How Is Macbeth A Sympathetic Character

Set in the Elizabethan era, Shakespeare’s play Macbeth explores the glory and downfall of Macbeth. While Macbeth is a brave and violent man he is also depicted as sympathetic. Macbeth's guilt is the key to his sympathetic character early in the play but slowly changes to an unrecognisable man fueled by the need for the power that he believes to be his “fate” by starting a murderous violent rampage

Ambition and power is a large theme throughout the play and in Macbeth’s Character. Macbeth is introduced to us as a “loyal”& “noble” man and is widely admired by all characters including King Duncan and Banquo. But is permanently corrupted when he gets his first taste of blood and proceeds on a murderous violent rampage. These murderous acts turn

He is also depicted as guilt-ridden. From his first murder of King Duncan and his best friend Banquo. Although Macbeth was convinced to do the act of killing King Duncan from Lady Macbeth he was easy to convince as his ambition to become king filled his desire and proceeded to do the act. Soon after when Macbeth returns from his murderous rampage he is filled with an immense sense of guilt. “Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand” as he realises the implications of his actions cannot be undone but instead colour how he sees the world forever. His conscience is critical in his thinking. A man without a conscience could walk away from his crimes without a second thought but the knowledge of his crimes seems to play in his mind forever, this produces sleepless nights and hallucinations of daggers which shows his internal struggle and turmoil even though he had received the power he killed for. This concedes that Macbeth’s Conscience is a large part of his sense of right and wrong and his sense of sympathy and

Lady Macbeth & Macbeth’s relationship was full of love and passion showing that they would do anything for each other and kill for each other, they both shared an interest in Macbeth gaining power. Soon after King Duncan's murder, the change in Macbeth’s Character is apparent to Lady Macbeth as he orders the killing of Banquo & Fleance & the murder of Macduff's wife and children. Macbeth becomes unrecognizable to the audience and his own wife Lady Macbeth at this time, the couple that was once deeply in love is nowhere to be seen when he is told the horrific news that Lady Macbeth has died from suicide while Macbeth is preparing for battle, Macbeth expresses “She should have died hereafter. There would have been such a time for a word.” showing that his wife's passing should have happened any other day apart from this day and that there is no meaning or purpose in life. Macbeth is seen as numb and holds no emotion anymore and is only fueled by his ambition for the bloodshed of Macduff and his