Macbeth Weak Character Analysis

In William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, the leading motif, ambition, equally serves as the catalyst for Macbeth’s demise. Throughout the play, Shakespeare gradually exposes Macbeth’s weak character and internal darkness as he presents Macbeth with the seductive illusion of power and ambition. Macbeth’s ambition turned him from a noble Thane to a murdering King, encouraged by his wife until his tender character turned ruthless, and eventually led to the final deaths Lady Macbeth and himself. In the beginning of Macbeth, the protagonist possessed respectable qualities. Similar to Oedipus, Macbeth desired to save their kingdoms either from the plague or Scottish traitors. However, Macbeth realizing his potential fate as prophesied by the witches

Unlike Oedipus, after realizing the accuracy of his prophecy, instead of avoiding all possible negative actions, Macbeth devises a plan with the help of his wife to murder Duncan in order to fulfil the dark prophecy. However Macbeth’s weak character becomes provoked by a disappearing dagger, which he hallucinates before the murder of Duncan. The further Macbeth travels the path of corruption, the further he travels from reality, and illusions become his truth. Macbeth acts upon his illusions and as he hears the Lady Macbeth’s bell he questions whether Duncan will go to heaven or to hell, a choice Macbeth lost (Shakespeare 2.1.75-77). Throughout the play Shakespeare illuminates Macbeth’s escape from reality. His perceptions attribute to his immoral actions, just as Lady Macbeth continually washes her clean hands from the blood she helps to spill. Shakespeare defines these perceptions as the symbols of dark deeds the main characters commit. Consequently, after the murder of Banquo, King Macbeth imagines his presence at the banquet. Macbeth’s blames his paranoia on his dinner guests, shifting blame from himself to them, showing his weak character and inability to take responsibility for his own actions. Macbeth argues with his perception of Banquo, then shifting the blame to his hired assassins (Shakespeare 3.4.59-63). Intimidated by Banquo. Macbeth orders his assassination, however in order to avoid blood on his own hands, he hires murderers. His ambition led to his decline from a brave warrior to a weak man. Although Macbeth views himself as a leader in his society and a man of great privilege, Shakespeare undercuts his manhood and lack of control ironically, consequently leaving Lady Macbeth to distract him from his own