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Kelly Kallini

Mrs. Morris

Honors English 1- E

2, Mar. 2015

Macbeth Character Analysis

In the play Macbeth by Shakespeare, the two main characters spark inquisition about

their distinctive personalities. By being self-doubtful, weak, and corrupt, Macbeth perfectly

exemplifies the effects that guilt and ambition can have on a person who is unsure of themselves,

while Lady Macbeth starts as determined and persistent, then changes to oversensitive in order to

prove that it may be hard for a person to cope with guilt.

At the beginning of the play, it is apparent that Macbeth is quite uncertain of himself.

Initially, as soon as he comes across the prophecy that he will become king, he seems dubious. In

fact, Macbeth has an inner conflict with himself when he thinks "my thought, whose murder yet

is but fantastical, shakes so my single state of man"(1.3.152-153). This means he is terrified of

the thought of killing King Duncan while he is clearly thinking said thought at the moment.

When faced with the temptation Lady Macbeth administers, Macbeth, doubtful and hesitant, is

unsure of what to do. Instead of being able think for himself, he allows himself to be easily

swayed in his decisions. Lady Macbeth, however, is the complete opposite. Once she finds out it

is prophesied that Macbeth will become king, her thoughts immediately go to murder. She knows

it will not be an easy task and even asks the spirits to "unsex me here, and fill me from the crown

of direst cruelty." (1.5.48-49). This shows her determination to have Macbeth rid of Duncan and

become king. Because Lady Macbeth is so resolute, she convinces indecisive Macbeth to go
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through with the murder. In this way, it is exhibited that the couple perfectly compliment each

other.

Throughout the play, Macbeth shows signs of weakness. From having inner conflicts

when hearing his prophecies to cowering before Banquo's ghost in front of guests, Macbeth

shows that he is mentally unstable. This is one flaw he has that will lead up to his demise when

he is unable to run his kingdom properly. Lady Macbeth on the other hand, is a persistent woman

throughout the first and second acts. She consistently pushes Macbeth and is there as a guide

when he is unable to think clearly. One scenario in which this occurs is when Macbeth murders

Duncan. He is too overcome with panic and forgets much of the plan. Macbeth is also unable to

deal with his guilt and feels terribly ashamed of what he has done, saying, "Will all great

Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this is my hand will rather the

multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red." (2.2.79-81). Whereas Lady Macbeth

steps in and says "A little water clears us of this deed. How easy it is, then!" (2.2.86-87). This

shows the completely different mentality the couple possess.

When struck with greed, Macbeth is unsuccessful in combatting his lust for power. He

eventually hires hit-men to kill innocent people in order for him to keep him and his descendants

on the throne. This is where a change in Macbeth's personality is visible. He no longer has the

moral strength to assess what is right and what is wrong. On top of that, he is unable to feel

sadness or terror. When he hears a blood curdling scream while his castle is being invaded,

Macbeth realizes this change and thinks to himself "I have almost forgot the taste of fears. The

time has been my senses would have cooled to hear a night-shriek, and my fell at hair would at a

dismal treatise rouse and stir as life were in't. I have supped full with horrors. Direness, familiar

to my slaughterous thoughts, cannot once start me." (1.5.11-17). Lady Macbeth also experiences
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a drastic change. Unable to cope with the guilt of murdering Duncan, she becomes crazed and

contentious. Helpless and powerless against the overwhelming feeling of shame, she claims that

the "perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand." and ends her own life (5.1.54-55).

All in all, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are both very similar and different. The couple

seem to switch roles: one being kindhearted in the beginning while the other is brutal, vicious,

and unemotional to the situation and vice versa. In this way, it is shown that guilt can be handled

in two completely different ways. Ultimately, it is obvious that any feeling of guilt is able to

create a negative reaction in anyone.

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Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Macbeth. Ed. Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. New

York: Simon, 2013. Print.