Character Analysis of Shakespeare's MacBeth

William Shakespeare's MacBeth is certainly a villain, but is really nothing in comparison with some of Shakespeare's other villains. Those like Iago in Othello and Edmund in King Lear are true villains as they do not feel any guilt about their deeds. MacBeth has some ambition, but it is mostly shown at the goading of his wife. He becomes too tempted that he changes who he is to gain power. He is brave and yet prone to self-doubt and guilt. The main way that MacBeth is set apart from Shakespeare's other villains is that he is capable of recognizing his acts as evil and still struggles for some good unsuccessfully.

In fact, MacBeth is a likeable, friendly man. He is a brave soldier. His good characteristics are always there, although they may be outweighed by the bad ones. However, he is a good man who is tempted. He is tempted by his wife, her evil ambition and constant goading. Lady Macbeth feels that he is "too full o' th' milk of human kindness." He is tempted by the opportunity that presents itself as well as the warnings from the witches. And he gives into this temptation and lets ambition and pressure from others make him into someone he is not.

His self doubt is shown through the very first act that he commits-the murder of Duncan. He almost stops before achieving his goal, but his wife goads him into it by suggesting that he is a coward. His self-image is important to him, and he ends up killing Duncan even while his virtues tell him something different. He must uphold his "manhood." He seems stuck between two contrasting states-one in which he plots the murders of others with a great sense of ambition and one in which he seems almost overcome by guilt, like when he sees Banquo's ghost. These two states of mind seem to say it all about MacBeth's character. He is too ambitious not to plot these deaths to secure the thrown. He will get to the top in any way he can, but he has too much of a conscious to be content to be a murderer. He cannot bear to think about what he has done. "I am afraid to think what I have done. Look on it again I dare not." He tries to protect his wife from his plans for Banquo and Fleance, thinking that it will somehow make it easier to lie to himself. "Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck,/ Till thou applaud the deed." (3.2.17-8). In some ways he seems content when his life begins to fall apart because he will no longer be reaching above his means. He becomes overcome by guilt and the presence of Banquo's ghost make it very clear to him that he cannot escape his own actions.

"Avaunt, and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee

Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold.

Thou hast no speculation in those eyes

Which thou dost glare with.

(3.4.92-4)

In the end, in his final soliloquy, MacBeth comes to the realization that life means nothing. In fact our lives are so meaningless that they can only be compared to a shadow. When we die, we simply disappear leaving behind nothing worthwhile. If he had time to go back, he would change things and be able to think about the meaning of the word death. However, he knows he cannot do this. She is gone and there is no going back from that. Rather than contemplating suicide as many of Shakespeare's villains ("Why should I play the Roman fool," he asks, "and die / On mine own sword?" (V.x.1-2)., he goes back to the battlefield and dies in combat. He has completely fallen apart by his soliloquy but it also appeases him of his guilt somewhat. If everything is meaningless, then his actions are meaningless too.

And while MacBeth is certainly not the most notorious villain in Shakespeare, he does end in the bleakest way. He rushes into battle knowing that he will die. There is nothing left of his character anymore, good or bad, as he has come to discover that life, in fact, means nothing.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. MacBeth.