Macbeth

Macbeth

1. Guilt ridden

   • After killing King Duncan, Macbeth feels great remorse and guilt for the act he has just committed. He wishes he had not killed Duncan which is shown in act 2 scene 2. He describes his hands as a 'sorry sight', for they are drenched in the kings blood. He starts going a little bit crazy and goes on to think that someone knows about what he has done and starts hearing voices telling him how he will sleep no more because of his heinous act.
     • Quote 1: " This is a sorry sight" Quote 2: Methought I heard a voice cry, “Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep”—the innocent sleep" {2.2.43-44}
   • After Macbeth has the murderers kill Banquo, Macbeth starts having hallucinations and sees Banquo's ghost. When Banquo's ghost appears, he starts talking as though him and Banquo are the only ones in the room. He could be hallucinating because he feels guilty about what he has done. He probably realized what he has brought down upon him and that his evil deeds will have consequences. Banquo was also Macbeth's best friend and he let power get the best of him and ruin that friendship they had. He also says he would rather see the ghost of a dangerous animal than the ghost of Banquo.
     • Quote 2: " What man dare, I dare. Approach though like the rugged Russian bear, the armed rhinoceros, or the Hyrcan tiger, take any shape but that, and my firm nerves shall never tremble." {3.4.118-122}
   • Macbeth brought the Daggers back with him after murdering King Duncan, and Lady Macbeth immediately slapped him. His bloody hands which he no longer recognizes as his own are symbols of his guilt and murder. Macbeth also refused to go back and place the daggers because he couldn't bear the thought of seeing what he did again.
     • Quote 3: " I'll go no more. I am afraid to think what I have done. Look on it again I dare not." {2.2.60-62}

2. Bravery

   • In the first part of the play, Macbeth is praised for his bravery as he defeated the Thane of Cawdor in battle.
     • Quote 1: " Brave Macbeth, well he deserves that name" {1.2.18}
   • As Macbeth Killed the Thane of Cawdor, he should bravery by actually killing him. He didn't even get to say goodbye because all he wanted to do was get it over and done with
     • Quote 2: Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution, like Valour's minion carved out his passage, till he faced the slave, which never shook hands, nor bade farewell to him. {1.2.19-23}

3. Ambitious

   • His evil conscience made him start. When he was informed by the witches that Duncan made him Thane of Cawdor, he then gave away the temptation suggested by the words of the witches and he then allows his ambitious thoughts to take full control of him.
     • Quote 1: " 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 use of nature?" {1.3.146-149}
   • Once the witches have spoken to Macbeth, his first thought is to murder Duncan. The fact that his first thought is about killing the king, is almost as thought, the witches have awoken a murderous ambition that has been there for a long time.
     • Quote 2: " My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, shakes so my single state of man" {1.3. 151-152}
   • When Macbeth is honest with himself, he admits that there is no good in killing Duncan because he is good at being king. Macbeth just wants power for himself.
     • Quote 3: " I have no spur, to prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o'releaps itself and falls on the other" {1.7.25-28}

4. Heartless

   • When Macbeth kills Macduff's family that have done nothing towards him, Macbeth shows himself as being a tryant ruling by fear. Because of his monstrous acts, he has almost forgotten what it feels like to fear something because he's become so cold.
     • Quote 1: "I have has almost forgot the taste of fears" {5.5.10}
   • As he talks to the messenger, he threatens to hang him from a tree if he speaks lies. This is seen as a heartless act because even if the messenger says something he shouldn't threatening him like that isn't something you'd expect from the higher power.
     • Quote 2: "If thou speaks'st false upon the next tree though shall hang alive" {5.5.43-44}
   • As Macbeth is talking to Lennox, he says that he will go to Macduff's castle, kill his wife, and children and anyone else that stands in line for Macduff's inheritance.
     • Quote 3: " Give to th'edge o'th'swords, his wife,his babes, and all unfortunate souls" { 4.1.167-168}