Macbeth Character Profile

Macbeth Character Profile

1. Ambitious

   • his ambition was initially dormant but was sparked by the withces and Lady M as he wants to become king
     • 'If chance may want me king, why chance may crown me, without my stir'- A1 S3
   • 'I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent but only vaulting ambition'- Act 1 Scene 7
   • "Stars hide your fires, Let not light see my black and deep desires"- Act 1 Scene 4
   • His ambition gradually becomes uncontrollable and is his hamartia

2. Easily Influenced

   • he is emasculated a lot by Lady Macbeth
     • 'My hands are of your colour but I would shame to wear a heart so white'- A2 S2
   • Lady M's influence over him wanes after Duncan's murder yet the withces' influence remains prevalent so he is easily shaped by the supernatural
     • 'Two truths are told'- A1 S3
       • The witches have given a voice to his inner ambitions of one day becoming the king
         • After being influenced by the itches, Macbeth will forge a path of destruction for himself, ultimately leading to his demise

3. Tragic Hero

   • Someone who is highly renowned, faces the fate of good to bad and his misfortune is brought about by his hamartia
     • Initially he is well respected in this world of might and physical strength
     • The audience still feels a degree of sympathy for him as he shows courage on the battlefield towrds the end of the play
       • This helps to warn the audience that one fatal flaw can lead to complete destruction

4. Descends into a pit of evil

   • In act 5 scene 5, he shows a disinterest in the death of his wife
     • 'She should have died hereafter'
   • Even religion rejects him after he went against God by commiting regicide
     • 'Amen stuck in my throat'- A2S2
   • After murdering Duncan, he goes along a string of murders, showing that as the play progresses, murder has become more natural to Macbeth

5. Constantly faces moral dilema

   • At first he is reluctant to kill Duncan as he feels a strong sense of duty to protect his king and his country
     • ' We will proceed no further in this business: He hath honour'd me of late' from A1 S7
       • The fcat that Macbeth cannot even tell Duncan's name shows that he does not feel worthy of Duncan, which shows his remorse for the thoughts of even committing regicide.
   • In act 2 scene 1, in Macbeth's soliloquy, it is clear that Macbeth oscillates in his thoughtsand is emotioally volatile, especialy due to his hallucination of the dagger as well as the euphemisms towards the act of regicide.
   • After Duncan's murder Macbeth mercilessly kills anyone who threatens his power, showing that his moral stance is deteriorating
     • 'Thence to be wrench'd with an unlineal hand'- A3 S1
     • However, his guilt constantly perturbs him, in the form of halucinations, which as the example of Banquo's ghost.
   • Towrds the end of the play Macbeth is world-weary and cynical and no longer seems to feel guilty as he belives that life means 'nothing'- shows his cynicism and how is actions had completely changed him to a point where salvation could not be attained
   • He hallucinates Banquo's ghost in act 3 scene 4 at the banquet, showing his recurring guilt
   • After his first murder Macbeth is so guilt-ridden that he now suffers from insomnia
     • 'Macbeth does murder sleep' A2S2
       • Macbeth no longer has a clear conscience and is no longer in peace with himself

6. Machiavellian

   • He is ruthless when snatiching power
     • He wants to eliminate all threat and opposition, such as Banquo