Macbeth

" He is a good man, but his ambition overtakes him. He seeks the crown more than anything else, and is convinced by his wife to kill King Duncan. After Macbeth kills Duncan, he feels regret and guilt. It is a perversion of his nature to murder. But he cannot undo what he has done. He loses his sense of right and wrong. He kills his friend Banquo. He murders the family of Macduff. He is considered a very unjust king. Originally called the "bravest soldier," his descent into murder and betrayal is the tale of how ambition can tarnish even the purest of souls. [T] Lady Macbeth is an essential character that further illustrates this theme. [S] Although Duncan refers to her as "our honored hostess," Lady Macbeth is determined to make Macbeth the king. She immediately concludes that "the fastest way" for Macbeth to become king is by murdering King Duncan. Lady Macbeth's immediate thoughts may make her appear as thoroughly irreligiously cold and ambitious, but this is not so. To prepare for what she feels must be done she calls on evil spirits to "stop up th' access and passage to remorse" in order to be relentless. Apparently, her conscience would otherwise not allow her to act. Nonetheless, when Macbeth does as little as question her plan, she attacks him, telling him to "screw [his] courage to the sticking place." [M] It is clear that Lady Macbeth is as, if not more ambitious than her husband. She wants to succeed through his triumphs. Quite simply, it would be impossible for her or most other women to achieve a senior, influential position during the time period. Her best option is to succeed by helping her husband to do well. Macbeth is suited to this role. He is willing to be swayed by his wife, but also has the force of character to follow difficult actions - like killing King Duncan - once he has been convinced. [T] Another character that demonstrates the theme is Banquo.