, I’ll none of it."

Act Five, Scene Three, Line 47

His language is more like Lady Macbeth’s, Macbeth maybe desperate, but on the outside he is a powerful, mad kind of ‘butcher’, killing anyone and everyone. Macbeth used more dramatic words, that showed his aggression and brutality. He used words, and the way he spoke to convince everyone that he was a powerful man, whereas inside he was insecure and alone. His language was not like this at the start though. He used to be brave and loyal and show this through the way he spoke. He used to dismiss evil thoughts and speak optimistically. This soon changed when the witches’ evil thoughts and words brainwashed Macbeth, causing him to do all the evil things he did.

Macbeth didn’t change into his evil character alone. He was influenced by three important factors. These influences are ‘The Witches’, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s ambition.

Macbeth was a great believer in witchcraft and the witches words really affected him. Macbeth was lured in, trapped by them, they told him, what he needed to hear. Macbeth trusted the witches’ predictions to plan a successful future, but instead they played on Macbeth’s weaknesses. This caused his character to become evil and let his ambition totally take over and control his actions. For Macbeth to be a good king he would have had to have been caring, loyal to his country, fair and respectable. Unfortunately, Macbeth was the total opposite. He was brutal At the start, the witches implied, that if you want success and a good life, you have to sacrifice for some evil to block the way,

"Fair is foul, and foul is fair;

Hover through the fog and filthy air."

Act One, Scene One, Line 11-12 

In addition to Macbeth’s flaw his wife must be dominant towards Macbeth and used her persuasive tactics, to force Macbeth to commit crimes to achieve his ambitions. Was it really Macbeth’s ambitions she was concerned about or was it really her ambition she wanted to fulfil?

The third influence was Macbeth’s ambition. At first Macbeth does not really base his future and life around his ambition, but Lady Macbeth soon changes this. The result is disaster and Macbeth loses everything, including his wife and his best friend. Being King doesn’t fulfil his ambitions and this cause the further murders. He carries out these murders to try and prove himself. He wanted to prove that he had the power to rule and control absolutely everyone.

Throughout the course of the play, Macbeth’s character changes from being a noble, loyal and caring Macbeth, to a viscous, horrible, nasty, murdering Macbeth. At the beginning of the play he was respected and looked up to, and at the end of the play he is hated by everyone.

"Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold;

Thou hast no speculation in those eyes."

Act Three, Scene Four, Line 95-96

He is a perfect example of how evil can overcome a person and force their ambition to get whatever they need, however they like. Macbeth killed many people without any apparent reason and this was influenced by, him believing in witchcraft to help his future, his wife Lady Macbeth dominating him in a cunning but persuasive way to fulfil her ambitions too, and by Macbeth himself allowing evil to take control of his ambitions, that took control of the rest of his life. Macbeth knew that he was a good, strong person deep down, but couldn’t help himself. He was a victim of evil thoughts, e.g. the witches, and actions.

Macbeth was a tragic hero as he was the respected nobleman at first and tragically the forces of evil took over and he became an evil, nasty character. I feel sorry for him, because he knew that every action he made was wrong and he regretted it. Although he couldn’t help evil forcing his ambitions to take control over all of his life.