The Degradation of the Character of Macbeth :: GCSE Coursework Macbeth Essays

The Degradation of the Character of Macbeth Shakespeares tragic play, Macbeth explores the decline of the central character, Macbeth from a respectable warrior to a murdering and assembly fiend. This change in character is a direct result of Macbeths unbridled ambition and greed.In act 1 scene 2 Macbeth is depict as brave, valiant and heroic and everyone admires him. King Duncan and his court receive news from the wounded Captain that the battle against the traitor and the rebel MacDonwald and his army was evenly balanced until Macbeth and Banquo in acts of outstanding courage and ferocity destroyed him and his troops, like sparrows eagles, or the hare the lion. But as this occurs , reinforcements from the King of Nor musical mode and the traitor, the Thane Of Cawdor, counterattack Macbeth and Banquo barely alls too weak for brave Macbeth well he deserves that name. However these two are not at all dismayed but as the Captain is taken away to tend to his wounds, the outcome is s till unsure. The Thane Of Ross arrives to report that, through the fighting spirit of Macbeth, Duncans army has won a great triumph The victory fell on us. Duncan declares that the most disloyal traitor the Thane Of Cawdor is to be executed which is very ironic Go pronounce his present dying and Macbeth O valiant cousin worthy gentleman is to receive his title and estates as a reward Nobel Macbeth hath won.Although we havent yet met Macbeth, whilst the battle is primitive and bloody(a) the Captains and Rosss descriptions emphasize an heroic, even epic quality of Macbeth part of them. This is shown in the personifications such as Disclaiming fortune, valorous minion, and references such as memorize another(prenominal) Golgotha. Duncan himself generously praises Macbeth, and the final epithet he gives is noble. These quotes show that people and even the king have a very high belief of Macbeth.The witches appear at the beginning and are highly ambiguous creatures- whether they are human it is debatable. The witches create a sense of mystery they will meet when the battles disconnected and won, which seems a contradiction. The fact that they are evil is show in their final couplet. According to them Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Put another way this meansgood is bad and bad is good. All of Act 1 scene 1 creates a very ominous atmosphere.