In “Macbeth”, the protagonist, Macbeth, is portrayed as a dynamic tragic hero that becomes dominated by his tragic flaw, as it frequently is for most Shakespearean characters. His character is tempered by paradoxical states of mind, in which he develops an internal complex on many levels. Moreover, his moral dilemma is regarded as one that is imposed on him, and therefore, his psychological deterioration arouses pity and sympathy in the reader.
At the beginning of the play, our initial impression of Macbeth is of a brave and honorable warrior, “For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name), like Valour’s minion, carved out his passage”(Act 1, scene 2, line 16-19). Also, he is admired and esteemed by everyone, for he is described as “valiant cousin”, “worthy gentleman” (Act 1, scene 2, line 24), and is even associated with Roman mythology because of his loyalty and devotion, “Till that Bellona’s bridegroom, lapped in proof, confronted him with self-comparisons” (Act 1, scene 3, line 55-56).
However, his encounter with the witches awakens in him a deep impatient ambition, yet he is not callous and solely ambitious as shown by his terror of the murder image, “Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs”(Act 1, scene 3, line 135-136) , as well as the description of his plot as a “bloody business”. His virtues obstruct his murderous thoughts, and his conscience makes excuses for not committing the crime, such as Duncan being “his kinsman”, “his subject” , and his guest”. Besides this, Macbeth also adds that “Duncan hath born his faculties so meek, hath been so clear in his great office, that his virtues will plead like angels”, and indeed, this shows that he is in fact “too full o’th’milk of human kindness” (Act 1, scene 5, line 16) lacking that “illness” that must “attend vaulting ambition” (Act 1, scene 5, line 19).
On top of that, we notice the love Macbeth exhibits to his wife, as shown by his letter to Lady Macbeth, in...