What do you learn of Macbeth's conflicting emotions in the play? How are they conveyed and how do they add to the character of Macbeth? You should refer to specific scenes and speeches in the play and also comment on how Shakespeare uses language to convey meaning.
            
             The play deals with many serious themes such as ambition, weakness, greed and social advancement. You are always conscious of the fact that in the end Macbeth will be killed; good will triumph over evil, honour over ignominy. I think we realise that Macbeth's death is inevitable when he himself owns in a soliloquy that bad things 'return to plague th'inventor', (I.vii.10) so when you commit an evil deed it comes back to haunt you. Macbeth knows this but forgets it, whereas we the audience don't. We know at that point that if Macbeth goes through with killing Duncan, he will get his comeuppance. Macbeth is concerned with the fate, destiny, actions and consequences of it's main character.
            
             At the start of the play Macbeth is a very strong and courageous nobleman of the king. He is a ruthless warrior and loyal to his country. These qualities are shown right at the beginning of the play when in battle he bravely but violently killed the captain of the other army: "he unseamed him from the nave to th'chaps."(I.ii.22). He therefore receives the title of Thane of Cawdor. But this had been foretold by the witches who also predicted that he would be king. Macbeth does not think that he should do anything about making the prophecy come true: "If Chance will have me king, why Chance may crown me/ Without my stir." (I.iii.143-144). However, when King Duncan places an extra obstacle in his way by naming his son, Malcolm, as his successor, Macbeth realises that, if he is to be king, then he must kill Duncan: "The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step/ On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap/ For in my way it lies. Stars hide your fires, Let not light see my black and deep...