Analysis of Macbeth In his acclaimed dramatic tragedy, The Tragedy of Macbeth, famous playwright William Shakespeare masterfully explains the bloody and tragic story of the great warrior Macbeth, from his rise to throne of Scotland upon his final demise. Written in 1606, the work is set in 11th century Scotland. Macbeth, the lord of Glamis, receives a prophecy from three witches who tell him that he will become king. To ensure that the prophecy comes true, Macbeth, aided by his cunning and cruel wife, hatches a plot to kill the current king, King Duncan, and take over the throne. This plot forces Macbeth onto a tragic path of murder and cruelty that leads to his death. On a superficial level, it would seem that Macbeth, based on his actions alone, should be seen as an evil or immoral character, largely the antagonist of the story. However, the audience is expected to identify and even sympathize with Macbeth in the same way they would a protagonist. It is only after examining the character development of the antihero Macbeth as a whole that the audience becomes aware. In Act I, Shakespeare first refers to his main character as "brave Macbeth... who disdains fortune... as the servant of valor" (Shakespeare ). Those unfamiliar with Shakespearean tragedy are immediately drawn to Macbeth in much the same way that modern audiences are led to recognize the virtues and honors of modern superheroes, attributing to them an innate majesty. The reader immediately recognizes Macbeth as the central character, and as such places an emotional attachment on him. Like Duncan and the other nobles, the audience is unaware of the horrors the central character will later commit, making the story even more tragic and evoking sympathy from the audience as they watch the beloved hero fall into