Throughout the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare unrestrained ambition alters Macbeth’s impulse consequently creating a monstrous tyrant. Macbeth is perceived to be a tyrant although in searching deeper, he is also found to be a victim. There are many different viewpoints as to who was the real driving force behind Macbeth and his ascent to power.
Macbeth was a victim to Lady Macbeth’s manipulation and uncontrollable ambition. Through this the reader is positioned to see the noble nature of Macbeth, who is “too full o’th’milk of human kindness” and also of “a good and virtuous nature”. Lady Macbeth challenges his manhood “What beast was ’t, then, that made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man; and to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man” to convince him to do this deed. This presents to the reader, the devious and cunning nature of Lady Macbeth who victimizes Macbeth as she knows that he “wouldst be great, art not without ambition” hence being the mastermind of their murder of King Duncan.
She also skillfully pushes Macbeth to murder Duncan by mocking him, “was the hope drunk; Wherein you dressed yourself?” Lady Macbeth also uses their love for each other as a weakness to convince Macbeth to kill Duncan. She doubts Macbeth’s love for her “Such I account thy love”.