People are not inherently good or evil, but they are born with the instincts to survive. Macbeth does not start out as a bad person, but he does want to not only survive, but prosper no matter the cost. When he learns of the witches’ prophecy that he shall become king, it starts him on the path to the dark side. The first step into evil usually begins with self-doubt, and this is evident in Macbeth’s initial relevance to murder King Duncan. People wrestling with a difficult decision can often be influenced by someone close to them. This was certainly the case with Macbeth, where his wife, Lady Macbeth, was trying to get him to proceed with the evil plan to kill King Duncan. Macbeth was fearful and unsure about carrying out the proposed murder until she convinced him to continue with the evil plans. At this point, they both became obsessed with the prophecy and its promise of power and are determined to kill the king. This is unfortunately not an uncommon scenario since power and the thought of getting it causes many people to do bad things. Their decisions become dark and evil as a result of being intoxicated by power and glory. Humans often seek power as a means to survive and allow that power to corrupt them and influence their decisions.
Macbeth’s first steps onto the path of evil are filled with guilt and self-loathing as well as feelings of regret. The problem is that once you choose to go the evil route, it is very difficult to go back. At that point, people usually decide to keep going because they are going to face consequences no matter what. As a result of their evil choices, the hole they dig becomes deeper and they can never get out. This is evident in Macbeth, where he explains that “[he is] in blood stepped in so far that should [he] wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er” (Macbeth, 3.4). Since he had already killed King Duncan and the servants, Macbeth is determined that if he were to stop now, it would all be in vain, so he decides to continue with the plan to kill his best friend Banquo as well.
Macbeth, by the end of Act 3 has committed many evil acts that have negatively affected him. He is filled with guilt and paranoia as he returns to his home for a banquet with his nobles. The inner conflict he is experiencing is eating him up inside as his present evil personality is at odds with his original intentions. He has gone down this long path in which everything has not always gone as planned and he is again questioning his decisions. He gets very paranoid when Banquo’s ghost makes appearances during the banquet and Macbeth’s reactions frighten his guests. This scene could suggest that Banquo's ghost is a manifestation of Macbeth's guilt and fear. But the audience can see that Macbeth, as an individual, is still going down the path of evil and is forced to face the decision he has made. The consequences of choosing this evil path for his life can cause an individual to experience inner conflict, guilt, paranoia, and regret. These feelings slowly consume the person and they eventually reach an evil state as where there is no turning back.
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