Huckleberry Finn, Dr. Watson, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasely are all well-known examples of important roles that are equally important as their counterparts. Authors use secondary characters to support ideas of theme and to add to the plot. Supporting characters may not appear in all aspects of the plot, but act as a foundation to hold together the storyline. Shakespeare, an important poetic genius, frequently uses the roles of secondary characters to support the structure of his plays. In the Shakespearean play, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, the three witches, and the Scottish nobles, as secondary characters, play important roles as they reveal the themes of unlawful power, endless ambition, and cruelty; as well as important plot details. As a
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First off, the murder of innocents contributes hugely to the cruelty shown in the play. Macbeth plans two murders; which both include children making them more gruesome than a regular murder. He commands to the murderers, “Fleance his son, that keeps him company,/whose absence is no less material to me/Than his father’s” (3.1.150-3). Macbeth advises his “hit men” to kill Banquo, but adds in that the murder of Banquo’s son, though Fleance is even more innocent, must occur; this demonstrates the deterioration of Macbeth’s character from brave thane to a sadistic murderer. Macbeth is not rational and this is the beginning of his cruel actions. In Macbeth’s second murder, he …show more content…
Under the regime of Macbeth, Scotland suffers and will never prosper unless a better leader rules and protects the people of Scotland. Macbeth’s leadership demonstrates cruelty as the country he is ruling, is under distress. Overall, the secondary characters, the Scottish nobles, in the play, Macbeth, reveal the theme of cruelty indirectly and through dialogue. The Scottish nobles also play important roles as they reveal various major plot details. To display time passes, Shakespeare uses the secondary characters to fill in information for the readers. Macduff explains, “Malcolm, and Donaldbain, the king’s two sons,/Are stolen away and fled, which puts upon them/Suspicion of the deed” (33-5). Macduff gives the audience insight on the happenings between the events in the play. Many of the Scottish nobles partake in being messengers recounting events that happen off stage. Lennox tells Macbeth, “‘Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word/Macduff is fled to England” (4.1.155-6). The Scottish noble, Lennox, introduces the next scene of Macduff and Malcolm in England. Lennox’s lines act as a transition between scenes. In total, key information in the play, is voiced by the Scottish
First off, the murder of innocents contributes hugely to the cruelty shown in the play. Macbeth plans two murders; which both include children making them more gruesome than a regular murder. He commands to the murderers, “Fleance his son, that keeps him company,/whose absence is no less material to me/Than his father’s” (3.1.150-3). Macbeth advises his “hit men” to kill Banquo, but adds in that the murder of Banquo’s son, though Fleance is even more innocent, must occur; this demonstrates the deterioration of Macbeth’s character from brave thane to a sadistic murderer. Macbeth is not rational and this is the beginning of his cruel actions. In Macbeth’s second murder, he …show more content…
Under the regime of Macbeth, Scotland suffers and will never prosper unless a better leader rules and protects the people of Scotland. Macbeth’s leadership demonstrates cruelty as the country he is ruling, is under distress. Overall, the secondary characters, the Scottish nobles, in the play, Macbeth, reveal the theme of cruelty indirectly and through dialogue. The Scottish nobles also play important roles as they reveal various major plot details. To display time passes, Shakespeare uses the secondary characters to fill in information for the readers. Macduff explains, “Malcolm, and Donaldbain, the king’s two sons,/Are stolen away and fled, which puts upon them/Suspicion of the deed” (33-5). Macduff gives the audience insight on the happenings between the events in the play. Many of the Scottish nobles partake in being messengers recounting events that happen off stage. Lennox tells Macbeth, “‘Tis two or three, my lord, that bring you word/Macduff is fled to England” (4.1.155-6). The Scottish noble, Lennox, introduces the next scene of Macduff and Malcolm in England. Lennox’s lines act as a transition between scenes. In total, key information in the play, is voiced by the Scottish