Reaction of Macbeth After Killing Duncan

Macbeth - Macbeth is the tragic hero of this play.   At the beginning of the play, he has the title of Thane of Glamis, and later becomes the Thane of Cawdor.   The audience must assume that he starts out perhaps in his 30’s at the beginning of the play since he is a man of war.   As the play progresses, he seems to age a great deal, more than the time that has actually passed.   Also his appearance is not much discussed, he might be a stocky handsome warrior.   As Duncan’s cousin, he has a link to the royal throne, and is pushed to grab it by the witches and his wife.   He is greedy, ambitious, and rash.   His personality changes and develops through the play.   In the beginning he is a warrior to serve the king and can not consider the idea of killing Duncan to get the throne.   As the play progresses, he grows cold, hard and more ambitious.   After the murder, his personality further develops to guilt and near madness.   This anxiety causes him to commit more murders and further dig himself into his grave.   He says to Banquo, “Tonight we hold a solemn supper, sir, and I’ll request your presence.”   He said this in order to kill Banquo that night showing his cold and callous heart.

Lady Macbeth - Lady Macbeth is Macbeth’s wife.   Although loving Macbeth greatly, she has no children.   Like, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is fully developed through the course of the play.   Just like Macbeth, her personality and emotional quality is emphasized and is changed through the course of the book.     She is a little younger than Macbeth, but her appearance is not much discussed.   Lady Macbeth is strong, faithful, and ambitious.   In the early parts of the play, she had to convince Macbeth that he should kill Duncan and get the throne showing her ambition.   However, after the murder, her personality changes and she grows greatly frightened and regretful of her act.   She becomes worried that people will find out her crime and drives herself to insanity.   During the murder, when Macbeth could...