hly Effective TeensIn reading William Shakespeare’s play, MacBeth, readers can plainly see that character development is crucial to developing the plot, as well as the overall appeal of the literature. One can see the growth in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth throughout the story. The changes in the characters’ personas is very much visible to the reader throughout the storyline.
In analyzing MacBeth, one can use Sean Covey’s insightful book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, to show the seven characteristics, as Covey describes them, show the changes in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. To teach one’s self a lesson in changes of character, one should read up on the character Macbeth. This man made a turn from a, more or less, flat character in the beginning of the story to a much rounder character with many complex parts of a personality by the time the story was over. But the common denominator within his character in all parts of the story was that, despite his stature as a “good guy” or a “bad guy”, Macbeth exhibited absolutely no good qualities as shown in Seven Habits.
When the witches foretold of his destiny, Macbeth did not Begin with the End in Mind. Hewas not proactive in helping his destiny come to pass, having his wife actually scheme to assassinate King Duncan. He did not follow the habit: “Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood”. He never tried to understand anything. He just followed what his wife told him to do.
When he thought that there was a threat to his position he would do anything, included cold-blooded murder, to alleviate the strain in his deranged mind. Even those close to him such as Banquo and others were killed just because of MacBeth’s reactive nature. This is definitely a sign of a man with a win-lose paradigm. It was his way or the highway.
MacBeth also had bad habits, such as being a procrastinator, waiting for Lady MacBeth to come up with a plan before he thought about the consequences. On the other hand, Lady MacBeth exhibited some positive habits during the story. When she found out of MacBeth’s destiny to become Thane of Glamis, Thane of Codor, and ultimately, king, she took initiative in planning out the king’s untimely murder. She cunningly planned and plotted, all for the straight-forward reason of her husband being able to assume the throne as king. She put first things first in having the king killed before having her husband begin his campaign.
She had priorities, having goals such as dominating her land and being queen. But with the good also comes the bad. She, like her husband, had a win-lose paradigm. When things started to fall apart she too fell apart, acting crazy and giving up on her endeavors, ultimately leading to Lady Macbeth commiting suicide.
In comparing the two main characters of MacBeth using The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, readers can tune in on the deeper aspects and characteristics of MacBeth and Lady Macbeth. One can see the habits they use in their lives. Whether good or bad, these characters, just like the real people of today have habits which makes up their personas. What determines whether you are a strong-willed person or not is if you are able to unlearn bad habits and learn life’s good habits.
