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Task 5. Essay: To what extent has your response to Macbeth been shaped by Shakespeare’s characterization of Macbeth.

My response to Macbeth has been greatly shaped by Shakespeare’s characterization of the protagonist Macbeth. Macbeth is a character that transforms over the play, his transformation of character is a key element of the story. Macbeth first appears in the play as a military hero though as the plot thickens he becomes a cruel tyrant, wracked with guilt and not able to repent for his sins.

In the beginning of the play we see Macbeth as a strong and noble military hero. He appears to be a patriotic and brave soldier. This is apparent in Act 1 Scene 2, when the captain comes so report the death of the rebel Macdonald to King Duncan. The captain say’s to Duncan “But all’s to weak for brave Macbeth- well he deserves that name”, this shows that although Macdonald had strong forces Macbeth’s bravery carried him on to kill the treacherous Macdonald . The captain makes a second reference to Macbeths bravery in his speech to Duncan. Where he says “Like valour’s minion carved out his passage”, Valour’s minion translate as bravery’s favourite signifying that Macbeth was led to kill Macdonald by his bravery, signifying that his bravery overtook him. King Duncan calls Macbeth ‘a valiant cousin and a worthy gentleman’, ‘noble Macbeth’ and ‘worthiest cousin’. All of this shows that Duncan thinks that Macbeth is praiseworthy, intrepid and a very dignified character. At the end of Act
1 Scene 2 Duncan sends Ross (another thane), spread the word “no more that thane of Cawdor shall deceive our bosom interest. Go pronounce his death and with his former title greet Macbeth”. From this we learn that Duncan thinks that Macbeth is worthy of being a thane. So immediately we are lead to believe that Macbeth is a good character not a tyrant in anyway, he appears to the naïve audience as being a patriotic and brave soldier. Though little do...