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Macbeth's actions also contribute to his transformation, represented by the theme lightness and darkness, which is used to illustrate the contrast between good and evil in Macbeth's character. Macbeth is an example of a tragic hero and this play follows his road from peace to destruction. From the beginning, Macbeth is shown to be a loyal, kind and courageous man who fights for his country, but he is also a man who harbours a hidden aspiration for power. His dark thoughts lie dormant until the witches promise that he will be "king hereafter", a statement which manifests into a murderous action plan starting his downward spiral. When King Duncan arrives at Macbeth's home he compliments Macbeth's nobility when he exclaims "signs of nobleness, like stars, shall shine/ On all deservers" (1.4.47-48). Duncan is a rational and reliable king, who understands the inner workings of his kingdom. He states that Macbeth is an honourable man who deserves to be recognized as Thane of Cawdor. This reveals that Macbeth started out in lightness, however, the king's presence in his home provokes Macbeth's intentions when he hopes, "[s]tars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires" (1.4.57-58). This illustrates Macbeth's descend from light to darkness because Duncan is talking about how honorable Macbeth is, while Macbeth is already planning his death. On the outside Macbeth appears like an honorable man yet he is already changing; he allows the darkness in him to overtake the good, because his desire for power is too strong for him to subdue. He realizes what he wants to do is wrong and so he is asking a higher power to help him. Macbeth is clearly making a conscious decision to pick power over lightness, which becomes the start of his collapse. .
Finally, Macbeth's blinding ambition as well as his blindness to his consequences makes him destined to fail.