Texts studied:
Macbeth- William Shakespeare
Pride and Prejudice- Jane Austen
Throughout the course of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ the reader sees a clear development in Darcy’s character. His character undergoes a very deep alteration. In ‘Macbeth’, Macbeth character develops throughout the play.
Towards the beginning of ‘Macbeth’ his character is perceived as a brave and respectful warrior, yet further in the play the audience notices a change in his character. At first Macbeth comes across as an ambitious, impressive, honorable and very much loved character. However, following his meeting with the three witches Macbeth’s character changes and his faults become apparent- he is too obsessed with power and becomes too over-confident about his future. This meeting sets up a chain of events which leads Macbeth to murder the king of Scotland, and eventually concludes with his own death.
Although in ‘Pride and Prejudice’ Darcy’s character similarly does change from how he comes across at the beginning to how he is perceived at the end, although his character is very different to Macbeth’s.
When Darcy first appears in the novel we are quickly able to create the image and personality of Darcy in our minds. These personality features are quickly formed into an arrogant, proud and vain man. As the novel progresses our thoughts and opinions of Darcy’s character change drastically. By the end of the novel the reader may feel sorry for Darcy. They may feel he’s misunderstood. His character has transformed, by the power of his love for Elizabeth, into one that shows caring, kindness and heroic behavior.
Macbeth’s and Darcy’s character both change from beginning to end. Macbeth first appears as a loved, heroic character, just how Darcy is perceived at the end. Macbeth and Darcy seem to ‘flip’ characters, in such a way.
Throughout ‘Macbeth’ the audience can see a