Macbeth, a Scottish nobleman, becomes a murderer in Shakespeare’s tragedy. He is initially honored by King Duncan but is consumed by his ambition to become king after a prophecy from three witches. He kills Duncan and his friend Banquo, leading to paranoia and guilt. Macduff and Malcolm lead a rebellion against him, and Macbeth is killed. The character is often portrayed as ambitious or narcissistic, but his fatal flaw is his willingness to set aside his better judgment for power. He remains one of the most complex and sought-after roles in Shakespeare’s canon.
Macbeth is a Scottish nobleman who becomes a murderer in Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth. He is often portrayed as a conflicted man who allows his ego to conquer him, leading to various unjust acts. Despite the initial description of him as a heroic and honorable general, the character becomes a testament to the dangers of human weakness in otherwise great men.
In the play, the general is initially greatly honored by King Duncan of Scotland for his valor during a great civil war. Macbeth, also called the Thane of Glamis and Cawdor, believes a prophecy from three witches that he will become king, however, and plots with his wife to kill Duncan when he stays in their castle. There is great scholarly controversy regarding the relationship between the Thane and his wife, their marriage and their partnership. Until the late 20th century, mainstream productions portrayed the wife as conniving, manipulative, and the undoing of the gullible husband. After the rise of feminism in the West, many modern productions show the couple differently, as a dynamic team perfectly matched in their desire to seize power.
After Duncan’s murder and subsequent accession to the throne, Macbeth is plagued by constant paranoia and guilt. In the course of listening to the prophecy of his kingship, the Thane also learns that his friend Banquo will give birth to a line of kings in the future. Hungry for power, the main character kills Banquo and attempts to kill his son, Fleance. After this, he goes almost totally insane, being haunted by the ghosts of those he killed. Feeling suspicious of another noble, Macduff, the new king slaughters Macduff’s entire family and everyone in his castle.
Most of the nobility defect from the crazed king and join the rebellion of Macduff and King Duncan’s son Malcolm. In a final battle, Macbeth is killed shortly after receiving news that his wife has committed suicide. He gives a famous final soliloquy before being beheaded by the valiant Macduff.
The character is usually portrayed as tainted with ambition, but this interpretation is not without controversy. His willingness to believe in witch prophecies is often described as a tendency to excuse immorality by claiming the outcome was predestined. Yet the character’s ambition seems uncertain at times, and he often needs pep talks from his wife to continue along the agreed course of action.
Modern interpretations of the character often make the distinction between ambition and narcissism. In many ways, Macbeth displays the symptoms of a narcissistic personality: he is deeply insecure and requires constant attention and reminders of his greatness. Characteristic of narcissists, he attributes his actions to prophecy rather than his own immoral choices. He too believes himself indestructible, made certain by the prophecy that no common man can kill him.
However best to define his fatal flaw, nearly all theories suggest that he’s willing to set aside his better judgment to gain power. The character is unique in that he is clearly evil, yet maintains an active and tormented conscience. The complexity of the character makes it one of the most sought-after roles in the Shakespeare canon, and many great actors have played the part of the Thane of Glamis in the four centuries since the play was written.
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