“Macbeth” a tragedy written by William Shakespeare, portrays, how the main character Macbeth, transforms from a war hero, to a murdering villain. Macbeth starts out as the thane of Glamis and steadily rises to become King of Scotland. The higher Macbeth rose on his road of power the more corrupt and evil he became. The character change of Macbeth ignites the whole theme of the play. Macbeth is shown as a vigorous war hero in the opening scene.
“And fortune, on his damned quarrel smiling showed like a rebel’s whore. But all’s too weak for brave Macbeth. ” (1. 2 16. 18) The captain expressing the braveness of great Macbeth in Scotland’s battle with the invading Norway hordes.
It didn’t take long for the people of Scotland to realize what a leader Macbeth was. Another example of Macbeth’s patriotism is in the third scene. “Go pronounce his present death and with it’s former title greet macbeth” (1. 3 74-75) Macbeth was seen as such a hero and leader by King Duncan that he now moved up to Thane of Cawdor. The king put his trust into Macbeth.
The final example of macbeth’s loyalty to Scotland and King Duncan is when macbeth quoted”The service and the loyalty I owe, in doing it pays itself” (1. 4 25-26) After macbeth gets crowned Thane of Cawdor he expresses his gratitude and dedication to the king and Scotland. Macbeth was thought to be the best man for the job. The character of Macbeth starts to creep from loyal and trustworthy to paranoid and conniving. The higher Macbeth rose the more he wanted “We will proceed no further in this business he hath honored of late” (1.
7 34-35) Macbeth starts to run the idea of murdering King Duncan through his head. Macbeth decides that he wont murder the king. Lady Macbeth’s determination to become queen influences Macbeth’s decision. “If it were done when tis done, then twere it be done quickly” (1. 7 1-2) Macbeth is toying with the notion to murder King Duncan.
Macbeth would not be satisfied until he ruled all Scotland! An idea turned into a priority, Macbeth wasn’t thinking of killing the king he was sure of it. “Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand. “(2. 1 42-43) Macbeth’s vision turned out to be a false creation of the mind that led macbeth to believe that fate was telling him to kill King Duncan. Near the end of the play Macbeths true evilness comes out.
Macbeth paranoia leads him to believe that everyone is out to get him. ” So is he mine, and in such bloody distance that every minute of his thrusts against my hear’st life” (3. 1 128-130) Macbeth grows suspicious of Banquo. The witch’s predictions of Banquo’s kids becoming king engulfed all thoughts in Macbeth’s head.
“I’ll make assurance double sure. ” (4. 1 93) Macbeth is making sure Banquo and his son fleance are murdered. Macbeth felt the it was best to hire murders to handle fleance and Banquo. Macbeth is overcome with evil.
“From this moment the very firstling of my heart shall be the firstling of my mind” (4. 1 165-168) Macbeth’s mind no longer matters. Macbeth’s heart makes all the decisions. This shows true evilness. The character of Macbeth transforms from a war hero to a murdering villain. The theme of this play revolves around character change.
Greed, power, and gullibility led Macbeth to tragedy, and death. The changing character of Mabeth created a suspenseful atmosphere, which kept the reader on the edge.
