Changes in Character in Shakespeare´s Macbeth

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Macbeth a play written by William Shakespeare in the 17th century shows the unexpected happens when it is least expected. In the beginning of Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is stronger and more ruthless then her husband Macbeth because her only interested in gaining power. She plans and executes a death with little remorse. Macbeth is soft, kind, loyal and initially has a conscience. Over time, Macbeth's character takes a turn for the worse. He goes from the scared man that he first was into an evil man. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth become the people that the reader least expects them to be. In the beginning of the play Lady Macbeth is much more ruthless but throughout the play this changes and Macbeth becomes even more ruthless then Lady Macbeth. When the play begins after Macbeth’s encounter with the three witches and hearing their prediction, “thou shalt be king hereafter!”(Iiii), he has to make a choice to wait for the title to come to him or take some action to become king sooner. When the problem first arose Macbeth is in a state of shock. He does not know how to accept what he has heard. However, when he shares the problem with Lady Macbeth immediately begins plotting to get her husband the throne. Nervous and confused he questions his ability to be king. Macbeth wonders why me he say "why do I yield to do that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my heart knock at my ribs "(Iiii). Macbeth does not know how to take over and what to do. He feels why he is getting crowned king without his impact. Confused he says “If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me, without my stir"(Iiii). First Lady Macbeth questions her husband’s ability to rule she thinks about it "yet do I fear thy nature: it is too ... ... middle of paper ... ...ife was dying and upon hearing about her death Macbeth remains very calm, “She should have died hereafter;”(Vv) Macbeth realized that the end was near when the messenger reported that the English Army was in Birnam, “I look’d toward Birnam, and anon, methought, The wood began to move.” (Vv) Macbeth became angry and then fearful of hearing this news. In the beginning Lady Macbeth and Macbeth were a team she has to convince him to kill Duncan but as the play goes on Macbeth becomes a tyrant and Lady Macbeth becomes so remorseful she goes mad. At the end of the play Lady Macbeth dies of mental illness out of guilt for plotting and killing Duncan. Macbeth gets his head cut off in battle by Macduff. Macduff brings the head to the castle and claims that Malcolm is the new King of Scotland. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth were both consumed by power only at different times.

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