Throughout the ages, writers have attempted to create themes which remain contemporary regardless of the time period. William Shakespeare, the infamous English playwright, was a master at creating thematic arguments which remain neoteric. Through his use of characterization, Shakespeare successfully persuades his audience to believe that our actions are governed by ambition, our interaction with one another, and the moral code of society.

In order to fully discuss the thematic arguments of Macbeth, we must first examine the characterization of the title character and his wife, Lady Macbeth. The shadowy, dark character of Macbeth is one of the best developed in all of Shakespeare’s plays. What makes the character development fascinating, however, is the role reversal which occurs during the course of the play between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. As the play progresses, each assumes the characteristics of their counterpart, slowly assimilating to the other’s original persona.

The dynamic characterization of Macbeth is intriguing because of the dramatic course of events which result from his decisions and actions. The initial impression of Macbeth is that of a humble soldier, filled will pride and honor. In Act I, Scene II, Macbeth is portrayed by the Captain as a magnificent warrior, who fought bravely in the war between the Scottish and Norwegians. The prophesy of the witches, however, awakens an unknown ambition within him. It is this driving ambition which, as the story develops, becomes his tragic flaw. Suddenly this valiant hero becomes a maniacal murderer, who will let nothing stand in the way of his primary goal -- the throne of Scotland.

On the other hand, Lady Macbeth’s characterization is quite the opposite from that of her husband’s. Initially portrayed as an evil villainess, Lady Macbeth is the mastermind behind the murder plot, and successfully persuades her husband to commit this ghastly deed to further her own interests. Her character, however, is not without a conscience. As the play progresses, it is Lady Macbeth’s inexorable guilt which leads to her ultimate suicide.

The idea that “appearances are deceiving” is Shakespeare’s central argument in Macbeth. The infamous line, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair,” (7) stems from Shakespeare’s assertion that we must be wary of those with whom we place our trust. This argument is true even in modern times, as it has been proven that deception lies in the hearts of all men. The characterization of Macbeth and his wife exemplifies this idea. As they plan the devious murder, Lady Macbeth advises her husband to, “Look the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t,” (35) Duncan’s trust of Macbeth is evident as he comments on the peace and tranquillity of the home of the Thane of Cawdor. The King is obviously unaware of the murderous plot his hosts have in mind.

The prophesies delivered by the witches in Act IV, Scene I, reinforce the thematic argument that appearance does not necessarily represent reality. The witches make several seemingly unrealistic claims as to what the future holds for Macbeth. Though each of these predictions appears to be inconceivable to the murderous fiend, they all gradually come to fruition. Shakespeare employs the use of metaphors and riddles in order to prove that we are often deceived by what we believe is the truth. An apparition of a bloodied child augurs that “none of woman born shall harm Macbeth”. This apparent reassurance of Macbeth’s prowess and invincibility is ultimately a factor contributing to his demise. He misinterprets the statement, not realizing that Macduff’s birth came about by Cesarean section, a procedure which was considered to be an “unnatural” birth in the 15th century. He is therefore not “born of woman,” and possesses the ability to slay Macbeth.

Throughout the play, Shakespeare fashions an argument which addresses the corruption of driving ambition. This idea is evident in the characterization of Macbeth. Once a valiant nobleman, Macbeth is corrupted by the prophesy of power delivered by the witches in Act I, Scene III. When the audience is first introduced to the character, they immediately realize that his character possesses the qualities of a hero. It is this impetus that makes Shakespeare’s argument powerful. By initially portraying Macbeth as an exalted hero, Shakespeare argues that we are all susceptible to the corruption of driving ambition. Although it is not a crime to be motivated, we must be wholly aware of the results of our actions.

A shining example of the man Macbeth once was can be seen in the character of Banquo. Macbeth, once admired and respected, full of honor and dignity, is now a ruthless, corrupt monarch. His subjects are wary of his ruling capabilities and his moral character. The deed of killing his own family to benefit his own advancement has ultimately contributed to his demise. Banquo, on the other hand, maintains his dignity at all costs. He dies protecting his son, never once faltering in proving his moral standards. He is prophesied to be “the father of kings” and dies with this distinction, regardless of Macbeth’s shameless efforts to rip him of this title. Banquo refuses to allow his internal desires to cloud his judgment and as a result, can be viewed as a tragic hero.

