How Does Macbeth Change Throughout The Play

Macbeth Character Changes

In the play Macbeth written by William Shakespeare, the two main characters, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, experience changes in their character and personality throughout the play. After the play begins, Lady Macbeth, Macbeth’s wife, is the first one to suggest the murder of King Duncan, the king that three witches prophesized would be replaced by Macbeth. At this point, Lady Macbeth is the one of the two who has the greatest desire for success, and she is willing to go by any means to obtain what she wants. She is the mastermind behind the murder of the king and fearless of the consequences. Meanwhile, Macbeth is the one who is “full of human milk” and too innocent and pure to commit the crime. Macbeth follows his
As the play goes on, Macbeth gets accustomed to the realization of what he has done, and soon has no remorse left. This next step in his character evolution is visible when he himself, not by command of the Lady, hires three assassins to murder Banquo, for the three witches had also prophesized that his descendants would become the next heirs to the throne. Macbeth cannot accept this prophecy and plans out his kinsman’s death to get rid of any possible threat to his reign as king. He does not feel ashamed or guilty afterwards, but the pressure of his actions still weigh upon him, which makes him hallucinate at his first banquet as a king. The ghost that appears before him is Banquo, who is already dead at the hour of the banquet. This fact proves that Macbeth is still a little bit pure at heart, because the visions are consequences of him being deeply troubled and frightened by what he has done. Soon enough though, he keeps planning and ordering the death of any who he believes is or would be a possible threat to him. He leaves Lady Macbeth on her own and makes his power as a king a priority. Lady Macbeth is left alone with her