Question: Discuss the character of Macbeth in Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
How does his
character evolve throughout the play and contribute to his downfall?
Model Answer:
In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the title character undergoes a profound transformation, evolving
from a noble and honorable thane into a tyrannical and paranoid ruler. This evolution is
driven by his unchecked ambition, manipulation by external forces, and the consequences of
his own decisions. Macbeth's tragic downfall is a result of his internal conflict, his
susceptibility to the influence of others (particularly Lady Macbeth), and his eventual
alienation from his own humanity.
At the start of the play, Macbeth is introduced as a loyal and valiant soldier who is highly
regarded by King Duncan and the Scottish people. When we first meet him in Act 1, Scene
2, he is lauded for his bravery in battle: “For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name.”
His heroism and honor make his eventual turn to murder and tyranny all the more tragic, as
it is a sharp contrast to the man he was at the beginning of the play.
However, his encounter with the three witches sparks the beginning of his moral decline. The
witches’ prophecy that he will become the Thane of Cawdor and later the King of Scotland
plants the seed of ambition in Macbeth’s mind. While his initial reaction to the prophecy is
one of disbelief, it quickly leads him to question his own future. His ambition is further fueled
when he is informed that he has indeed been named Thane of Cawdor, fulfilling part of the
witches' prediction. It is at this moment that his desire for power begins to outweigh his
loyalty to Duncan.
Macbeth’s character begins to change dramatically after Lady Macbeth enters the picture.
She is a strong and manipulative force who encourages Macbeth to seize the throne by
murdering King Duncan. In Act 1, Scene 7, Macbeth hesitates, considering the
consequences of regicide, but Lady Macbeth questions his masculinity and bravery, spurring
him into action: “What beast was ’t, then, / That made you break this enterprise to me?”
Macbeth, feeling pressured and emasculated, finally agrees to commit the murder.
After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth’s psychological transformation becomes more
pronounced. His guilt, paranoia, and fear grow with each successive action he takes to
secure his position as king. He begins to feel that he must continue to murder in order to
protect his throne. His next victim, Banquo, is murdered out of fear that Banquo’s
descendants will threaten his reign, as predicted by the witches. Macbeth’s descent into
tyranny is marked by his increasing cruelty and isolation, as he becomes consumed by the
need to eliminate any perceived threat to his power.
Macbeth's internal conflict is evident throughout the play. He struggles with guilt, doubt, and
fear, but his ambition blinds him to the moral consequences of his actions. By Act 3,
Macbeth has transformed into a ruthless and paranoid ruler, who seeks to control everything
around him through violence and intimidation. This shift is evident in his increasingly erratic
behavior, such as his hallucinations of Banquo’s ghost in Act 3, Scene 4, where he is visibly
disturbed by his guilty conscience: “Avaunt! and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee!”
As Macbeth continues his descent, he becomes more isolated from those around him. His
relationship with Lady Macbeth deteriorates, and he becomes obsessed with securing his
reign, consulting the witches once more in Act 4. The apparitions they show him lead him to
believe he is invincible, further feeding his arrogance and false sense of security. However,
this belief proves to be his undoing, as he underestimates the forces that ultimately bring
about his death.
In the final act of the play, Macbeth is confronted by Macduff, who reveals that he was not
“born of woman” in the usual way, but delivered through a caesarean section. This revelation
fulfills the witches' prophecy and marks the end of Macbeth’s reign. Macbeth dies in battle,
his death symbolizing the collapse of a man who allowed unchecked ambition and external
influences to destroy his humanity.
Conclusion:
Macbeth’s character arc in Macbeth is a tragic journey from a noble thane to a paranoid
tyrant consumed by ambition and guilt. His downfall is a result of his inability to reconcile his
ambition with his conscience, as well as his vulnerability to manipulation from both Lady
Macbeth and the witches. Macbeth’s evolution throughout the play serves as a cautionary
tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition, the corrosive effects of guilt, and the
destructive power of power itself. His tragedy lies not only in his physical death but in the
moral and psychological destruction that accompanies his rise to power.
