In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth’s communication changes dramatically over the course of the play from humble and respectful, to direct and careless, to completely arrogant and foolish. Notably when Macbeth first converses with King Duncan he speaks humbly and respectably. Macbeth humbly says, “The service and loyalty I owe In doing it pays itself” (1:4:23-24). As Macbeth first meets with the King, he speaks to the King with only a great deal of respect. Macbeth’s words express a sense of modesty that he currently embodies. Moreover the way Macbeth communicates changes to direct and careless as he meets with the Witches. Macbeth carelessly babbles, “How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags” (4:1:47). The demeanor in which Macbeth