The play also brings focus to the contemporary theme which argues the extent of a woman’s role in society. In the 15th century, women were expected to be passive in nature and submissive to their husbands. The character of Lady Macbeth is that of a woman with an aristocratic background and a refined, hospitable demeanor. Underneath her outward appearance, however, she is viciously ambitious and domineering. She possesses all of the attributes of today’s modern woman; confident, self-respecting and independent. She willingly plays the role of mastermind, lookout, and accomplice during the murder, going as far as smearing Duncan’s blood upon the sleeping guards to lay blame for the hideous deed. This aggressive behavior is quite the opposite of what was considered acceptable of a woman in the fifteenth century. When developing the character of Lady Macbeth, Shakespeare obviously intended to emphasize her ability to think independently. He addresses the notion that most women possess the desire to rise above their position in society and break the constraints placed on them by the social standards of the time period. Shakespeare argues the thoroughly modern concept that women possess intellectual abilities which rival that of men. This idea, however, was not considered acceptable due to the social standards of the time period. In Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy in Act I, Scene V, she calls upon the spirits to “unsex” her, showing her desire to overcome the repression of women in society.

In examining the strength of women, Shakespeare also addresses the issue that most men are insecure with their manhood and position in society. When convincing Macbeth to go through with the murder of his cousin, Lady Macbeth implies that had she been born a man, she would have the initiative and drive to commit the heinous crime. Macbeth, his bravado wounded by these insinuations, resolves to let nothing deter him in his quest for the throne. Shakespeare employs the use of a popular logical fallacy, hasty generalization, in order to make a statement. The conventional man profiled by the social standards of the 15th century possessed qualities which explicitly characterized him as being apart of the superior gender. Shakespeare, however, created a character who was dominated by his wife’s controlling influence and exhibits obvious anxiety with regard to his traditional position in the household -- quite the contrary of the stereotypical male of that time period. When his manhood is questioned, Macbeth immediately becomes defensive. He feels he must prove his manhood to his wife, in order to preserve his dignity.

Shakespeare also addressed the argument which implies that evil is a disease which spreads quickly, and completely corrupts one’s moral character. One evil deed, that of killing Duncan, leads to countless others, all culminating in the destruction of the tragic hero, Macbeth. In protecting himself from discovery, Macbeth murders two innocent guards. His envious nature leads to his distrust of Banquo, a friend and confidant. The witches, who foretell Macbeth’s future, had dubbed Banquo as “(the) father of kings,” inciting a jealous rage that burns within Macbeth. He cannot deal with the fact that Banquo’s descendants will carry the lineage of the throne for centuries to come. Macbeth wants more than his current royal status; he wants the reassurance that his heirs will rule the kingdom throughout the centuries. Macbeth’s jealousy leads him down a path ending in deceit, violence, and maniacal carnage. He is not satisfied until he has eliminated all forms of competition for the throne, forgetting the needs of his country and his responsibility to his fellow countrymen. His initial act of indiscretion starts a chain reaction of events that annihilate the original benefits reaped by killing Duncan; those of pride, power and prestige.

The popular belief that “evil intentions breed evil results” is a powerful argument displayed within this literary piece. In showing Macbeth’s demise, Shakespeare is able to successfully disprove that the end does not justify the means. Throughout the play, it is obvious that Macbeth pursues the throne solely for his own interests. His actions are driven by his own greed, and not out of concern for the better of society. As a result, Macbeth’s reign as King is short lived. His followers lose faith in his ability to rule, and willingly relinquish the castle to Malcolm’s forces at the end of the play.

Throughout the entire play, it is evident that Shakespeare is making a statement about the ability to control one’s fate. It is the opinion of most scholars that everything exists naturally, and is disrupted only when we decide to change the natural order of things. Malcolm, the rightful heir to the throne of Scotland, places his faith in “the grace of God.” He firmly believes that the natural course of action will be restored to order in time. Macbeth’s tragic demise and ultimate death results from the resounding effects of his own actions. Before the horrible murders of Duncan and Banquo, Macbeth was undoubtedly bound for great things. Once respected and revered by his friends and countrymen, Macbeth inevitably takes his destiny into his own hands when he murders Duncan. His once admired persona disappears, only to be replaced by an evil and jealous man.

The classic argument that good will always triumph over evil is another argument which is well represented within Macbeth. Throughout the play, Shakespeare uses light imagery to represent the forces of good and evil at work. As the play progresses, we notice that the scenic environment and the atmosphere become darker in Macbeth’s presence. As a result, Shakespeare successfully conveys the sense of despair and tragedy associated with the moral character of Macbeth. The scenes in which Malcolm and Macduff appear are often light and airy days, symbolizing the aura of hope which will ultimately override the darkness created by Macbeth’s evil deeds.

William Shakespeare is undoubtedly a master of the rhetorical argument. His brilliant characterization enables him to implicitly persuade his audience to take a critical glance at their own personal values as well as those held by our society. His arguments remain contemporary because he is able exemplify his own argument that appearance does not necessarily represent reality. By critically analyzing the social values of his time period and comparing them to reality, Shakespeare gains intuitive knowledge about the problems which exist in our society. The entertaining aspects of the play allow Shakespeare to successfully influence his audience to question the standards of society.