Different Stages of Development in Macbeth Essay

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DIFFERENT STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT IN MACBETH

In most stories the main character or protagonist develops and his or her state of mind changes by the end of the story. The state of mind tends to change at the various stages of the plot including the introduction, beginning excitement, rising action, climax, falling action, and conclusion. Freytag’s pyramid shows the usual structure for the development of the story and he explains how the protagonist changes and develops at those different stages. Macbeth, the main character, is confident and satisfied with his kingship in the beginning of the story, but by the climax he feels his reign was worthless and insignificant. In Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, the state of mind of Macbeth

Then he begins to have these hallucinations of the dagger, which he would kill Duncan with and cannot tell if he’s imagining this or if it is real. He then begins to visualize the goddess of witchcraft disturbing his sleep, but by the end of the hallucination he hears a bell ring symbolizing his invitation to commit the deed. At this point he is so sure that he can and will commit the murder. Imagery is very important in this soliloquy because it gives a sense of the fake dagger that Macbeth saw. He explains how he can see gouts of Duncan’s blood all over the blade, which shows his guilt for the murder in the future.

The next soliloquy is where Macbeth is worried about Banquo and the reign of his sons, which also adds to the rising action of the play. Before this speech the three weird sisters tell Macbeth that Banquo’s sons will reign after him if he does not do something drastic about the situation. Macbeth has in his head that Banquo is taken aside by the witches and is told the real story that his sons were to prevail the throne. Macbeth then decides that his crown means nothing and he is being deceived from the truth. He develops hatred and says that he will not be the one to set up Banquo’s sons to be King. Instead Macbeth will murder them so that he can have complete control and no person in his way. In this soliloquy he gives the imagery of selling his soul to the devil for Banquo’s sons. Like before he brings up