How Is Macbeth Presented in Act One of 'Macbeth'?

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How is Macbeth presented in Act one of ‘Macbeth’? Macbeth is a character usually associated with bravery. Often referred to as ‘noble’, one may feel that he is an easy character to evaluate. However, once one analyses the first act of Macbeth, they are able to discover how we view his qualities alter through the 7 scenes as we read of his acts of cruel murder, utter egocentricity and dim superstition. We are shown this not only through Macbeth’s speech but also of from what people speak of him to one another. The first thing we discover about Macbeth in the entire play: he is a brutal murderer. ‘His brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution.’ This is alarming as within the first few pages of being introduced to his character we learn he has gone upon a ‘bloody’ killing spree. His ambition is stronger than his principles, a thing we see many times throughout this act. Foremost we read his ambition was to kill ‘the slave’. And; when he makes his way to the enemy, he literally carves himself as path by killing everyone who stood in his way. We instantly can see that it did not concern him having to murder all of these people, and he was just focused on the prize that awaited him at the end – to kill his enemy. Further on in the act, we also see that his aspiration once again powers over his sense of principles when he decides to lets the king be murdered for his own good and to have power, ‘ I am settled’, he had made up his decision to kill the king. In the second scene, whilst Captain is telling everyone of Macbeth’s most recent challenge, he states that ‘all’s too weak – for brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name).’ Repeatedly, we are able to see that he is a highly spoken of by people who know him, and respected by everyone. ‘All’s too weak’ is implying that Macbeth is stronger than everyone, which may suggest that everyone may perhaps love him
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