Characteristics: Macbeth is noble and brave in the beginning of the play. He is rewarded by King Duncan for "unseeming a man from the nave to the chops" in battle, so he is certainly not unfamiliar with killing. However, as someone who is noble, Macbeth's virtue is not at ease with murder. Lady Macbeth says he has ambition, but lacks the "illness" that must attend it, suggesting he lacks a kind of selfish, Machiavellian ambition that she feels is necessary for forcing the fate told to him by the witches into fruition. She is certainly more power hungry than Macbeth. She is unphased by the bloody scene left after Macbeth kills Duncan, as seen by her callous words suggesting that looking at the dead body is no different than looking on a painting, or someone asleep. He is so disturbed he refuses to return the daggers. She confidently returns them herself. Macbeth returns saying that the blood on his hands could turn the entire sea incarnadine, but Lady Macbeth says "a little water will cure us of this deed" showing her insouciant attitude toward Duncan's murder. Unfortunately though, Macbeth grows accustomed to killing as he willingly says he'll kill Macduff's family himself, and right away- no hesitation. "Brave Macbeth" returns at the end of the play again, when he chooses to face Macduff man to man, despite the fact he knows he will die.
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