Creating Sympathy for MacbethThe dark aura that surrounds Shakespeare's Macbeth is well-deserved, as is the darkness that envelops its main character. Although Macbeth is certainly a wicked and wicked man, based solely on his actions, a closer look at his character's portrayal leads to a more sympathetic view of him. The play does not portray Macbeth simply as a cold-blooded murderer, but rather as a tortured soul trying to cope with the atrocities around him. Before murderous activity occurs, Macbeth does not experience small, ambiguous premonitions, he is told directly by mysterious, dark figures, things that are "ordered" to happen. Although these mysterious prophecies seem doubtful at first, after Macbeth is named Thane of Cawdor, the third prophecy, his accession to the throne, no longer seems far away. The fact that Macbeth sees his ultimate goal, his childhood dream, as an achievable thing that he must simply reach out and accept should elicit some sympathy from the audience. “I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intention, but only / A leaping ambition, which surpasses itself / And falls on the other-” (I vii 25). Failure to act now would only be a demonstration of Macbeth's cowardice and failures. Everyone has an ultimate goal; Not everyone has the chance to attempt it, and even fewer succeed. Examining Duncan's brutal, bloody, and repeated stabbing as Macbeth's only chance to finally realize his childhood dream of becoming king sheds a different light on the normal horror of his act. Before the murders, Macbeth had no positive guidance to help dissuade him. murders. His closest confidante, Lady Macbeth, is portrayed as a mad and conniving woman...... middle of paper ......arrior. Works cited and consulted: Campbell, Lily B. "Macbeth: A Study in Fear". Readings on Macbeth. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 1999. 126-35. Gates, David. “Shakespeare: Dead White Man of the Year.” Newsweek December 30, 1996: 82+. Kinney, Arthur F. ed. William Shakespeare: the tragedies. Boston: Hall and Company, 1985. Noble, Adrian. “At 436 years old, his future is unlimited.” New York Times April 23, 2000, late edition, sec. 2:5.Shakespeare, William. The tragedy of Macbeth. Elements of literature. Sixth ed. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1997. Wadsworth, Frank W. “Shakespeare, William.” World Book Online, American edition. Online edition. Online. Netzero. March 26, 2002. “William Shakespeare.” BBC homepage. Online. Available . March 26, 2002. Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc..., 1999. 30-37.