A Comparison of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in the first three acts. William Shakespeare's Macbeth tells the story of a general who commits regicide in order to become king. Early in the play, Macbeth is conflicted as to weather or not he wants to kill his kinsman the king. In the first two acts Macbeth is not portrayed as a ruthless killer; he is a sympathetic character who succumbs to the provocation of his wife …showed first 75 words of 1036 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1036 total… kill Banquo she is reluctant to add another murder to those already committed: "You must leave this"(3.3.40) In act three another prophecy foretold by the witches comes true. The paradox "fair is foul and foul is fair" characterizes the changes the protagonists undergo in acts one, two and three. Throughout the play Macbeth, the "fair" one, becomes overcome by guilt and becomes "foul". While Lady Macbeth who was "foul" in her instigations becomes "fair".