Macbeth's Character

Macbeth as a Tragic Hero must have some potential nobility, some good qualities that make his downfall terrifying. He must be examined as a human being with human weaknesses. Is he one who, as Lady Macbeth says, Act I, Sc. v, "is too full of the milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way" or is he the "butcher" that Malcolm considers him to be in the final scene of the play? Or is he a victim

of his ambition or of moral weaknesses or of his limited concept of manliness, or even of a combination of circumstances that cause him to fall? From the opening scene Macbethh is chosen as a target for temptation ;the witches, as agents of evil plan their trap ;so the stage is set for his downfall.

* Brave - We learn of his physical prowess and bravery on the battlefeild - "brave Macbeth", "valour's minion", "valiant cousin! worthy gentleman!",

he is an eagle, a lion, "Bellona's bridegroom". These are the outward signs as seen by the Captain, Duncan and Ross, Act I, Sc.ii.

* Prone to Tempation - Yet in the following scene we observe his interest in the Witches' predictions. He is tempted - "Your children shall be Kings" ;but temptation is not guilt. When Ross tells him he has been made Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth asks, "why do you dress me in borrowed robes?" Does

this suggest that, at this stage, he wants no honours that are not rightfully his?

* A Materialist - In this soliloquy (aside) in Act I,Sc. iii we see how the fulfilment of the first prediction is working on him. Does he show himself to be a materialist here, looking for success and closing his eyes to the fact that achievement and goodness do not necessarily go together? Is this what Lady Macbeth sees in him when she

says in Act I, Sc. v, "wouldst not play false And yet wouldst wrongly win?"

* Virtuous or Hypocrite - He is aware of his duties as a subject "...and our duties Are to your throne and state children and servants, Which do but what they should, by doing every thing Safe toward your love and honour." Is this an inclination of his virtue, or is it hypocrisy?

* Conscience? - We can see the moral struggle within

him when Duncan nominates Malcolm as his successor. He calls on the stars to hide their fires so that his evil thoughts will not be seen. Is this a sign of a delicate conscience? Is he a victim of circumstance in that Duncan announces his successor and indicates his intention to visit Macbeth's castle almost in a single breath? Remember he is still in the throes of temptation: he has not yet committed wrong.

* Compassionate - Lady Macbeth,

who knows him best of all people, says in soliloquy that he is "too full of the milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way". Does this suggest that he is compassionate? She says he is ambitious but "without the illness ( the badness)" that should accompany ambition. Although this is a contrast to the picture of the bloody and ferocious warrior of whom we have been told in Act I, Sc.ii, yet it may still be true. When

she says "what thou wouldst highly That wouldst thou holily" does she mean that he would not commit evil to achieve his ambition? Does this suggest nobility? Yet when she adds, "wouldst not play false, And yet wouldst wrongly win", is there an indication of moral weakness in him? Is her determination to persuade him to the murder another circumstance that helps towards his downfall.

* As a Husband - What is his relationship with Lady Macbeth at

this time? Does his letter to her show a deep affection - an anxiety to share his good news - "my dearest partner of greatness" ? Or might he be trying to impress her with his bravery and achievement - to prove her that he is a man? At he end of this scene (Act I, Sc.v) he is not committal to her proposal - he says "We shall speak further". In his soliloquy in Act I, Sc. vii we

see his dilemma. He is well aware of the reasons why he should not kill Duncan. Does he show himself to be a materialist as he foresees the consequences, in this life, of the murder? Is this the deterrent? He says he would risk the life to come.

* Public Opionion - Is he concerned only with what the world thinks of him when he tells Lady Macbeth the they will "proceed no further in this business" because he

is well thought of by others and does not wish to lose their good opinion? Is this vanity or fear? What do you think persuades him to agree to the deed? Is he afraid that Lady Macbeth will consider that he lacks manliness? Does he value her opinion of him so highly that he dare not lose it? Is this a moral weakness - an understandable one? Or is he afraid of the consequence of failure? Does his own addition

to the murder plan - that the chamberlains be marked with blood and so be blamed for the murder - show