Download Extended Text: Macbeth Essay – Actions 2 Analyse how actions OR

Extended Text: Macbeth Essay – Actions 2
Analyse how actions OR dialogue helped you understand ONE main
character/individual
Actions committed by Macbeth, the main character in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth,
helped me understand the characteristics of Macbeth under the influence of others.
The first action by Macbeth of sending a letter to Lady Macbeth showed that Macbeth
put hope in the witches’ prophecy of him becoming king, and that Macbeth knew that
he couldn’t become king without Lady Macbeth’s help. The second action of
committing regicide on King Duncan showed that Macbeth couldn’t fulfil the
witches’ prophecy without committing murder. These two actions revealed Macbeth’s
weak character, shown by the influence that the witches and Lady Macbeth had upon
Macbeth to make decisions that he knew was immorally wrong.
Macbeth’s sending of the letter to Lady Macbeth was initiated by the fulfilment of one
of the witches’ prophecies – of him becoming Thane of Cawdor. The statement of
“Glamis, and thane of Cawdor!/ The greatest is behind.” made by Macbeth showed
that Macbeth put his hope in the witches’ prophecies. Macbeth sent this letter because
he knew that he could not obtain the king’s crown by his own strength, shown by his
struggles in his thought of killing King Duncan “…why do I yield to that suggestion”.
The statement that Macbeth made in the letter “…these weird sisters saluted me, and
referred me to the coming on of time with ‘Hail, king that shalt be!’” showed that
Macbeth required Lady Macbeth’s help in becoming king. This revealed how weak
Macbeth’s character was, both in easily being influenced by the thoughts of murder
by the witches, which led Macbeth to send a letter to Lady Macbeth. The request for
help also suggested that Lady Macbeth had dominant power and influence over
Macbeth because Macbeth needed her support in providing the determination that was
needed to kill King Duncan and obtain his crown.
The murder of King Duncan resulted in the taunts that Lady Macbeth placed on
Macbeth’s mind to kill King Duncan. Lady Macbeth’s taunts included statements that
Macbeth was too moral, such as saying that he “is too full o’ th’ milk of human
kindness”. The taunts showed that Macbeth lacked courage when he initially thought
of killing King Duncan. Macbeth committed regicide on King Duncan because he
wanted to end the misery of his thoughts being easily swayed, as stated by Macbeth
“Might be the be-all and the end-all here”. Although he knew that committing murder
was wrong in Macbeth’s thought of “But in these cases/ We still have judgement
here…”, the constant taunt upon Macbeth made him ambitious for the king’s crown,
as he stated that “I have no spur/ To prick the sides of my intent, but only/ Vaulting
ambition…”. This statement by Macbeth showed that his moral thoughts were
overcome by his courage and determination to kill King Duncan and become king.
Macbeth was willing to risk the consequences from the murder of King Duncan, for
the benefits of becoming king, and more importantly, put his swaying thoughts at rest.
These two actions by Macbeth of sending a letter to Lady Macbeth and the committed
act of regicide on King Duncan revealed the weak character within Macbeth. The
need of help in Macbeth’s letter to Lady Macbeth showed that Macbeth’s power and
influence was weaker than Lady Macbeth in their relationship. Another aspect of
Macbeth’s weakness was shown by the act of regicide on King Duncan. This immoral
act showed that Macbeth was easily influenced by the witches and Lady Macbeth’s
taunts. They overpowered his moral thoughts with courage and the determination to
Extended Text: Macbeth Essay – Actions 2
murder. These acts showed that Macbeth’s murder of King Duncan could have easily
been prevented if he carried out actions based on his own beliefs and not under the
influence of others.