"Let not light see my black and deep desires." (I.iv)
After obtaining the kingship through the murder of King Duncan; we start to perceive Macbeth’s behaviour to completely change; from a man full of moral awareness, to one whom goes against the morals and reality of life. Macbeth’s behaviour has significantly changed or been altered since the beginning of the play right to the end. Initially, Macbeth attained a well-behaved and loyal demeanour, in which is indicative through the manner in which he honours King Duncan; "The service and the loyalty I owe, In doing it, pays itself." (I.iv)
Conversely, as the play begins to progress due to Macbeth’s over ambition for power; we start to view how Macbeth chooses to segregate/isolate himself from his wife; in order to justify on his own behaviour in relation to the witches’ prophecy. This specific moment in time is where Macbeth’s behaviour starts to perilously change; this is established through the manner in which he seeks counsel from the witches rather than his subjects. Therefore his behaviour and actions have substantially been altered as he now does not approach circumstances in the just way, but rather clandestinely; "She would have died hereafter; There would have been a time for such a word..." (V.v) His isolation from his wife results in Macbeth’s private ambitions to be made clear through his soliloquies.
As Macbeth’s actions start to reform, he begins to feel paranoid about being discovered as a murderer and a traitor. This form of suspicion is allowing others to begin to view Macbeth’s supposedly right/correct kingship, as tyrannical. Correspondingly, Macbeth’s behaviour deteriorates even further, as he orders Banquo and Fleance to be killed. This is due to the fact that they could've been a potential threat to Macbeth's rule as King. Therefore, Macbeth's behaviour can be respectably classified as reckless, as what began from a an unhealthy seed, bloomed to become a tragic stalk.
By Act III, Scene 2, Macbeth has evolved into a much more stereotypical villain whom asserts his ‘manly’ power over Lady Macbeth (his wife). Though Macbeth’s over ambitiousness is starting to appeal to his wife; it is unambiguously evident that it is pushing him to commit to further atrocities, in contemplation to further his ambitions- this is due to how he disregards and challenges fate and fortune. This specific scene emphasises the consequences when the natural order of things and bounds of morality is broken. Consequently, Shakespeare is attempting to deliver a message through Macbeth's character, in which states that being ambitious is not a bad thing, but being over ambitious will cause one to suffer in his/her own downfall.
Additionally during Act III, Scene 4, when Macbeth invites all of the other Lords to a feast/banquet at his castle, his behaviour radically changes, as a result of his actions. During this particular segment of the play Macbeth starts to view Banquo’s apparition and acts upon this by yelling into thin air, drawing attention from the Lords. His irrational behaviour is slowly shaping the play, as Macbeth is allowing the audience to adhere that his actions will transform what others will perceive of him. His behaviour has significantly changed from being noble, well-behaved to a man whom declares power and now to a man in which is thinning the ice of his own suspicion. Macbeth is afraid of what he has brought down upon himself, and begins to believe that his evil actions will have consequences.
Subsequently, through the constant changes of Macbeth’s behaviour, we start to perceive his influence upon this unfolding tragedy; as he is the only figure in which allows the storyline to continually develop. Through Macbeth’s behaviour in which built up suspicion by the other Lords and also Macbeth’s assertion of power, it clearly allows the story to be then stretched out, into becoming a progressive sequence of events.
Conversely, as the play begins to progress due to Macbeth’s over ambition for power; we start to view how Macbeth chooses to segregate/isolate himself from his wife; in order to justify on his own behaviour in relation to the witches’ prophecy. This specific moment in time is where Macbeth’s behaviour starts to perilously change; this is established through the manner in which he seeks counsel from the witches rather than his subjects. Therefore his behaviour and actions have substantially been altered as he now does not approach circumstances in the just way, but rather clandestinely; "She would have died hereafter; There would have been a time for such a word..." (V.v) His isolation from his wife results in Macbeth’s private ambitions to be made clear through his soliloquies.
As Macbeth’s actions start to reform, he begins to feel paranoid about being discovered as a murderer and a traitor. This form of suspicion is allowing others to begin to view Macbeth’s supposedly right/correct kingship, as tyrannical. Correspondingly, Macbeth’s behaviour deteriorates even further, as he orders Banquo and Fleance to be killed. This is due to the fact that they could've been a potential threat to Macbeth's rule as King. Therefore, Macbeth's behaviour can be respectably classified as reckless, as what began from a an unhealthy seed, bloomed to become a tragic stalk.
By Act III, Scene 2, Macbeth has evolved into a much more stereotypical villain whom asserts his ‘manly’ power over Lady Macbeth (his wife). Though Macbeth’s over ambitiousness is starting to appeal to his wife; it is unambiguously evident that it is pushing him to commit to further atrocities, in contemplation to further his ambitions- this is due to how he disregards and challenges fate and fortune. This specific scene emphasises the consequences when the natural order of things and bounds of morality is broken. Consequently, Shakespeare is attempting to deliver a message through Macbeth's character, in which states that being ambitious is not a bad thing, but being over ambitious will cause one to suffer in his/her own downfall.
Additionally during Act III, Scene 4, when Macbeth invites all of the other Lords to a feast/banquet at his castle, his behaviour radically changes, as a result of his actions. During this particular segment of the play Macbeth starts to view Banquo’s apparition and acts upon this by yelling into thin air, drawing attention from the Lords. His irrational behaviour is slowly shaping the play, as Macbeth is allowing the audience to adhere that his actions will transform what others will perceive of him. His behaviour has significantly changed from being noble, well-behaved to a man whom declares power and now to a man in which is thinning the ice of his own suspicion. Macbeth is afraid of what he has brought down upon himself, and begins to believe that his evil actions will have consequences.
Subsequently, through the constant changes of Macbeth’s behaviour, we start to perceive his influence upon this unfolding tragedy; as he is the only figure in which allows the storyline to continually develop. Through Macbeth’s behaviour in which built up suspicion by the other Lords and also Macbeth’s assertion of power, it clearly allows the story to be then stretched out, into becoming a progressive sequence of events.
Jeremy Kassissieh