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Many examples of characterization are evident throughout the dramatic tragedy of Macbeth. Characterization is the author’s means of conveying a character’s personality through their writing. The main character Macbeth goes through tremendous transformations throughout the play in the areas of actions, personal speech and thoughts, speech and thoughts of others, and the effects on others. These types of characterizations cause many changes to Macbeth as the story progresses, and eventually lead to his downfall as a tragic hero.
In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is portrayed as a glorified warrior and hero. He runs fearlessly through the battlefields, brutally killing everyone in his path. “he unseamed him from the nave to th’ chops” (Act I, Scene ii, Ln. 22-23). All respected Macbeth and viewed him as a loyal person who fights for the King. Then Macbeth meet three witches whom prophesized that he would become Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and "King hereafter." Starting at this point Macbeth started to have a complete turnaround in his personality.
After talking to the witches, Macbeth began to think about what they had told him. He imagined the great life that he would have as King and then realized that he could not let anyone take his dream and opportunity away from him. Macbeth then proceeded in telling his wife, Lady Macbeth, about the whole situation. Lady Macbeth also saw the opportunity, but also realized that King Duncan could be an obstacle to their ambitions. She tells Macbeth Duncan must be murdered, and he must follow through with his plans to do whatever it takes to be King.
Later on King Duncan comes to visit Macbeth, and the plan of murder begins to unwind. Macbeth is completely against the idea of killing Duncan, as he is a friend and a well-liked King. When Macbeth begins to back out on the idea of the murder, Lady Macbeth calls him a coward and questions his manhood. “When you durst do it,” she says, “then you were...