Character: Macbeth – Higher English SQA Revision

Trajectory of Character: Macbeth

Initial Presentation

Macbeth is introduced as a brave warrior and a loyal subject of King Duncan. He is respected and valued among the nobles.
He is described as a “valiant cousin”, showing his relative importance and bravery in the battle, highlighting his heroic persona.

Influence of the Witches

The witches’ prophecy stirs a previously latent ambition within Macbeth. Despite initial disbelief, the prophecy settles into his mind, planting the seeds for future actions.
Macbeth’s reaction to the witches’ prophecy suggests a susceptibility to supernatural influences and possible desires for power.

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth’s persuasion has a significant role in driving Macbeth to commit the murder of Duncan. It is she who lays the effective plans and takes control of the situation when Macbeth falters.
Macbeth’s equivocation and moral dilemma, evident in his soliloquies, gradually diminish under Lady Macbeth’s influence, leading to his moral degradation.

After the Murder

Macbeth’s guilt is apparent after Duncan’s murder. He hallucinates voices and words, reflecting his mental turmoil. He feels he has “murdered sleep”, an expression of deep remorse and fear.
Over time, Macbeth sinks further into tyranny and paranoia, driven by guilt, fear and unfettered ambition. His initial guilt changes into relentless violence, moving him away from his original heroic portrayal.

Blood significantly symbolises Macbeth’s guilt. He senses blood on his hands, symbolic of his guilt unable to be washed away.
The dagger hallucination represents his moral indecision, guilt and his ‘fatal vision’, leading towards irreversible actions.

Macbeth’s hallucinations, mental unrest, guilt and paranoia transform him from a respected nobleman to a tyrant.
His inevitable downfall, as foretold by the apparitions, displays the tragic consequences of unchecked ambition and lack of moral restraint.

Ambition: Macbeth’s unchecked ambition drives him towards regicide and tyranny.
Fate vs Free Will: His actions are propelled by prophesies but executed through his own free will.
Guilt and Paranoia: From the guilt after having committed regicide, Macbeth sinks into a state of constant paranoia and mental unrest.
Appearance vs Reality: Macbeth’s external bravery and nobility contrast against his internal weakness, indecision, and susceptibility to wrongful influences.