Macbeth's Character Development

Macbeth, due to his major contribution in creating a foundation that complies with the tragedy genre of the play, makes him more important than other secondary characters in terms of understanding the play. Macbeth’s hamartia (his ambition) is seen as the driving force of his indecent path towards obtaining kingship, which disrupts the natural order and eventually stirs up chaos. In addition, Shakespeare has focused much on Macbeth’s character development, leading us to a conclusion that he has intended Macbeth to be an integral character.

Macbeth is set in a society in which the notion of honor and loyalty to a more superior individual is absolute. Macbeth’s barbarous actions disrupts the so called “Great chain of being”, a belief within the Elizabethan Era that everything has a position in a social hierarchy and interference to it would bring
Shakespeare focuses greatly on Macbeth’s character development throughout the story, inferring to us that Macbeth is an integral character. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is represented as the King’s loyal kinsman, and a war hero, but towards the end, he is seen as an ambition driven murderer. Lady Macbeth initially describes Macbeth as “... too full o’ the milk of human kindness”, however, Macbeth noticeably contrasted this as he said to himself, “Let not light see my black and deep desires”. The disparity of Macbeth as perceived from both ends of the play showcases the conspicuous character development.

Unlike Macbeth, the secondary characters do not have a significant amount of development, rather they are given one persona. A prime example would be Lady Macbeth, as she is depicted with the same devilish identity throughout the play, until her death. She tries to fulfil her own want by manipulating and undermining Macbeth. Although influential, Lady Macbeth is only an incentive of Macbeth’s