How Is Macbeth A Courageous Character
The start of the play depicts Macbeth as a valiant and courageous character. We are introduced to Macbeth by a Captain, who is reporting the events of the battle to King Duncan, as he says: “For brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name - Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, Like Valour’s minion carved out his passage Till he faced the slave, Which ne’er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, Till he unseamed him from the nave to th’chaps And fixed his head upon our battlements. ” Here, the readers get an impression that Macbeth is a brave and patriotic soldier, fighting on behalf of King Duncan. Furthermore, it also shows to us that Macbeth has fought well and is receiving praise from the King.
…show more content…
The belief in the existence of the supernatural, was widely believed in Shakespeare’s days.The practice of witchcraft was seen to be a threat to the ‘chain of being’, and so was not tolerated. Macbeth’s strive for ambition and curious nature leads him to the witches who give him a prophecy. “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis!; All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!; All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!” The prophecies of the witches have a powerful impact on Macbeth, for Banquo then questions him: “Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear.” This hints to the audience that Macbeth is starting to have dark thoughts already, at the presumption of gaining more power. However, although he is told the prophecies, Macbeth still remains noble at first, due to the fact that he thinks that becoming a king is “not within the prospect of belief,” Nevertheless, new thoughts flood into Macbeth’s mind as he becomes the new thane of Cawdor, and because of this, Macbeth now believes the witches’ prophecies and is then troubled and disturbed by his own mind as he “yields to that suggestion” of murdering Duncan. All of this shows the readers that Macbeth is easily manipulated and persuaded by evil forces, at the thought of becoming more
The belief in the existence of the supernatural, was widely believed in Shakespeare’s days.The practice of witchcraft was seen to be a threat to the ‘chain of being’, and so was not tolerated. Macbeth’s strive for ambition and curious nature leads him to the witches who give him a prophecy. “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis!; All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!; All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!” The prophecies of the witches have a powerful impact on Macbeth, for Banquo then questions him: “Good sir, why do you start; and seem to fear.” This hints to the audience that Macbeth is starting to have dark thoughts already, at the presumption of gaining more power. However, although he is told the prophecies, Macbeth still remains noble at first, due to the fact that he thinks that becoming a king is “not within the prospect of belief,” Nevertheless, new thoughts flood into Macbeth’s mind as he becomes the new thane of Cawdor, and because of this, Macbeth now believes the witches’ prophecies and is then troubled and disturbed by his own mind as he “yields to that suggestion” of murdering Duncan. All of this shows the readers that Macbeth is easily manipulated and persuaded by evil forces, at the thought of becoming more