OPPapers.com

Macbeth

Jason Mace

Per. 2

11/19/00

MacBeth

The play, MacBeth, is enriched with many characters; each categorized in

different stages of Kollberg's theory. Kollberg's theory was about characters and their

moral development through out the story. There were only seven stages in his theory, 0-6,

zero meaning no morals, and six is being like Jesus. It is a short play without a major sub-

plot, and it is considered by many to be Shakespeare's darkest work. In the play MacBeth,

Duncan is a stage four through out the play.

A stage four, according to Kollberg, is a character orientated toward authority and

maintenance of social order. A good example would be a police officer or a president. Up

until his demise Duncan was orderly king. He kept peace between the lords and other

countries as best as he could. Duncan was a beloved father and king to the Scottish

people.

After the brutal battle between Duncan's servants and the Thane of Cawdor's

rebels, Duncan hears news that MacBeth fought with courage like no other. Duncan is so

pleased he makes MacBeth the new Thane of Cawdor.

Duncan:
No more that Thane of Cawdor shall deceive
Our bosom interest:--go pronounce his present death,
And with his former title greet Macbeth. (Act I scene ii)

What a great guy Duncan is, he is like this threw the whole play. Because of MacBeth's

great skill in battle, Duncan grants MacBeth to be the new Thane of Cawdor. Duncan

kept order by killing those who a-pose him, such as the late Thane of Cawdor.

At Duncan's castle, the king, Malcolm and another of the king's sons,

Donalbain, greet Macbeth and Banquo. Duncan announces that he will visit Macbeth at

the new Thane's castle near Inverness, and then names his oldest son Malcolm as

successor to the throne. Macbeth says that he will go to Inverness in to prepare for the

king's arrival. But in a stage aside, Macbeth speculates that...