Representations Of Macbeth In Act One And Act Five And Act

The Representation of Macbeth

William Shakespeare's play Macbeth presents the account of a man and his internal ambitions to become the king. Through his endeavours as well as the influence of others around him, Macbeth faces an internal struggle, coping with the actions he is prepared to take to become King. These actions change his character immensely throughout the play. Focusing on thecharacter of Macbeth in act one as well as act five, we can observe the change from a man who is once described as noble to one with no morality.
The representation of Macbeth's character changes drastically throughout the first act of the play. It is through both internal struggles and external influences that Macbeth changes from a man of deep morality and honesty to one who is willing to killthe King for personal gain. There are many attributes given to Macbeth in the first act. The audience is first given insight into Macbeth's character when the Captain speaks to King Duncan on his behalf:
For brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name –
Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel
Which smoked with bloody execution,
Like Valour's minion carved out hispassage
Till he faced the slave –
Which ne'er shook hands or bade farewell to him,
Till he unseamed him from the nave to th'chops, (I.ii.16-22)
These lines exemplify Macbeth as a loyal subject of the King. However, they also indicate Macbeth as a man who has no remorse as he killed Macdonwald who "ne'er shook hands or bade farewell to him".
These lines foreshadow the verycharacteristics he will reveal in act five. Macbeth is further recognised by King Duncan as his "valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!"(I.ii.24), indicating to the audience that he is a man who is respected and trusted. His confidence is described through the use of animal imagery when the captain says "Yes - as sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion."(I.ii.35), these images give Macbeth's character ananimalistic nature. The intent of these images is to praise Macbeth, although it is a murderous animal he is soon to become. The audience will see Macbeth reveal these characteristics when his ambitions lead him to commit and arrange many murders throughout the play.
Macbeth is heavily influenced by external forces, particularly the supernatural. The audience first establishes a feeling for Macbeth'saspiration to become King when he and Banquo first encounter the three witches, otherwise known as the weird sisters. This scene is the first time Macbeth appears in the play. By now, the audience would have only seen Macbeth from the perspective of King Duncan and the Captain. In scene three Macbeth reveals his weakness when he is manipulated by these external influential forces. The witchesfirst greet Macbeth by saying "All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!"(I.iii.48), "All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!" (I.iii.49), "All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter!" (I.iii.50). These lines correspond to their role as Macbeths three fates; the first represents his past as the Thane of Glamis, the second represents his present as the Thane of Cawdor and thethird represents his future as the King of Scotland. The use of "All Hail" suggests a biblical reference to Judas in the New Testament:
And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. (Matthew 26.49)
This gives the impression that the witches will betray Macbeth through their deceitful predictions as Judas betrayed Jesus. Furthermore the witches say "Lesser than Macbeth, andgreater"(I.iii.), "Not so happy, yet much happier"(I.iii.), and finally "Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none. So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!"(I.iii.), these lines are an example of the many paradoxes Shakespeare uses in his play. The witches' claims appeal to Macbeth, causing him to become more engaged in seeing that these events unfold. The witches also present nouns rather than verbs....