Macbeth Blog post 1

Differentiate between the direct and indirect characterisation Shakespeare uses in order to construct his characters.

In different scenes of Act 1, Shakespeare has characterized Macbeth from varies aspects through both direct expression of him as a character and indirect description from other characters toward him. Before the first appearance of Macbeth himself in Act 1 Scene 3, the impression of Macbeth is established through words of the Captain as a “brave [man]”(1.2.16). This fearless, honorable image of himself is further confirmed by Duncan commenting “O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!”(1.2.24). From other character’s viewpoint, the readers could understand his status easily. However, as Macbeth struggles later in the book, the readers are able to understand his character deeper through his soliloquy; his direct expression in Act 1 Scene 7 draws closer the distance between the reader and his persona. Hence the direct and indirect characterisations are used differently in the book in order to construct the complexity of Shakespeare’s characters.