Macbeth Essay - Steven Li

Steven Li

Period 2

AP Literature

Asher

12/6/2011

Macbeth Essay

In Macbeth, William Shakespeare uses various forms of characterization in order to move the plot ahead and create a sense that man’s perception of fate has an impact on actions.

Shakespeare characterizes characters in his play differently in order to create a unique feel which allows him to easily convey senses to his watchers. Shakespeare heavily characterizes Lady Macbeth in order to continue with his plot in the play. Lady Macbeth’s actions throughout the play have an impact in almost every event that occurs. One example of this is when Lady Macbeth is able to back out of killing King Duncan but instead convinces Macbeth to kill King Duncan instead. Macbeth tries to resist killing King Duncan because his conscience is telling him it’s not right, but Lady Macbeth is such a powerful force in the play that she’s able to force Macbeth to King Duncan by using her words. Lady Macbeth also becomes an anchor for Macbeth when he begins to have nightmares of the task he completed. Macbeth relies on Lady Macbeth to support him, but when Lady Macbeth slowly begins to lose her mind, Macbeth falls apart. Lady Macbeth’s characterization is a very strong driving force behind the advancement of the play.

While Lady Macbeth is heavily characterized, Shakespeare depicts Macbeth as something that conveys the theme for the play. One example of this is when the witches confront Macbeth and tell him that he will become the King. This small report creates the overall theme. Once Macbeth hears this from the witches, he begins to want to become the King, which eventually leads to Lady Macbeth plotting a way for Macbeth to become King. Macbeth also believes that he can’t be killed by someone that is woman born, so he crazily charges into battle. When Macduff tells Macbeth that he wasn’t woman born, Macbeth instantly becomes afraid and is killed by Macduff.

Shakespeare’s characterization of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are the driving force behind the entire plot in the play. Lady Macbeth’s characterization is mainly used to make sure the plot keeps advancing in the play, while Macbeth’s characterization is used so that it creates an overall theme and mood to the play.