Possibly one of the most drastically changing characters in British literature, Macbeth of William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth is transformed from a brave yet indecisive soldier to an ambition-driven tyrant throughout the play. Although Macbeth is portrayed as a villain, he is yet very human; unlike his wife, he often contemplates between his desires and morals, ambition and self-doubt. However, as he progresses in his wrongdoings, he loses his humanity, empathy, and weakness of character, taking bloodsheds willingly whenever he considers it necessary. 

The most dominant quality in Macbeth’s character the play is ‘ambition’. Even when he is portrayed as most submissive, his ambition for power is shown in his response to the witches’ prophecy. Macbeth’s reflections of  ”My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man that function Is smother’d in surmise.”(1.3.139-142) reveal that even without the influence of Lady Macbeth and the witches-as they have never directly mentioned murder- Macbeth believed the only solution to realize the prophecy was murder. Thus, this proves that despite his hesitation in putting his ambitions differs from the lack of ambition itself; Lady Macbeth’s provocative remarks act only as a catalyst to his ambitions, not actual driving factors.

After Macbeth becomes the king, he neither hides nor fights his ambitions. He no longer needs the commands of Lady Macbeth for him to get blood on his hands; he cruelly strikes down at every threat he perceives, including his own friend Banquo. Macbeth becomes a rather Machiavellian villain, carefully plotting to eliminate his potential political opponents while acting to be completely innocent- reminiscent of Lady Macbeth in the murder of King Duncan. “I have supped full with horrors. Direness, so familiar to my slaughterous thoughts cannot once start me.”(5.5.13-15) illustrates well that in pursuit of his ambitions he had abandoned humanity and self-criticism he used to possess. 

The change in his attitude towards his ambitions is most clearly shown in the contrast between the first and second encounters with the witches. In the former, Macbeth retains a curious yet submissive attitude, while in the latter he commands the witches to answer to his questions. Macbeth’s cries of “I will be satisfied. Deny me this, and an eternal curse will fall on you! Let me know.” highlights his bare ambition, in contrast to his careful curiosity in the first encounter. Likewise, Macbeth’s descent to a cruel dictator can be deducted to be the result of his attitude towards his ambitions; his nature – the extraordinary lust for power- remained, but his attitude towards it became more straightforward, reckless and paranoid as he broke free from his moral and social restrictions.

Yet, another crucial theme in Macbeth’s character is ‘guilt’. Ever since the murder of King Duncan, he suffers from severe PTSD( Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), including repeated hallucinations of weaponry and his victims. His famous soliloquy “Is this a dagger I see before me…” (2.1.32-) emphasizes Macbeth’s guilt and hesitation of committing the murder of a beloved king: thus breaking both strong social and individual bonds. 

Macbeth’s hallucinations of Banquo, as in “Avaunt, and quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee. Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold.”(3. 4. 93-95) also symbolizes Macbeth’s guilt and fear towards his old friend. At the point where Macbeth had turned into a power-thirsty villain, the constant guilt is the only emotion that keeps him ‘human’. Although he does not suffer from insanity as Lady Macbeth, his constant guilt and remorse can be observed throughout the entire play.

Macbeth is not at all a stylized character; his transformation, ambitions, guilt, and fear is all ‘human’, despite their extremity. His complex and realistic character leads the readers to question and reflect on the many factors one might point to as the reason for Macbeth’s downfall; How much does fate, or the knowledge of fate alter our lives? How much immoral deed would one be willing to act in pursuit of their ambitions? As a character who has progressed-or digressed- into a strong, cruel and independent dictator after times of weakness and incapability, Macbeth still reigns in his throne of the most attractive antagonist.