How Does Macbeth’s Character Change from Act 2 Scene 2 to Act 5 Scenes 3 and 5?
How does Macbeth’s character change from Act 2 Scene 2 to Act 5 Scenes 3 and 5?
The tragic masterpiece “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare, starts with the evil curse of three witches. Act 1 Scene 1 introduces the audience to the witches, showing them what malevolence they are capable of, and how then plan to deceive Macbeth, in fact the scene is the crafting of the trick they plot for him. Once the witches decide when they shall meet and when the act finishes with a chorused three lines, creating mystery before exiting the stage. Making a statement, Lady Macbeth enters with the next act boldly; her manner shows her obvious confidence in the plot (to murder Duncan) she developed, perhaps mistakably. She describes the night in which the Act is set as “Which gives the stern’st good-night” she is clearly exhilarated at the reality of the royalty which she presumes is hers.
Troubled Macbeth enters the scene, panicked and alarmed from the horror of his own actions. Having just killed Duncan- who was not only king of Scotland but a good man, a guest in their home and a family relative; Macbeth is understandably feeling culpable and in deep regret when he slithers back to his wife. Captions and phases such as “I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?” show that he is clearly admitting to the crime his wife tasked him but yet still nervous. It is then when Shakespeare proceeds to use rushed and panicked sentences such as;
“Lady Macbeth: I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.
Did you not speak?
Macbeth: When?
Lady Macbeth: Now.
Macbeth: As I descended?
Lady Macbeth: Ay.”
As this quote shows, the use of short and ‘on edge’ sentences does successfully reveal the couples fraught state of mind, bringing a dimension of trepidation and suspense to the audience.
But it is Macbeth’s rambling which confirms that he is starting to suffer with a terrible scandal and this is where his signs of paranoia begin to arise. An example of this is;
The tragic masterpiece “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare, starts with the evil curse of three witches. Act 1 Scene 1 introduces the audience to the witches, showing them what malevolence they are capable of, and how then plan to deceive Macbeth, in fact the scene is the crafting of the trick they plot for him. Once the witches decide when they shall meet and when the act finishes with a chorused three lines, creating mystery before exiting the stage. Making a statement, Lady Macbeth enters with the next act boldly; her manner shows her obvious confidence in the plot (to murder Duncan) she developed, perhaps mistakably. She describes the night in which the Act is set as “Which gives the stern’st good-night” she is clearly exhilarated at the reality of the royalty which she presumes is hers.
Troubled Macbeth enters the scene, panicked and alarmed from the horror of his own actions. Having just killed Duncan- who was not only king of Scotland but a good man, a guest in their home and a family relative; Macbeth is understandably feeling culpable and in deep regret when he slithers back to his wife. Captions and phases such as “I have done the deed. Didst thou not hear a noise?” show that he is clearly admitting to the crime his wife tasked him but yet still nervous. It is then when Shakespeare proceeds to use rushed and panicked sentences such as;
“Lady Macbeth: I heard the owl scream and the crickets cry.
Did you not speak?
Macbeth: When?
Lady Macbeth: Now.
Macbeth: As I descended?
Lady Macbeth: Ay.”
As this quote shows, the use of short and ‘on edge’ sentences does successfully reveal the couples fraught state of mind, bringing a dimension of trepidation and suspense to the audience.
But it is Macbeth’s rambling which confirms that he is starting to suffer with a terrible scandal and this is where his signs of paranoia begin to arise. An example of this is;