Macbeth, being one of my favourite characters in the play, started off a noble and valiant man, and ended up a tyrant hated by everyone around him, and ended up losing anything he ever cared about, before dying a young man.
Macbeth’s character is portrayed for the first time in Act One, Scene Two, and it is clear that he is a well liked and admired character, who is successful in the eyes of others. As an injured captain reports to King Duncan about the battle of Scotland, he refers to “brave Macbeth”, and claims that “he deserves that name”, and gives a detailed account of the battle. In reading this, I was put aback at first, yet still amazed by the violent and gruesome images that helped paint my first impression of Macbeth; a brave, patriotic, yet violent soldier who will do anything for his country; “disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, which smoked with the bloody execution, like Valour’s minion.”
However, in Act One, Scene Three as Macbeth and Banquo are heading home after the battle, they are greeted by three witches. I think Macbeth’s bravado and fierceness is still portrayed, as he is not startled by them. He is however startled by their prophecies; “Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor/All hail Macbeth! That shall be King hereafter.” He does not understand how this possible, and he questions them; “I know I am Thane of Glamis, but how of Cawdor?” The witches vanish, and Ross and Angus arrive to inform Macbeth that Duncan was so pleased with his work, that he has been awarded the title of the Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth is in shock, and questions the news; “The Thane of Cawdor lives; why do you dress me in borrowed robes?” Macbeth is obviously a great warrior to receive such an honour. In a soliloquy, Macbeth wonders if the prophecy is good or bad; after all, he will become King, but how will this become possible? “If good, why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs, against the...