Ayanna Blair

June 5, 2013
Good guy gone bad or bad guy gone tyrant?
Shakespeares Interpretation of Macbeth
Greed can drive people to do things easily, that once seemed unimaginable before. The changes
from Holinsheds Chronicles to Shakespeares Macbeth create the effect that Macbeth was never a
good guy; he was going to be damned to hell because he tried to fight fate. The way Macdonwald dies,
Banquos awareness of Macbeths actions, and Macbeths reign are all changed by Shakespeare to
convey that Macbeth was never a good guy throughout the entire play.
Holinsheds Chronicles characterized Macbeth as slowly turning into a tyrant, and that his greed
drove him to becoming worse over time. In Shakespeares Macbeth, Macbeths ambition drives him
toward fighting against fate continuously. In Holinsheds chronicles Macdonwald kills his entire family
and himself in fear of being imprisoned. This is different in relation to Macbeth where Macbeth is
introduced to us as a warrior and defeats Macdonwald for Duncan and becomes Thane of Fife. The
difference between stories shows that Shakespeare wanted the viewer of his plays to know what
Macbeth was capable of from the very beginning of the story. Also, in Holinsheds chronicles, Banquo
starts out as a participant in Macbeths plans to take the throne because of his own prophecy. However,
in Macbeth Banquo is completely unaware of Macbeths quest to fight fate and his actions toward his
kingship. Shakespeare changes the details of Banquos character not only to highlight that good king
would be one chosen by God , and to flatter the English king but to show the direct contrast between
him and Macbeth. Banquo has qualities that are admirable while Macbeth shows qualities of greed,
apathy and selfishness. Lastly, in Holisheds chronicles, Macbeth reigns for 10 years before ever exposing
his tyranny. In Macbeth, Macbeth only reigns for a bout a month all together and shows his tyranny
early on. Shakespeare emphasizes this change to show that Macbeth was always paranoid of the
consequences of fighting fate, therefore causing him to act selfishly continuously throughout his
kingship.
Overall, the changes between the way the Duncan dies, and Macbeths reign express that
Macbeth was a bad guy from start to end because they show how his story with being king started and
ended. Shakespeare conveyed his idea that a good king is left up to be chosen from God and that when
a person fight fate they will not win. This idea is expressed directly through Macbeths character and the
changes he made from Holinsheds chronicles.