William Shakespeare's Macbeth

William Shakespeare's Macbeth

At the beginning of the play, before Macbeth is introduced, the

impression given is that he is a very good man indeed. It is as if he

was a local hero and could do no wrong. The sergeant refers to him as

'brave Macbeth' and Duncan says "O' valiant cousin!" Worthy

gentleman!"

Duncan, the king, rewards Macbeth with the title, thane of Cawder, and

the previous, treacherous thane having been sentenced to death. People

speak of Macbeth's brilliance in comparison with the treachery that he

was to replace.

Scene 2 is very different and contrasting to Scene 1. The witches in

the scene would have immediately triggered an atmosphere of interest

and fright in the crowd of Shakespeare time because the people would

have believed it. During the period in which this play was actually

performed the people watching would have believed the superstitions.

The witches would have meant something to the crowd instead of, how a

modern day audience would precept them, as just some early characters.

This atmosphere is made when the witches say "Fair is foul, and foul

is fair," this alerts the audience to the fact that all is not what it

seems, and Macbeth's apparently kindness and valour may be hiding

something more sinister about him. The reaction Macbeth gives to this

is not what they would expect from a hero. The reaction is that of

fright and interest, maybe he is disturbed by what the witches say,

but he doesn't ignore it and shrug it off like a hero. The statements

made of Macbeth's future stick to him, gradually whittling away his

strong character.

In scene 3 when he first meets the witches he is told of his ...

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...ain are all coming out at once in a frantic rage. He is shouting

weird things at people for no reason. He sees only the worst in

everything's and believes it should be eliminated for its faults.

Evil controls him as he walks around thrusting his sword into all that

lives; anything with a pulse in his way was slaked with no remorse. He

doesn't show a care in the world for anyone. Everyone becomes a victim

of this once hero who has descended into evil. I do not feel sorry for

him because he becomes something that is totally wrong and evil.

Nothing could be respected of him. However if it wasn't for Lady

Macbeth getting him to kill Duncan I thick that he wouldn't have

fallen into the evil and he would have go to the throne a different

way. At the end, however, he has no respect for his country or the

people; not a king.