Explain What Act 1, Scene 7 Reveals About The Character Of Macbeth.

What is troubling Macbeth at the beginning of the scene and how is he persuaded by Lady Macbeth to go through with the murder of King Duncan?

You must consider: Character and action Dramatic devices and structures Language, ideas and themes Social and historical settings of the text.

Remember: To include evidence in the form of quotations and examples for your points. Macbeth is a piece of drama and was therefore written to be performed not read as a book. You should, therefore, consider how each scene will look on stage. The stage directions may give you clues as to characters' actions and body language or you may have to think about how a director or actor would interpret particular parts of the play. You should also think about how an audience (not readers) would respond throughout the play.

Introduction Macbeth is a tragedy, a genre that has a long tradition in the theatre. What are the characteristics of a tragedy? How does the play Macbeth adhere to the conventions of a tragedy? Key words: anti-hero, disorder, classical, hamartia, peak, hubris, peripeteia, denouement, fate.

The Character of Macbeth What is revealed about Macbeth's character in Act 1, Scene 7? It can be tempting to dismiss Macbeth as a power-hungry and heartless butcher but this scene reveals that he is troubled by his conscience and fears the consequences of the murder (at least at this point in the play). What other characteristics of Macbeth are revealed in this scene and how do these compare with your knowledge of Macbeth's character before and after the scene? What is the motivation behind Macbeth's words and actions? How do you think an audience would respond to the way he is presented? Focus on the soliloquy for this part of your essay. Key words: soliloquy, conscience, ambition, morality, heaven and hell, murder, euphemisms.

Conclusion Does Macbeth seem a convincing character whose actions are possible to comprehend? Is he overdramatised or a genuine character which Shakespeare successfully created for his own specific purposes?