We could say he was weak for a number of reasons, such as that Lady Macbeth pushed him around. Or the fact that he was unable to kill Banquo and his son himself. He got other people to do it for him. And he felt guilty of killing to get what he wanted.
However, the conclusion that I have came to be that Macbeth was evil. It all begins when he starts to think to himself in act 1 scene 4 that he wants to kill Duncan. “Present fears are less than horrible imaginings. My thought, whose murder is yet but fantastical, shakes so my single state of man that function is smothered in surmise”. This is where Macbeth doesn’t know why he keeps thinking of killing Duncan and it scares him. And it is that strong a thought that it stops him thinking of anything else. He fulfils our thought of how evil he is by carrying out King Duncan’s murder at the end of act 2 scene 1. In act 3 scenes 1 he orders murderers to kill Banquo. Telling the murderers that Banquo is a bad man and he is not only Macbeth’s enemy but theirs too. Therefore they must kill him and if they don’t they are wimps. The murderers agree with Macbeth that they will kill Banquo. Macbeth gives them instructions in what to do. “Your spirits shine through you. Within this hour at most I will advise you where to plant yourselves. Acquaint you with the perfect spy o’ the time, the moment on’t, for’t must be done to-night, and something from the palace”. He tells them not to leave any clues, “leave no rubs nor botches in the work”. Then tells them to kill Banquo’s son Fleance because Macbeth knows that if Fleance lives he will be able to tell everyone what happened to his father and also if he found out who was responsible for it then he might grow up and seek revenge on them. “Fleance his son, that keeps him company, whose absence is no less material to me than is his fathers, must embrace the fate of that dark hour”. But really Macbeth knew that if they didn’t kill Fleance, he would be able to return and tell everyone of Macbeth’s plot to murder his father. And would most likely seek and take revenge on Macbeth.
In act3 scene4 we see Macbeth at his weakest moment when he is ridden with guilt about ordering the death of Banquo and his son Fleance. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are hosting a feast after the coronation of Macbeth. Macbeth searchs the room to find his place at the table and doesn’t find it. Then when he looks again he sees the ghost of Banquo sitting in his place. Macbeth begins to lose his mind and shout at the ghost and at his guests. Lady Macbeth does her best to cover up his moment of weakness and insanity by telling everyone he has an illness.
After that, Macbeth goes to see the witches. The witches again tell Macbeth about his future. They show him three visions. Macbeth acts on these visions. This in one go makes Macbeth evil, weak and easily led. Weak and easily led because he goes back to see the witches and believes everything they say as before. He doesn’t however listen properly to the witches and interprets what they say in his own favour. However he doesn’t show his evil side until act4 scene2, which is when he orders the killing of Lady Macduff and entire household.
In act4 scene3 Macduff talks about how evil Macbeth is by saying, “not in the legions of horrid hell can come a devil more damned in evils to top Macbeth”. This confirms that Macbeth is evil.
To conclude, I believe that Macbeth was evil. This was because he was over ambitious about making his way to the top of the throne. And on the way there, he lied, cheated, murdered, ordered murders to happen and drove himself mad with guilt from committing all of the crimes as he did when he seen the ghost of Banquo. “Can such things be. And overcome us like summer’s cloud. Without our special wonder? You make me strange. Even to the disposition that I owe. When now I think you can hold such sights. And keep the natural ruby of your cheeks. When mine is blanched with fear”.
