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Controlled Assessment- Macbeth

Explore and analyse the portrayal of Macbeth’s character in the play Macbeth

In order to understand the vast complexities of Macbeth’s character it is key to understand the context of when the play was set and written and also stimulus Shakespeare used to help formulate his story such as the Holinshed Chronicles which were historical documents. Shakespeare selected, altered and added to the chronicles to help create an interesting and stimulating set of characters in a world which lightly mirrors real historical events and people.
Throughout the play we are constantly given impressions of Macbeth’s characteristics through other characters say about him. At the beginning of the play before we even meet Macbeth we are given an impression of him and the type of man that he is. In act 1 scene 2 when the Captain is reporting to Duncan he calls Macbeth “Brave” He also talks of how he is a good fighter with his sword, “Smoked with bloody execution” and merciless on the battlefield, “unseamed him from nave to th`chaps” All these comments by the captain portray Macbeth as a loyal and fierce fighter who is fearless in the heat of battle.
However as the play progresses we are give varying impressions of Macbeth such as in Act 1 scene 5 in which Lady Macbeth describes Macbeth as being too kind to strike at a opportunity, “too full o' th' milk of human kindness” this gives us a contradicting view of Macbeths character as previously he was described and a ruthless killer on the battlefield.
Witchcraft is an important aspect of the play which helps us to understand further the portrayal of Macbeths Character. When Shakespeare was writing this play it was at a time in which witchcraft was a common belief and people we fascinated by them. Throughout the play Macbeth is portrayed as a man of his time as he too believes whole heartily that witches and ghosts were real. The reason Macbeth plotted to Kill Duncan was all down to the witch’s

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