Macbeth Change in Personality

Macbeth is a very complex character. His personality changes drastically from the beginning of the play to the end of the play. Macbeth constantly declines in his level of morality until his death at the end of the play. His change of character from good to evil and Macbeth's attitude towards other characters, specifically Duncan, Banquo, Lady

Macbeth is significantly affected. Macbeth interacts with Duncan only a minimal amount before Duncan's death; Macbeth's attitude towards him changes very rapidly. Before Macbeth hears the witches' first prophecy, he is very close to Duncan, and would never even think of doing something against him. When the thought of murdering Duncan crosses his mind immediately after he finds that he has just been named Thane of Cawdor Macbeth’s personality begins to change. At first he doesn’t want to murder Duncan, but with the helpful persuasion of his overly ambitious wife, Macbeth agrees to kill Duncan. However, as the time to murder Duncan rapidly approaches Macbeth questions his motives. Macbeth gives several justified reasons as to why he should not murder Duncan; one being that he is a great king and is loved by all the people. Another reason is that Macbeth is his kinsman and his subject. Once again Lady Macbeth uses her persuasive techniques and convinces her husband that killing Duncan will only advance his chances of acquiring the throne. He is firmly seated in his beliefs that killing Duncan is the right thing to do-until he performs the murder. He is so horrified by this act that for a moment he forgets where he is or whom he is with. We learn from this murder that Macbeth truly had faith in the king and was very loyal, but under the forces of his wife's persuasion and his own vaulting ambition, he is put in the evil frame of mind for just long enough to kill Duncan. This murder does permanently alter him from his moral state of mind, and he soon does not feel much remorse for murdering Duncan. Before he murders Duncan, Macbeth is a very close friend to Banquo, and they are almost always together. After the murder, however, Macbeth senses suspicion on Banquo's part. He realizes that Banquo is a threat to him and could ruin his chance of acquiring the throne; Banquo was with Macbeth when the witches gave him the three prophecies. The witches also gave Banquo prophecies saying that the throne will pass onto Banquo’s sons, therefore, Macbeth must eliminate all possible threats: Banquo and his son, Fleance. The killing of Banquo by Macbeth shows extreme selfishness; he cannot bear to see even his best friend's