Overview

• presents Macbeth as a tragic hero whose unchecked ambition leads to his downfall.
• At first, Macbeth is portrayed as a brave and loyal soldier, admired for his courage in battle.
• as the play progresses, his ambition, spurred on by the witches’ prophecies and Lady Macbeth’s influence.
• drives him to commit regicide and descend into tyranny and paranoia.
• uses Macbeth’s journey to explore the corrupting power of unchecked ambition and the moral consequences of choosing evil over good. 
• Shakespeare warns that the desire for power, when left unchecked, can destroy a person’s humanity and lead to ruin.