Macbeth As A Tyrant

Macbeth Essay

Throughout the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the protagonist Macbeth undergoes an immense amount of change. In the beginning of the play Macbeth is a very loyal and respected scottish man on and off the battlefield. But as time progressed, with the help of his wife and the three weird sisters, Macbeth begins to develop a dangerous lust for power leaving many dead and the country of Scotland in shambles. In the end Macbeth's once loyal and honorable stature was destroyed by his false confidence of being an almighty ruler, and in actuality becoming a mad tyrant.

Macbeth at first is a very strong noble man but after meeting the three weird sisters and learning of their prophecies he begins to have temptation toward power.

While at war Macbeth throws away fate and fortune by risking his life for his country, Scotland.

After defeating Macdonwald, Macbeth’s courageousness caught the eye of the king. When hearing of Macbeth’s valiant win the king responded saying, “O valiant cousin! Worthy gentlemen!” (1.2, 24). Here King Duncan displays just how brave and noble Macbeth was as Macbeth risked his life for the benefit of the kingdom and showed his true desire for Scotland. On their return from battle, Macbeth and Banquo stumble across the three witches who exhibit both off their prophecies. The witches tell Macbeth, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of/ Cawdor! - All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king/ hereafter.”(1.3, 50-51). Macbeth becomes very intrigued by his possible future and begins to let the immoral desire of power that his prophecy promised, roam free in his head. When returning to the kingdom after Macbeth’s and Banquo’s encounter with the three weird sisters Macbeth is shocked to hear he has been pronounced Thane of Cawdor. When

hearing of his new title Macbeth goes to Banquo and says, “ Do you hope your children shall be kings,/ When those that gave the Thane of Cawdor to me promised no less to them.” (1.3, 118-119). After Macbeth experiences a part of his prophecy to be true it causes him to thoroughly believe in the future that was presented for both Banquo and himself. The new idea of him gaining power and according to his prophecy becoming king, creates a new desire of dominance, and furthermore triggering dark thoughts. From these events Macbeth begins to transition into an aspirant to the power and the throne.
As the play continues Macbeth becomes encourage by both the prophecy and lady Macbeth to kill the king and gain more power.

Though Macbeth at first questioned his acts, in the end he completely changed into an evil murderer. When Macbeth arrived to see the king, he witnesses King Duncan choose the Prince of Cumberland to be the next King. Macbeth when hears the new says to himself, “The Prince of Cumberland! That/ is a step/ On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap.” (1.4, 48-49). Macbeth clearly shows his inclination to gain the power, and how he succumb to fact that he truly wants the prophecy said of him to become true. While the King is at the Inverness (Macbeth’s Castle)Lady Macbeth composes a plan to kill the king allowing Macbeth to take the throne. When Macbeth showed skepticism Lady Macbeth says to him, “As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that/ Which thou esteem’st the ornament of life.” (1.7, 41-42). Even though Macbeth feels as if the act of killing the king is immoral, Lady Macbeth's persuading sways him toward the idea that gaining power through killing is the best for both of them. After Macbeth settles down as King, Banquo comes to Macbeth and begins to recognize the foul play Macbeth partook in. Macbeth, after Banquo leaves, Macbeth tells three murderers that, “ It is concluded: Banquo, thy soul’s flight,/ If it find heaven, must find it out tonight.” (3.1, 141-142). Macbeth without even hesitation ordered for Banquo to be murdered showing that the

main concern of Macbeth was his power, not caring that he was performing evil murder. Though Macbeth may have at first questioned the murder being carried out, once becoming king murder and the heinous acts he was performing did not affect him.
In the end of the play Macbeth continues on his path of evil as his change from good to evil becomes irreversible. While Macbeth stayed in Scotland, England had been planning to attack and overthrow macbeth