Shakespeare presents Macbeth as a violent character in the extract and throughout the play through the use of hyperbolic language and graphic detail. He also presents the violence in his mind as he always resorts to violent situations. In the extract, the captain describes Macbeth's action to the king sparing no detail. He states 'with his brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution' which suggests that his sword was designed for the murder of others. The sensory verb 'smoked' further suggests the quickness of the fighting. Macbeth was so quick in his 'execution' that the sword appeared to smoke from it. For the audience it can connote the enthusiasm of Macbeth in the fight - and because we haven't yet met him this is the only description we can gain from him. The description of 'brandished steel' conveys the image of the sword and how prepared Macbeth was for this fight. Shakespeare's intention is to imply that Macbeth is inherently violent from the beginning, he doesn't shy away from violence. The effect on the audience would be that they admire his bravery and the captain's description enhances the idea that Macbeth's violence is a good thing. Another way Shakespeare presents Macbeth as a violent character is by the effect of his actions. Captain states 'as two spent swimmers that do cling together' which suggests that the enemies were wary of Macbeth's wrath - they tired out easily and were holding on for dear life - the verb 'cling' connotes the desperation. The quote gives the impression that Macbeth is a mighty force to be reckoned with and that he is loyal as he is prepared to fight for his country. He is called 'brave Macbeth' that portrays his violent and superior nature. Again, his glorifying image of Macbeth to make his downfall at the end of the play that much more shocking. His effect on others is always dramatic, like the captain states 'two spent swimmers' connoting how Macbeth tires the army out. However you could argue that Macbeth is only this violent because he is fighting out of loyalty. HIs bravery and outlandish actions of violence only occur to protect King Duncan. He doesn't appear to have violent tendencies and is only graphic and harsh to win the fight. The statement ' till he unseated him from the nave to th'chaps' shows not only that he killed somebody violently, but that he did it to ensure that no enemies remained alive. His enthusiasm was to please the king. The part 'from the nave to th' chaps' is basically Macbeth cutting the people open - to make sure they are really dead. This will reassure him that he has done his job properly. You can link this to traditional Elizabethan beliefs about the Divine Right of kings: that a king was chosen by God to rule the country. This meant that the reign followed a succession and wasn't to be meddled with. By knowing that King Duncan was appointed by God, Macbeth is showing his loyalty to God, not just the king. this makes him even more admirable and worthy. It makes him less of a violent character and more a person who instils violence for the better of Scotland. In the rest of the lay Macbeth is presented as having the incline to murder out of ambition. Despite his honourable nature in Act 1, the witches' prophecies of kingship became tempting to Macbeth. However, he doesn't immediately act on it, instead suggesting reasons for and against his idea. He does show his uncertainty throughout the regular use of euphemisms. He refers to the murder of Duncan as 'th'assassination' to show that his inbuilt morals have trouble coming to terms with the idea of such dishonour. Macbeth knows deep down that what he desires can only come of of pure sin. Yet the witches persuade him to murder. So whilst evaluating his choices the audience recognise that Macbeth doesn't like or enjoy violence. He knows that it is the only resort for power but dislikes the path that he is travelling down. Shakespeare wants to show that Macbeth has morals but he will start to lose them. As the play progresses, after Macbeth's fateful act of regicide, the audience can start to recognise that Macbeth is becoming more quick to violence. The language regularly references to murder and violence. After murdering Duncan, Macbeth states 'me thought I heard a voice cry Macbeth doth murder sleep'. The idea that sleep has been murdered suggests that Shakespeare is showing Macbeth's growing closer to becoming violent. It would've shocked a contemporary audience as it suggests that his action is so bad that he managed to murder sleep. this links to regicide committed as Elizabethans believed that sleep was a reward from God for a hard day of labour. It was for those who were sinless. So the idea that Macbeth has murdered sleep conveys that he has sinned and displeased God. God appointed king Duncan as king and Macbeth murdered him - so he will never sleep. Ironically his actions affect his wife, Lady Macbeth, who suffers from sleep-walking in Act 5 because of her involvement with Macbeth in the murder. Shakespeare intends this to gore shocking and a volta (turning point) in the character of Macbeth. Macbeth becomes worse as we see him lie to his closest friend, Banquo, and to his wife about murderinng Banquo. Macbeth becomes increasingly paranoid in nature and worries about the predictions of the witches. They tell him that Banquo that he'll have ' kings hereafter' and that he is 'lesser than Macbeth but much greater' suggesting that's children will receive the throne. Although Banquo paid no attention to the prophecies because they're 'instruments of darkness'. Macbeth takes them very seriously and plans to murder Banquo. He doesn't tell his wife instead of endearing her: 'be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck' which shows that he is driven so much by violence or the need for violence he isolates his decisions from his wife. So he murders Banquo to satisfy his increasing paranoia and that leads him down a road of self-destruction and of demise. Shakespeare's intention is to show his connection to becoming more violent after committing his first murder. Some could argue that Macbeth was never a violent character, that the actions and permission of Lady Macbeth made him violent. Her open masculinity and cold demeanour makes her influential in turning the doubtful and uncertain Macbeth into a murderer. She cals him a coward and chastises him into doing the deed, even after Macbeth tries to assert control by saying 'we will proceed no further in this business'. The imperative of 'will' has no effect on his wife who is is his equal at this point and doesn't take orders from him. By her goading him on to the deed, he becomes the violent and paranoid murderer that ends him. Her connection to the spirits: 'fill me with the direst cruelty' make her more evil and a violent character, but he becomes one through influence. To conclude, Shakespeare presents Macbeth as violent to an extent as he has morals and honour to begin with but starts to lose himself as power gets to his head. - feedback: This response begins in level 5 with an examination of the effect of the line 'smoked with bloody execution' which is very detailed and effective. By the third paragraph the focus on task is becoming thoughtful as the details used to respond to the task are increasingly used to support the ideas the candidate has selected to focus on. The handling of loyalty and violence demonstrate real focus on ideas and move the response clearly into level 5 by the end of this paragraph. As the candidate moves out to the text as a whole their focus becomes exploratory in response to the task and to the text. Focus on ideas about violence root the response clearly in level 6 for AO3, and the analysis of Macbeth's language are linked to an exploration of their effects. Overall, this is a very good example of a response working that achieves all level 6 by the end.