In the time of Shakespeare, the idea of the tragic hero was a very popular basis to plays. A tragic hero is a character that the audience sympathizes with even though his/her actions that would indicate the opposite. Macbeth's character is truly one that matches this description. At the beginning of the play, the audience sees Macbeth as a noble man who stumbles upon the unfortunate presence of the three evil witches. Sadly he is given his fortune by these "imperfect speakers" and told that he will be king, which acts as the catalyst to his downfall.

The audience meets Macbeth as a noble man who is very loyal to the King of Scotland (King Duncan). After hearing his fortune from the three witches he experiences a chilling feeling. "If good, why do I yield to that suggestion/whose horrid image doth unfix my hair...whose murder...