how macbeth changes

How Macbeth changes throughout the play
Intro
In the play Macbeth, the audience can see how the character of Macbeth changes throughout the play, both morally and physically. After the witches ignite his ruthlessness using the prophecies, we see how his evil side develops, eventually conquering his conscience. He changes from being a virtuous and noble hero to an arrogant maniac.
Alongside his character, his relationship with his wife also changes from lady Macbeth dominating his life and his decisions, to her playing a small part in his life.
Para 1
At the start of the play, “noble Macbeth” is portrayed as a “valor’s minion”. The wounded “sergeant” describes him as “brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name”.
"Valour's minion" (the servant of Courage) and "Bellona's bridegroom" (the husband of War) emphasize Macbeth's bravery.
His strength is shown by the captain's detailed report of the “broil”. He didn’t just kill Macdonald; he "unseam'd him from the nave to the chops, / and fix'd his head upon our battlements"
Even his wife knows how noble Macbeth is, as she describes him as being “full o' the milk of human kindness”
Para 2
However, in act 1 scene 3, the prophecies of the “weird sisters” have a powerful effect on Macbeth, for Banquo asks him “why do you start and seem to fear”? This shows that he is having evil thoughts already, at the prospect of gaining more power. We know he still is noble because he is skeptical of the witches’ prophecies at first, thinking that becoming king is “not within the prospect of belief”, but that changes when he finds out that he is the thane of Cawdor. He now thinks that the witches prophecies are true and “the greatest is behind”, and his mind troubles him as he “[yields] to that suggestion” of murdering Duncan. This shows he is easily tempted and persuaded by evil forces, at the thought of becoming more powerful.
Still, Macbeth is shown as having a conscience as he knows that the prophecies ”cannot be ill, cannot be good” and decides that “chance may crown [him]/ without [his] stir”.
But when Lady Macbeth finds out about the witches her ruthless nature, has a effect on Macbeth. She tells him to “look like th' innocent flower, but be the serpent under ’t” and then tells him to “leave all the rest to [her].
Para 3
After Duncan arrives at Macbeth’s castle, Macbeth ponders about the murder. Shakespeare shows that he is thoughtful and poetic in his soliloquy, when he expresses his feelings for the “horrible deed”. This shows he is wise enough to think through things before doing them. He eventually decides that he ”will proceed no further in this business”, however, lady Macbeth manages to win him over by questioning his manhood: "When you durst do it, then you were a man" she said. He is nearly convinced and asks her what will happen if they fail, she immediately replies that they shall not fail. She then describes her plan: when Duncan is asleep, she will make his guards drunk, and Macbeth will do the “horrid deed”. She will then frame the “spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt” of the murder. Macbeth is left amazed by her manliness and tells her that her “undaunted mettle should compose / Nothing but males” This means that lady Macbeth is a important part of his life and she influences his decisions greatly, this is because he respects her and they both have a mutual thirst for power. The fact that, a moment ago Macbeth was talking about the King’s kindness, and now he is ready to kill him, shows how indecisive and gullible he is.
Para 4
Once the murder is done, Macbeth is reduced to a guilty wreck, and cant bear to “look on ’t again”. Shakespeare creates a sense of urgency in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth by the short and quick dialogue and fragmented lines. Shakespeare shows us that Macbeth has two big worries. One of them is that he thinks he has "murder'd sleep." Macbeth is troubled by the realization that he will never be at peace in the night: "Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor / Shall sleep no more, Macbeth shall sleep no more!" This shows that he is capable of feeling shame and he has inner goodness that is telling him he has done a sinful deed. Lady Macbeth, again, is the dominant one, as she is not troubled by the murder because she refused to accept his "brainsickly" thoughts. Macbeth’s second worry is that even “Neptune’s ocean” won’t wash the blood from his hands, he is worried that his hands “will rather, the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red”. Shakespeare is showing the audience that Macbeth has a conscience, because he is worried that his guilt will increase, infesting his life. Again Lady Macbeth is not wavered by the blood, in fact she thinks that “a little water clears us of this deed”. Shakespeare shows us the contrast between Lady Macbeth and Macbeth in this way, and shows that Macbeth has a “heart so white”, a sign of cowardice.
Para 5
After Macbeth is crowned, Shakespeare shows us that Macbeth’s confidence has gone up. He does this when Macbeth tells his wife to be “innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck” This indicates that Macbeth thinks of Lady Macbeth as a “chuck” and he is showing her that he is more powerful, treating her like a child. He wants her to be “innocent” to protect her; this might be because he cares about his “dearest partner”. But another portrayal is that he would rather she stays out of his business, wanting to be manlier and take charge of his decisions. This could mean that they are growing apart, becoming more distant and hiding their knowledge from one another. Macbeth believes that he has “scorched the snake, not killed it”, which means that there are still threats to his crown that must be removed. He decides to hire murderers to kill Banquo, who believes Macbeth had something to do with Duncan's murder, "Our fears in Banquo/ Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature/ Reigns that which would be feared". Shakespeare shows us the role swap of Macbeth and his wife when he talks to the murderers, as Macbeth convinces the murderers to kill Banquo by questioning their manhood and taunting them, the same way that Lady Macbeth persuaded Macbeth in act 1 scene 7. Following this murder, Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost at the banquet. He is filled with feelings of regret and, as a result of his troubled mind, sees Banquo's ghost. He cannot tell the difference between this ghost and reality, "If I stand here, I saw him" (3.4.74). He is starting to lose his mind. At this stage, he loses his self control . He is going between a state of madness and back into the real world, as we can see from this quote, "I am a man again" his state of mind is shown as unsettled ans out of control and on the verge of insanity. These frequent apparitions or hallucinations like floating dagger in Act 2, scene 1, and the voice that said Macbeth had murdered sleep, show how their deeds coming back to haunt the royal couple. Once he has calmed down