Macbeth – Changes in Character Written around 1606, Macbeth was a play set to entertain King James I. Before he became the English king, he was King James VI of Scotland , so it made sense for Shakespeare to set the play in Scotland. King James also wrote a book on witchcraft and showed an unusual interest in witches. Shakespeare managed to implement witches in Macbeth to please the king. In the play, Macbeth's downfall is his ambition, he always wants to climb higher, that's why he got stuck in a hole without love and without friends, as Shakespeare refers to using an autumn leaf as an example. In Act 1, scene 7, Macbeth's relationship with his wife Lady Macbeth is very strong. Macbeth is very obedient to his wife, which was not common in the 1600s as women were generally considered the weakest race. Macbeth knows that what he plans to do is wrong but his wife manages to manipulate his mind and convince him that it is the right action to take. For example, Macbeth opposes the “I dare to do all that can become a man” plan. This means that he is a man but does not dare to do more than what man should do because otherwise he would be subhuman. However Macbeth's next line is "Should we fail?" It is clear that Macbeth's mind has been manipulated. In Act 5 Scene 5 we learn that Lady Macbeth has killed herself. Macbeth is not shocked by the news, he simply says "She should have died hereafter." This is evidence that Macbeth is no longer influenced by his wife It also shows that Macbeth cares more about the future battle than his wife's well-being as he would have mourned her death if it occurred after the conflict. In Act 2, Scene 2 Lady Macbeth accuses Macbeth of being "sick of brains" Shakesp...... middle of paper ...... "let them fly". Macbeth, in Act 2 Scenes 1 and 2 is very attentive to the noise and becomes frightened when he hears said noise. However, when Lady Macbeth screams as she dies, Macbeth is not frightened. Macbeth insults his servants who are trying to help them while at the beginning of the play he praises them for their actions. Macbeth is very doubtful about Duncan's murder, unlike when he begins a killing spree later in the play and does not spare a thought for the victim. He also hallucinates a dagger, with the handle pointing towards his hand, which shows how deep his thoughts were before the king's death. Later in the play he doesn't think twice before killing someone he knows personally. Macbeth would not have wanted to be king so much if he himself had not become lord of Cawdor. This set the ball rolling on his ambition, and the assassination of the king increased its speed.