Macbeth's Tragic Transformation
Ever wondered how a hero can become a villain? Macbeth's journey from noble warrior to murderous tyrant shows exactly how ambition can corrupt even the best of us. At the start, he's described as "brave Macbeth" who deserves that heroic title, wielding his sword with honour for King Duncan.
But here's where it gets interesting - the witches' prophecies act like a poison in his mind. When they greet him as future king, they don't force him to do anything evil, but they plant that dangerous seed of possibility. It's like someone telling you that you're destined for greatness - suddenly, you start thinking about how to make it happen.
Lady Macbeth becomes the final push he needs, challenging his masculinity with cutting words like "when you durst do it, then you were a man." She knows exactly which buttons to press to turn his ambition into action.
Quick Tip: Notice how Shakespeare shows that Macbeth already had ambition inside him - the external forces just brought it to the surface. This makes his fall even more tragic because it feels so human and relatable.