Macbeth characterization
Shakespeare Essay
The play Macbeth written by Shakespeare goes under the genre tragedy. The term ‘tragedy’ has come to be used to refer to any serious dramatic representation in which the main character goes through a series of misfortunes that eventually lead to his downfall.
The development of the protagonist can be explained or referred to five stages that Aristotle created.
The first stage is exposition where the character is introduced to the audience with the information that is necessary to follow what is happening in the beginning of the play. We are introduced to Macbeth in act 1 where he is described as a noble and respected soldier. When Rosse and Angus arrive to give Macbeth the good news about his ‘promotion’ from Thane of Glamis to Thane of Cawdor, Rosse says: “The king hath happily received, Macbeth, the news of thy success;”. He refers to Macbeth’s recently won battle. The fact that the audience’s first impression of Macbeth is that he is honourable and respected creates a feeling of sympathy and confidence and we now see him as trustworthy.
The next stage is the development; it is when the main character commits an act that will lead to his downfall. In Macbeth, the murder of Duncan is the point of no return and also the beginning of his downfall. After the three witches’ prophesy about him becoming king Macbeth becomes arrogant and is completely blinded by the striving towards power. His wife Lady Macbeth persuades him into killing the Duncan against his will, which shows how vulnerable and weak-willed Macbeth really is.
The third stage is the climax. The climax is the point at which the main character realizes that he made a terrible mistake. Macbeth’s regret finds expression in illusions that appear to him. First he sees a bloody knife when he is about to kill Duncan and later in the play he sees the ghost of Banquo whose death Macbeth is responsible for. As audience, we feel pity for Macbeth because we know how he feels about
The play Macbeth written by Shakespeare goes under the genre tragedy. The term ‘tragedy’ has come to be used to refer to any serious dramatic representation in which the main character goes through a series of misfortunes that eventually lead to his downfall.
The development of the protagonist can be explained or referred to five stages that Aristotle created.
The first stage is exposition where the character is introduced to the audience with the information that is necessary to follow what is happening in the beginning of the play. We are introduced to Macbeth in act 1 where he is described as a noble and respected soldier. When Rosse and Angus arrive to give Macbeth the good news about his ‘promotion’ from Thane of Glamis to Thane of Cawdor, Rosse says: “The king hath happily received, Macbeth, the news of thy success;”. He refers to Macbeth’s recently won battle. The fact that the audience’s first impression of Macbeth is that he is honourable and respected creates a feeling of sympathy and confidence and we now see him as trustworthy.
The next stage is the development; it is when the main character commits an act that will lead to his downfall. In Macbeth, the murder of Duncan is the point of no return and also the beginning of his downfall. After the three witches’ prophesy about him becoming king Macbeth becomes arrogant and is completely blinded by the striving towards power. His wife Lady Macbeth persuades him into killing the Duncan against his will, which shows how vulnerable and weak-willed Macbeth really is.
The third stage is the climax. The climax is the point at which the main character realizes that he made a terrible mistake. Macbeth’s regret finds expression in illusions that appear to him. First he sees a bloody knife when he is about to kill Duncan and later in the play he sees the ghost of Banquo whose death Macbeth is responsible for. As audience, we feel pity for Macbeth because we know how he feels about