Macbeth Character Development

Shakespeare, the well known playwright, is believed to have created the well know play known as “Macbeth” in 1606. Shakespeare has been previously renowned for diverse character development, and the play “Macbeth” is no exception. Personal being, having a sense of belonging, straying from materialism, and overall morality and decency towards others are four main characteristics of a well developed humane character. Throughout the progression of the play Macbeth’s character development is well portrayed as Macbeth’s character is altered after turning points in his life. Macbeth gains a sense of personal being with his morals he tried to live by. Macbeth’s strong sense of belonging was with Lady Macbeth, throughout the entirety of the play they

For example, Lady Macbeth told Macbeth, “What beast was't,/then,/That made you break this enterprise to me?/When you durst do it, then you were a man;...” (43). Lady Macbeth was telling Macbeth if he didn’t kill King Duncan he would no longer be a man. Lady Macbeth often questioned Macbeth’s masculinity throughout the play. In the 1600’s, when “Macbeth” was written, the standards for men were to be emotionally strong, heroic, and brave. When Macbeth showed any weakness in emotion throughout the play Lady Macbeth would question the actions that led to his “lack of masculinity”. She used Macbeth’s masculinity and lack thereof to manipulate him to follow through with his actions he had told to her or persuade him into committing the crimes she wanted him to do. Lady Macbeth’s manipulation often outweighed Macbeth’s attempts to stay true to his

After Macbeth killed Duncan, Lady Macbeth told him, “...Go get some water , / And wash this filthy witness from your hand…” (59). Lady Macbeth was telling her husband he needed to wash his hands of the blood and his recollection of the murder. Lady Macbeth was telling Macbeth to try to forget murdering the king so he can live a normal life again. Macbeth says, “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood/Clean from my Hand? No, this my hand will rather/The multitudinous seas incarnadine,/Making the green one red” (59). In the context that blood symbolizes crime, it means Macbeth didn’t think that the waters of something so grand such as an ocean can wash the blood from his hands or the crimes from his memory. This symbolizes that Macbeth’s crimes can never be forgotten by the people of Scotland, or even by Macbeth. This also shows that Macbeth didn’t think he could be forgiven for the murders he