Macbeth Character Traits

Macbeth is first introduced to the reader as a brave and powerful general. The wounded sergeant’s account of Macbeth’s valor skews the reader’s perception of Macbeth, allowing the reader to view Macbeth as virtuous as he is a capable warrior. Once Macbeth encounters the three witches, the reader is introduced to Macbeth’s ambition and self-doubt. Over the course of the play, Macbeth struggles to balance these traits, resulting in his wicked spiral into madness and tyranny. Macbeth is cursed by being wicked and powerful enough to commit atrocious deeds, but lacks the mental resolve to handle the consequences for his actions. This results in him fluctuating between fits of action and fits of guilt and madness. His ambition drives him to do terrible things, but his conscience will not let him rest after what he has done.

When she is first introduced to the readers, she is already plotting to kill the king. She seems to be inherently evil and is the most frightening character in the play, but she suffers from the same issues as Macbeth. Lady Macbeth, like her husband, is cursed by a cruel mix of ambition and self-reflection; however, these traits are much more potent than her spouse’s qualities. Lady Macbeth excels at manipulation and uses this to convince her husband to seize the throne. It is Lady Macbeth that orchestrates the kings murder; it is Lady Macbeth that steadies her husband’s nerves afterward; and it is Lady Macbeth who ultimately dies, unable to wash the blood she has spilt from her hands. She is the true antagonist, not her husband. Her weakness is her conscience. Like Macbeth, she has no problem committing cruel deeds, but she struggles to cope with the consequences of her actions. She is reduced to a sleepwalking, guilt-riddled mess. In the end, she supposedly kills herself as she is unable to wash away the stains that cover her from her violent