Macbeth Character Revision:
Macbeth:
An exceptional brave and noble hero
“For brave Macbeth, well he deserves that name” - Macbeth risked his life in battle for
his king - introduces Macbeth as a noble and humble character. He impresses others
(e.g. The captain) and sets an example of how people should act to be noble. Macbeth
has worked hard to have a good reputation; however, his ambition causes him to ignore
this and be greedy.
“He unseam’d him … and fix’d his head upon our battlements” - Macbeth’s violent side
is present and obvious from the start however it is praised as it is for the King and for
Scotland and is seen as noble. Shakespeare may be implying that ideals such as bravery
and honour are used to disguise injustice. He behaves in the same way later in the play –
but he is seen as tyrannical and horrific. This could be Shakespeare criticising the culture
of aggressive masculinity and honourable warfare. Foreshadowing how Macbeth will be
displayed to others (head upon the battlements)
“O valiant cousin! worthy gentleman” - Macbeth is well respected, trusted and thought
of by the King – makes Macbeth’s thoughts and action of killing the King sound
unreasonable.
Descent from a hero to a tyrant
“Why do I yield to that suggestion” - The witches do not tell Macbeth to kill the King,
instead his mind jumps to that conclusion due to his ever-growing ambition. Macbeth is
horrified by the idea of killing Duncan however “yield” suggests he is tempted by it. His
ambition is conflicting with his moral responsibility and leads to his tragic downfall.
“dead butcher” - kills without a conscience, however Macbeth’s guilty conscience
turned him into a nihilistic character.
Vulnerable, easily influenced
“Milk of human kindness” - Shakespeare uses this metaphor to show Macbeth is a good
man however Lady Macbeth manipulates Macbeth into thinking his kindness is an
inferior quality which challenges his manhood.
“Are you a man?” - Banquet scene – suggests that a lack of courage makes him less of a
man. People often saw mental disturbances as a feminine problem.
Guilt & Paranoia
“A dagger of the mind” - Throughout the play, Macbeth sees supernatural things as a
projection of his guilt.
Macbeth:
An exceptional brave and noble hero
“For brave Macbeth, well he deserves that name” - Macbeth risked his life in battle for
his king - introduces Macbeth as a noble and humble character. He impresses others
(e.g. The captain) and sets an example of how people should act to be noble. Macbeth
has worked hard to have a good reputation; however, his ambition causes him to ignore
this and be greedy.
“He unseam’d him … and fix’d his head upon our battlements” - Macbeth’s violent side
is present and obvious from the start however it is praised as it is for the King and for
Scotland and is seen as noble. Shakespeare may be implying that ideals such as bravery
and honour are used to disguise injustice. He behaves in the same way later in the play –
but he is seen as tyrannical and horrific. This could be Shakespeare criticising the culture
of aggressive masculinity and honourable warfare. Foreshadowing how Macbeth will be
displayed to others (head upon the battlements)
“O valiant cousin! worthy gentleman” - Macbeth is well respected, trusted and thought
of by the King – makes Macbeth’s thoughts and action of killing the King sound
unreasonable.
Descent from a hero to a tyrant
“Why do I yield to that suggestion” - The witches do not tell Macbeth to kill the King,
instead his mind jumps to that conclusion due to his ever-growing ambition. Macbeth is
horrified by the idea of killing Duncan however “yield” suggests he is tempted by it. His
ambition is conflicting with his moral responsibility and leads to his tragic downfall.
“dead butcher” - kills without a conscience, however Macbeth’s guilty conscience
turned him into a nihilistic character.
Vulnerable, easily influenced
“Milk of human kindness” - Shakespeare uses this metaphor to show Macbeth is a good
man however Lady Macbeth manipulates Macbeth into thinking his kindness is an
inferior quality which challenges his manhood.
“Are you a man?” - Banquet scene – suggests that a lack of courage makes him less of a
man. People often saw mental disturbances as a feminine problem.
Guilt & Paranoia
“A dagger of the mind” - Throughout the play, Macbeth sees supernatural things as a
projection of his guilt.
