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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.