Sketch of Macbeth

Macbeth's Character
Macbeth is a Scottish general and the thane of Glamis who is led to wicked thoughts by the prophesies of three witches. Macbeth is a brave soldier, but he is not a virtuous man. This is evident after he receives his final prophecy, that he will become King of Cawdor. These prophesies lead Macbeth into a destructive path which ultimately destroys who he is. Macbeth has three predominant attributes throughout the play, which further him in this destructive path. These three attributes- bravery, ambition, and self doubt struggle for power over Macbeth throughout the play.

  *   Macbeth's bravery.
There is no doubt that Macbeth is a brave solider, and this bravery appears clearly in the battlefield. The following quotation illustrates this attribute.

“ For Brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name)
, Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel,
which smoked with bloody execution,
like valour’s minion, carved out his passage…”
(Act 1, Scene 2 PG 9).
Here, The captain informs them of Macbeth 's bravery in battle. He also describes Macbeth's attack on the castle of the treacherous Macdonald, in which Macbeth triumphed and planted Macdonald’s head on the battlements of the castle.(M,2008)

  * Macbeth's ambition.

“ [Aside] The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step
On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep desires.
The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be
Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see”
(Act 1, Scene 4 PG 4).
By the time Malcolm is proclaimed Prince of Cumberland and heir to the throne of Scotland, Macbeth is willing to push all morality aside. He knows that killing Duncan in order to become king is wrong, which is why he says it's necessary to hide his "black and deep" desires. Here, ambition is portrayed as something dark and ugly. ( S.E.T,2008)

  * Macbeth's self-doubt

His self doubt is shown through the very first...