How Does Shakespeare Present the Characters Macbeth and Lady Macbeth? Essay

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How does Shakespeare present the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in Act 1?
Macbeth is a dramatic play which tells the story of the downfall of a ‘Nobleman’ who becomes a ‘tyrant’. In Act one Shakespeare introduces the characters Macbeth and Lady Macbeth using a range of dramatic devices.
At the start of the play Macbeth is introduced from two different perspectives. He is firstly introduced by the three witches whom are discussing a meeting with him ‘There to meet with Macbeth’. This scene would create immense tension for the audience as the presence of the witches in the play would indicate a series of evil and sinister events occurring later on in the play. King James I was also afraid of witches so this scene would tense the …show more content…
In Act 1 Scene 5 we are introduced to Lady Macbeth. She is reading a letter from Macbeth and learns about the prophecies from the witches and how the prophecies so far have come true, Macbeth learning about the title ‘Thane of Cawdor’ before receiving it. From the letter the audience becomes familiar about the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, that Macbeth keeps no secrets from her. This letter makes Lady Macbeth ambitious as well for her husband to receive the title ‘King’ as well. Lady Macbeth’s character here is presented as an ambitious woman, whom will go to any lengths to reach her goals,
. ‘Unsex me here And fill me from the crown to the toe topfull Of direst cruelty;’
Lady Macbeth says that she would like everything that makes her a woman, instincts and kindness, to be taken away from her and to be filled with cruelty. The audience are shown here that Lady Macbeth is calling to evil spirits to take away all her womanly instincts and turn her into an evil character to convince her husband to become king. This would give the impression to the audience that she is an insane character which the audience would begin to hate as she wants to turn evil. When Macbeth enters Lady Macbeth tries to convince Macbeth to kill King Duncan but Macbeth refuses to speak of the topic ‘We will speak further-‘. This would leave the audience apprehensive as the talk of killing the king goes against their beliefs of Divine Rights, where a King is
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