The Wonderful And Horrible Natures Of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'

Jasmine Spencer

Mrs. Smith

English IV

19 Oct. 2015

The Wonderful and Horrible Natures of Macbeth

King or not? William Macbeth is the infamous character in William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. He is the epitome of good versus evil within oneself. Macbeth had to toil with many different natures of himself which eventually lead to his death. To some he was a hero, but to others and himself he was a tragedy waiting to happen. In Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth wrestles with ambition, deceit, and guilt.

His first nature, ambition, is prevalent as the play opens. According to Unhae Langis, “The moral liability of ambition underscores the necessity of a situational approach in assessing moral agency. (2012) Macbeth reveals himself caught between

rational and appetitive will and virtue and social esteem. The dark shroud of ambition falls upon Macbeth, who turns to murdering King Duncan to ensure his crown. Betrayal, suspicion, and paranoia follow this criminal act, and Macbeth falls deeper into the darkness and evil. The guilt plays its roll on Lady Macbeth, who, unable to escape guilt's grip, takes her own life. The ultimate darkness, the brutal massacre of MacDuff's family, brings Macbeth and MacDuff to final blows and ultimately Macbeth's eternal darkness.
His next nature is deceit.