Macbeth, A Comparison of Kings

Courage, Ambition, Perseverance
In the play Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, one can examine the characteristics of the three kings and decide which traits make the best leader. According to the play, these traits include courage, ambition, and perseverance. However, these traits are dependent upon the motivating force behind the individual. In Shakespeare’s play, motivation by love of country molds the traits into a successful kingship whereas motivation by selfish or purely political desires leads to ruin.
Throughout the play, Macbeth shows two different types of courage, one motivated by loyalty to his country and the other based on his political desires. Courage and violence are interchangeable according to Alan Sinfield, “Violence is good, in this view, when it is in the service of the prevailing dispositions of power; when it disrupts them, it is evil.” As the play begins, Macbeth shows unusual courage when he helps the king fight for his country. ...