Sympathy for Macbeth
Do we have any sympathy for Macbeth at the end of the play?
Our first impressions of Macbeth are that he is a hero, he is brave and fearless, and although we get this impression we also get the feeling that he is ruthless. We get this impression from the way he is referred to when his name is first mentioned. Macbeth has just been in battle against "The merciless Macdonwald" and a Captain is talking about how Macbeth and his fellow Captain, Banquo, performed in battle. While Macbeth is in battle the Thane of Cawdor is found to be a traitor and executed. The King, Duncan, hears of Macbeth 's bravery and grants him the Thane 's title. This leads us to believe that Macbeth is in no way a traitor and that he is brave enough to deserve such a distinguished title.
For Brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name Act 1 scene 2. Line 16
Till he unseamed him from the nave to the chops, Act 1 scene 2. Line 22
In Act 1 scene three the three Witches have gathered to prepare a spell for Macbeth. Macbeth and Banquo come across the three weird sisters and discuss how horrible they are. The witches begin to tell Macbeth that he will become Thane of Cawdor and then the King of Scotland. Macbeth initially wants to know more of what the witches are telling him, then dismisses their predictions as impossible.
But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives Act 1 scene 3. Line 71
Before the murder of Duncan the King, Macbeth seems to be a moral person as he knows what is right and what is wrong. He wonders about the consequences of killing Duncan to become King of Scotland as he knows this is wrong. He tries to hide the things he is thinking from Duncan as he knows what he is thinking of is wrong because Duncan is a good friend. Almost from the moment he finds out that the witch 's prediction has come true he contemplates killing the King. He thinks to himself about what he has been told, this passage (act 1 scene 3 lines 126-141), makes us believe that Macbeth is easily led and
Our first impressions of Macbeth are that he is a hero, he is brave and fearless, and although we get this impression we also get the feeling that he is ruthless. We get this impression from the way he is referred to when his name is first mentioned. Macbeth has just been in battle against "The merciless Macdonwald" and a Captain is talking about how Macbeth and his fellow Captain, Banquo, performed in battle. While Macbeth is in battle the Thane of Cawdor is found to be a traitor and executed. The King, Duncan, hears of Macbeth 's bravery and grants him the Thane 's title. This leads us to believe that Macbeth is in no way a traitor and that he is brave enough to deserve such a distinguished title.
For Brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name Act 1 scene 2. Line 16
Till he unseamed him from the nave to the chops, Act 1 scene 2. Line 22
In Act 1 scene three the three Witches have gathered to prepare a spell for Macbeth. Macbeth and Banquo come across the three weird sisters and discuss how horrible they are. The witches begin to tell Macbeth that he will become Thane of Cawdor and then the King of Scotland. Macbeth initially wants to know more of what the witches are telling him, then dismisses their predictions as impossible.
But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives Act 1 scene 3. Line 71
Before the murder of Duncan the King, Macbeth seems to be a moral person as he knows what is right and what is wrong. He wonders about the consequences of killing Duncan to become King of Scotland as he knows this is wrong. He tries to hide the things he is thinking from Duncan as he knows what he is thinking of is wrong because Duncan is a good friend. Almost from the moment he finds out that the witch 's prediction has come true he contemplates killing the King. He thinks to himself about what he has been told, this passage (act 1 scene 3 lines 126-141), makes us believe that Macbeth is easily led and