athuranmusic: October 2023

Is Macbeth a murderer?

The character of Macbeth is one of the most complex in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth and can be seen to contain elements of both external and internal conflict. The tragedy of the play is rooted in the character change that Macbeth undergoes, which is driven by a supernatural force. This allows for an in-depth analysis of Macbeth’s motivations, decisions and psychological states.

At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is described as brave and honourable. In one scene, he makes the difficult decision to attack Macdonald’s forces, despite knowing that it could cost him his life. This unique sense of honour and morality drives all of his decisions throughout the play. Additionally, his loyalty to King Duncan is frequently mentioned, contrasting sharply with his later betrayal of the King.

Soon after he and his friend Banquo meet the Witches, Macbeth begins to experience inner turmoil. The Witches foretell Macbeth’s future and he is overwhelmed by ambition and the desire to reach a higher position in society. He chooses to act upon these desires, even though he is aware of their wrongfulness, and this decision results in the death of his morality.

Macbeth’s inner and external senses of conflict suggest that some aspects of his personality may have been predetermined. The prophecies of the Witches certainly play a role in Macbeth’s moments of temptation, followed by inner turmoil and guilt. However, his moral ambiguity and susceptibility to temptation suggest that motives of greed and ambition may have been planted in his personality from the beginning.

By the end of the play, Macbeth is a drastically different individual than the one introduced in the beginning. In various scenes, we see him in a state of despair and madness, fully overcome by guilt. His character has undergone a complete transformation, and his descent into chaos is certainly worrying.

Overall, the character of Macbeth contains elements of both external and internal conflict that allow us to analyse his motivations and psychology. By examining his character shift, we can see how Macbeth is caught between two opposing forces, and how his moral ambiguity leads to his downfall.