Macbeth - Hero to butcher
Uploaded by soul_reaver100 on Apr 28, 2001
The play ‘Macbeth’ is a very tragic one. It is about the downfall of a hero who is led by temptation to mass murder and cruelty. Shakespeare uses various styles and techniques to display very evidently how Macbeth’s character develops as the story progresses, and thus we see how Macbeth turns from good to evil, from a “valiant cousin” and “worthy gentleman” to a “bloody butcher.”
The first we hear of Macbeth is with praises to his name. He is called ‘brave Macbeth’, ‘valiant cousin’ and ‘worthy gentleman,’ fighting a war for God, king and county. We hear of further acts of bravery in the same episode as Macbeth and Banquo repelled another assault ‘as sparrows eagles’ and ‘the hare the lion.’ These two phrases are significant because they represent bravery and to remind us of the patterned order of the universe, nature and society in which every creature has it’s appointed place. For all his gallantry, Macbeth is rewarded with the title ‘thane of Cawdor’ and well he deserves this decoration.
The scene is very important as we get to see opinions of Macbeth from the other characters, and all the good words leave a deep impression of respect and admiration from the reader. It can be noted that already Shakespeare has an effect on the reader, and this is an important aspect in the tragedy.
In the next scene we see the three witches upon a heath. They speak of their experiences, in particular how one wreaked havoc and devastation upon a boat in vengeance. This leaves the audience feeling quite horrified and gives one a sense of wariness as doom seems imminent. Now Macbeth and Banquo enter, and quite appropriately the former quotes ‘so foul and fair a day I have not seen’, although he has just won the battle he can sense a surrounding evil. They see the witches and are greeted by them: ‘All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!’ ‘All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!’ Naturally Macbeth is startled by these prophecies, as he has no knowledge that he is going to be made Thane of Cawdor, much less that he will be king. Banquo sees this and questions it ‘ why do you start and seem to fear things that do sound so fair’ he gets no answer but perhaps the prophecy scares Macbeth because deep down he does desire to become...