Comparison Essay – Shakespeare’s Macbeth:
Macbeth’s Character at the Beginning of the Play vs. the End Sometimes situations change people for the better, and sometimes for the worst. Unfortunately, we will never understand destiny, nor the way it plays with us – one second we can be at the top of the “wheel of fortune”, another second we can be at the bottom. Destiny is the game that plays with Shakespeare’s tragic hero, Macbeth. Macbeth’s character evolves significantly throughout the play; this transformation changes Macbeth’s loyalty and faith, his feelings for his loved ones, as well as his definition of life. Everyone experiences change in their lives, but Macbeth’s loyalty and faith to his country, Scotland, changed dramatically throughout …show more content…
At the beginning of the play he is a strong character with a great life – he had a family, friends, and was rather wealthy. He never wanted more than what he already had. After the witches had told him he would become Thane of Cawdor, then King of Scotland, Macbeth said that that was unbelievable and that it would not happen. He replied saying: “The Thane of Cawdor lives /A prosperous gentleman, and to be king /Stands not within the prospect of belief, /No more than to be Cawdor.” (1.3. 70-73). Macbeth is saying that he cannot even dream of being King, or Thane of Cawdor. When he says, “The Thane of Cawdor lives /A prosperous gentleman,” Shakespeare seems to be forgetting that Macbeth just fought the former Thane of Cawdor, but we can still understand that he is trying to show that Macbeth respects those above him. We see that he is not greedy – he is benevolent in being content with what he has. In general, Macbeth is happy with life. However, after killing innocent people, Macbeth becomes cold and bitter. He says: “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player/That struts and frets his hour upon the stage/And then is heard no more: it is a tale/Told by an idiot, full of sand and fury/ Signifying nothing.” (5.5. 24-28). At this point of the play, all of Macbeth’s efforts and sacrifices to become and remain King have all been for nothing since no one is on his side. So, Macbeth has lost all hope in life; he says his existence does not mean anything and that everyone dies in the end. Shakespeare compares life to an actor, who walks on stage, then is heard no more afterwards. Macbeth loses all hope and looks at life in a resentful manner, unlike his mentality at the beginning of the
Macbeth’s Character at the Beginning of the Play vs. the End Sometimes situations change people for the better, and sometimes for the worst. Unfortunately, we will never understand destiny, nor the way it plays with us – one second we can be at the top of the “wheel of fortune”, another second we can be at the bottom. Destiny is the game that plays with Shakespeare’s tragic hero, Macbeth. Macbeth’s character evolves significantly throughout the play; this transformation changes Macbeth’s loyalty and faith, his feelings for his loved ones, as well as his definition of life. Everyone experiences change in their lives, but Macbeth’s loyalty and faith to his country, Scotland, changed dramatically throughout …show more content…
At the beginning of the play he is a strong character with a great life – he had a family, friends, and was rather wealthy. He never wanted more than what he already had. After the witches had told him he would become Thane of Cawdor, then King of Scotland, Macbeth said that that was unbelievable and that it would not happen. He replied saying: “The Thane of Cawdor lives /A prosperous gentleman, and to be king /Stands not within the prospect of belief, /No more than to be Cawdor.” (1.3. 70-73). Macbeth is saying that he cannot even dream of being King, or Thane of Cawdor. When he says, “The Thane of Cawdor lives /A prosperous gentleman,” Shakespeare seems to be forgetting that Macbeth just fought the former Thane of Cawdor, but we can still understand that he is trying to show that Macbeth respects those above him. We see that he is not greedy – he is benevolent in being content with what he has. In general, Macbeth is happy with life. However, after killing innocent people, Macbeth becomes cold and bitter. He says: “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player/That struts and frets his hour upon the stage/And then is heard no more: it is a tale/Told by an idiot, full of sand and fury/ Signifying nothing.” (5.5. 24-28). At this point of the play, all of Macbeth’s efforts and sacrifices to become and remain King have all been for nothing since no one is on his side. So, Macbeth has lost all hope in life; he says his existence does not mean anything and that everyone dies in the end. Shakespeare compares life to an actor, who walks on stage, then is heard no more afterwards. Macbeth loses all hope and looks at life in a resentful manner, unlike his mentality at the beginning of the