Summary MACBETH Character Profiles GCSE English Literature
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English
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GCSE
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This bundle contains in depth analysis for the main characters in Macbeth. This includes: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Banquo, Macduff, The Witches.
These character profiles are detailed, with each character profile detailing each characters ‘role in the play’ ‘key quo...
Macbeth
Role in the Play
At the start of the play, Macbeth is the archetypal hero; he has just been successful
in battle and is being praised by his King. His bravery has led him to his new noble
title: Thane of Glamis. However, Macbeth later falls victim to the prophecies of the
witches, who inform him that he will eventually be the King of Scotland. This is when
the audience see Macbeth's 'hamartia' or fatal flaw, namely, his ambition. This
ambition leads him to orchestrate King Duncan's death and take the throne. What seemingly seems like a successful
plot, is only the start of Macbeth's issues and paranoia.
Over-reliance on the witches' prophecies drive Macbeth to kill his fellow general and best friend, Banquo (fails to kill
his son, Fleance) . This is because the witches prophesied that Banquo's descendents would be Kings of Scotland and
the thought of losing his power infuriated Macbeth. Now that he is rid of Banquo, Macbeth's hubris (excessive pride)
takes a hold of him, and he begins to act invincible by killing more people (including Macduff's family), as the
witches inform him that “none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.” Unbeknownst to Macbeth, Macduff's mother gave
birth to him via c-section, so he proceeds to avenge his family's death and kill Macbeth.
Character Development
Throughout the play, it is clear that whilst Macbeth transitions from hero to villain, this transition is not a
comfortable one for him. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are unable to sleep after killing King Duncan and Macbeth
sees hallucinations of a dagger and Banquo's ghost. He is not the typical Shakespearean villain that embraces such a
role, but he is forced to embody this tyrannical villain, in part to prove himself to Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth
condescending dialogue such as "when you durst do it, then you were a man” drove Macbeth on a constant path of
trying to live up to the masculine traits of an 11th-century war general.
The question of whether Macbeth's character becomes redeemable at all is an interesting one. It is questionable
whether Macbeth even realised that his greed and ambition was the fatal flaw that led to his death. The witches'
prophecies seemed to lend Macbeth misguided pride until his death.
Key quotes
"Let not light see my black and deep desires"- At this point in the play, Macbeth is still trying to maintain his
facade. The audience see in real time, that Macbeth is losing grip on his nobility and his honour, and is transitioning
into a man that allows his ambition to dictate his actions. One should note how Macbeth hides from the light: he
cannot see the error of his judgement, nor can he be guided back in the right direction.
"Vaulting ambition which o'erleaps itself"- This metaphor perhaps summarises Macbeth's fate. His ambition was so all-
consuming, so excessive, that his desires developed a life of their own, moving at a faster pace than his own
rational thoughts, much like a horse rider that overleaps his vault.
(seeing the GHOST) "Avaunt, and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee!"- Banquo's ghost appears to Macbeth, which
is a poignant scene in which the audience witness just how crippling Macbeth's guilt has become. It is ironic how he
is now calling on nature to get rid of Banquo from his sight, but he has done everything to counteract nature up
until this point.
, Macbeth
Key quotes
“It is too late, he drags me down; I sink, I sink, — my soul is lost
forever!”- It is only as he utters his last words that Macbeth understands
his anagnorisis (he now understands his fate). He is right to exclaim that it
is too late. It is too late to reverse the actions of his excessive ambition
and pride. As Lady Macbeth says: "what's done cannot be undone."
Contextual link
Perhaps what spurs Macbeth to kill Duncan was his desire to reclaim his masculinity, as an 11th-century Scottish war
general, who (conventionally speaking) should have been bolder, daring and more cunning than his wife. In the
Jacobean era, wives were the property of the husband and were expected to submit to their husband, with little
challenge or complaint. The fact that the Jacobean audience witnesses subverted gender roles between Lady Macbeth
and Macbeth makes it almost unsurprising that they also witnessed Macbeth consistently try to overcompensate for the
lack of boldness and courage that Lady Macbeth naturally possessed.
It is interesting to put Macbeth's role into the context of a classic Shakespearean tragedy. Though Macbeth's demise
remains unfortunate, he remained the stereotypical and archetypal tragic hero that Shakespeare aimed to portray in
many of his plays. The tragic hero is often initially virtuous, however their hamartia or fatal flaw causes them to do
something disastrous which inevitably leads to their downfall. Therefore, whilst one could legitimately criticise Macbeth's
judgement and impulsiveness, these traits are necessary to realise his tragedy.
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