Macbeth is a good man undone by his ‘vaulting ambition’.

Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth portrays the protagonist Macbeth, as a good man undone and led astray by his ‘vaulting ambition’ as well as external pressures, from his wife and the witches. In the context of this play, ‘good’ is defined as a man with courage, exceptional fighting skills and unquestionable loyalty to his king and his country. ‘Undone’ means to having been led astray from the conventions of society and ‘vaulting ambition’ is the inner drive to achieve a goal, regardless of obstacles. Macbeth is introduces as ‘brave’, but then is influences by both internal (ambition) and external (Lady Macbeth and the witches) forces, to then in the end, become an apathetic tyrant.

Shakespeare introduces Macbeth as the protagonist of the play, who having been won a battle is deemed as “Brave Macbeth- who deserves that name”, and a man with “brandished steel”. Shakespeare implements imagery to emphasize his iron-like courage and unyielding nature. Even after hearing the tempting prophecy of the witches, Macbeth is portrayed to still have maintained a calm, rational and logical mind, for he says, “If chance will have me King, then it shall do so without my stir”. Through the use of personification and giving ‘chance’ human qualities, Shakespeare emphasizes the virtuous nature of Macbeth for he is able to abandon his ambition, for the sake of maintaining his integrity and oral conscience. However, Shakespeare then begins to show that his grasp in morality was not as strong as he begins to be influences by Lady Macbeth and his own “dark desires”, therefore becoming ‘undone’.

As the play progresses and leads up to the climax, Macbeth is Selena s a very fluctuant character, who in the context of the time was not seen to be ideal. In Elizabethan society, men were supposed to stand strong by their beliefs. However, Macbeth begins to be influenced by his “black and deep desires” of ambition. He is also goaded by his wife who challenges his masculinity and humiliates him, through insults such as “Are you a man?”. In 17th century England, the audience would have resonated with Macbeth and his shame because women were seen as inferior. This effect of humiliation can be clearly seen for Macbeth having initially said, “We will proceed no further in this matter”, later resigns to his wife’s wishes, in fear of losing his dignity and says, “I dare do all that might become a man”. Hence, Shakespeare is disclosing “brave” Macbeth to actually be a weak man, vulnerable to his wife, under his facades. He also depicts the negative effects his own ambitions has, as Macbeth concludes that, “[He has] no spur to prick the sides of [his] intent other than [his] vaulting ambition”. By incorporating soliloquies as such, Shakespeare is demonstrating the inner thoughts of Macbeth to the audience and his justifications for committing such crimes- which ends up to be only ambition. Hence, depicting that ambition was indeed Macbeth’s ‘fatal flaw’.

Shakespeare tracks the downfall of Macbeth and his loss of virtue by demonstrating the decrease of justifications he has for committing crimes. Whereas, at the start, Macbeth killed King Duncan for the throne, then killed Banquo for the preservation of the throne, by the end, he has become a “tyrant” for he slaughters all of Macduff’s family for no reason. Macbeth states that “[He is] so stepped in blood that turning back would be tedious”. Hence, Shakespeare indicates that Macbeth now has no virtue left to preserve and this is his only justification for continuing to slaughter people. Shakespeare also conveys how meaningless his life has become, due to the loss of integrity, by stating, “Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow...life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Through this metaphor, Shakespeare has symbolized how Macbeth’s noise, fury and bloodthirsty battles (in an attempt to secure glory) , has ended in nothing meaningful as he has lost those most dear to him (his beloved wife, his closest friend and his dignity) due to it, but unfortunately this realization comes too late.

Hence, Shakespeare, throughout the play, depicts Macbeth to be a good man undone by his ambitions as he is initially introduced as a brave man, who later due to internal and external forces, evolves into a mindless tyrant. Several language devices such as metaphors, soliloquies, imagery, personification, symbols and motifs have been implemented to elaborate the feelings of the characters and accurately express them to the audience. This is done, to evoke feelings from the audience, so that they are able to empathize with the characters, and better relate to them. Overall, Shakespeare intends to convey to the 17th century European society, that unbridled ambition can produce devastating changes to the character of an individual, and the dangers, such power and corruption, can also pose to an entire nation of people.