Macbeth Extra Credit

Yousef Abou Areda                 Macbeth Extra Credit                                          Class 811

Macbeth was a long process for everyone in Drama. We spent over 3 months rehearsing for the play, trying to perfect every single piece of the play. Whether it was after school rehearsals or countless hours trying to memorize lines, everyone in the class worked really hard, especially the leads, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Over the course of the 3 months, I took a special interest in learning about the character of Macbeth.

Macbeth is portrayed as a determined and ruthless throughout the play. In the very beginning, Macbeth is rewarded Thane of Cawdor and Thane of Glamis for protecting Scotland’s borders and getting rid of the former Thane of Cawdor who betrayed the country. He then hears a prophecy that he will become king. This makes him become hungry for power. He is very determined to become king. He goes so far that he even kills the king, showing just how ruthless he is. King Duncan had always treated Macbeth right, and Macbeth repays him by killing him. After King Duncan is discovered to be murdered, Macbeth’s best friend Banquo almost becomes king. Macbeth is again portrayed as ruthless after he orders Banquo’s gruesome death. Macbeth doesn’t let anyone get in his way. He is determined to become king, no matter what.

Macbeth wasn’t naturally evil. Lady Macbeth, his wife, had a major influence on him. Lady Macbeth was the one who convinced Macbeth to kill the King. Macbeth was at first hesitant about killing King Duncan. Lady Macbeth then gives him the final push after says he’s not a man. Lady Macbeth is portrayed as a gentle and loving woman in front of other people, but greedy and ruthless in front of Macbeth and alone. All she was seeking was money and she always wanted to be queen.

Although Macbeth is a ruthless and greedy character, he was heavily influenced by his wife Lady Macbeth, which shows how Lady Macbeth was the true reason behind the whole tragedy by William Shakespeare. For this reason, it’s hard to determine who the true or ultimate villain is in the tragedy. So the real question remains, was it Macbeth’s original character traits that was the reason behind his actions, or was it the negative influence of his wife, Lady Macbeth?