How Is Macbeth A Bad Character

In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, Macbeth’s true character is shown in Act 4, Scene 1. At the start of the story, Macbeth is known to be a courageous and strong warrior, loved by king Duncan. However, before he meets with the witches for the second time, he begins to show that he is losing his humanity as time progresses. Once he goes to meet with the witches, Macbeth begins to believe the prophecies they are telling him. This is why this scene contains the final outcome of Macbeth’s negative character. Macbeth’s deteriorating character can be seen through his acceptance of the wickedness of the witches. At the beginning of the story, Macbeth was always wary of the three witches. However, in this scene, Macbeth decides that the witches are the

This means that his ego is so large, that he is beginning to harm himself, and the others around him. After the second apparition tells Macbeth that no one born from a woman can harm him, he says “Then live, Macduff; what need I fear of thee?” (IV.1.82). Originally, Macbeth decided to go to the witches due to his fear of Macduff. Be that as it may, after hearing the words of the apparition, his confidence grows intensely. He no longer fears Macduff, so much so that he believes Macduff shouldn’t have to die. Additionally, Macbeth refers to himself as “our high-plac’d Macbeth” (IV.1.98). One could say that Macbeth is referring to himself as a God. This also demonstrates Macbeth’s confidence in his ruling ability. Not only is he confident in his own abilities, but he is also confident in the witches’ abilities. As soon as he is told these prophecies, he instantly believes them. Furthermore, the second apparition says “Be bloody, bold, and resolute: laugh to scorn the pow'r of man; for none of woman born Shall harm Macbeth” (IV.1.79-81). This demonstrates that even the apparitions acknowledge the fact that Macbeth will confidently believe everything that they tell him. Thus, they let it be known that no man born of a woman will be able to bring danger against him. The second apparition even encourages Macbeth to be more confident, leading him farther into the final outcome of his negative

After the witches tell him to “seek to know no more.” (IV.1.103), he tells them, “Deny me this, and an eterne curse fall on you!” (IV.1.104-105) This comes off as very aggressive, which isn’t like Macbeth at all. Not only that, but he says that the witches, the ones who cursed him, will become cursed themselves for all of eternity. Knowing the strength of these curses himself, Macbeth uses it as a threat to the ones who are helping him, just so he can get an answer to a question he does not need an answer to. On top of that, Macbeth says to the witches, “Thou hast harp’d my fear aright. But one word more-” (IV.1.74). One could interpret that Macbeth has become dependent on the prophecies of the apparitions and the witches themselves. Even after they already helped him once, he asks them again to give him some more information. He says that he is no longer afraid, but he still wants to hear more from the apparition. Macbeth also says, “Yet my heart throbs to know one thing: tell me, if your art can tell so much, shall Banquo’s issue ever reign in this kingdom?” (IV.1.100-103). This solidifies the fact that Macbeth is still afraid, as he asks about the truth of one of the witches’ original prophecies. He believes that because their witchcraft can tell him so much, they will be able to answer his question without a problem. In his mind, the apparitions have unlimited knowledge, and he deserves to