History YMMV / Macbeth

* MagnificentBitch: TheWeirdSisters, a trio of witches, use their [[{{Seers}} prophetic visions]] to manipulate the events of the work. Informing Macbeth of his destiny to succeed the throne of Scotland, the witches [[AgentProvocateur inspire him]] to murder King Duncan and his own friend Banquo, [[ProtagonistJourneyToVillain becoming a tyrant]]. Lulling Macbeth into a false sense of security, via [[NoManOfWomanBorn prophecies]] that rely on ExactWords, the witches inspire the war between Macbeth and Prince Malcolm for the throne, ending victorious with their prophecies fulfilled as Malcolm takes the throne.

* NarmCharm: It's sometimes hard to take a dark, violent play about ambition, treason and murder with a HeroAntagonist called "Macduff" seriously. However, between the characterization, the emotion, and Shakespeare's signature dialogue, it works.

* SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments: Ross's words of comfort to Seward following the detah of his son: "Your cause of sorrow must not be measured by his worth, for then it hath no end."

* MagnificentBastard: TheWeirdSisters, a trio of witches, use their [[{{Seers}} prophetic visions]] to manipulate the events of the work. Informing Macbeth of his destiny to succeed the throne of Scotland, the witches [[AgentProvocateur inspire him]] to murder King Duncan and his own friend Banquo, [[ProtagonistJourneyToVillain becoming a tyrant]]. Lulling Macbeth into a false sense of security, via [[NoManOfWomanBorn prophecies]] that rely on ExactWords, the witches inspire the war between Macbeth and Prince Malcolm for the throne, ending victorious with their prophecies fulfilled as Malcolm takes the throne.

* MagnificentBitch: TheWeirdSisters, a trio of witches, use their [[{{Seers}} prophetic visions]] to manipulate the events of the work. Informing Macbeth of his destiny to succeed the throne of Scotland, the witches [[AgentProvocateur inspire him]] to murder King Duncan and his own friend Banquo, [[ProtagonistJourneyToVillain becoming a tyrant]]. Lulling Macbeth into a false sense of security, via [[NoManOfWomanBorn prophecies]] that rely on ExactWords, the witches inspire the war between Macbeth and Prince Malcolm for the throne, ending victorious with their prophecies fulfilled as Malcolm takes the throne.

** Some critics view Lady Macbeth as a case of LoveMakesYouEvil, whose motive is purely that she thinks her husband deserves the crown. After all, he never does express any personal desire to be queen, only for Macbeth to be king.

* EvilIsSexy:
** Lady Macbeth is often played this way.
** The 2006 version portrayed the Witches in this way. [[FanDisservice Granted many of their scenes there are still depicted ominously]].

* NarmCharm: It's sometimes hard to take seriously a dark, violent play about ambition, treason and murder with a HeroAntagonist being called "Macduff." However, between the characterization, the emotion, and Shakespeare's signature dialogue, it works.

* EvilerThanThou: Lady Macbeth is a tough talker who chides her husband into committing regicide by questioning his manhood and even resorts to an Infanticide metaphor to get her point across ("I have given suck, and know/How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me/I would, while it was smiling in my face/Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums/And dash'd the the brains out, had I so sworn as you"). But, as the play progresses, it becomes clear that she's out of her league, as husband embarks on a killing spree almost immediately after assuming the throne and doesn't even ask for her input about it. This eventually goads her into complete madness over the monster she's created.

* GeniusBonus: In many mythologies being born by via caesarean section was believed to make the baby 'superhuman', and particularly in Scandinavian folklore it granted one powers that could be used to fight evil and lay it to rest. While it's uncertain if this was believed in England at this point, Macduff declaring it could be a sign to the contemporary audience not just that he's thwarted the witches' prophecy but that he's the true hero, come to defeat the villain.

* EvilerthanThou: Lady Macbeth is a tough talker who chides her husband into committing regicide by questioning his manhood and even resorts to an Infanticide metaphor to get her point across ("I have given suck, and know/How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me/I would, while it was smiling in my face/Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums/And dash'd the the brains out, had I so sworn as you"). But, as the play progresses, it becomes clear that she's out of her league, as husband embarks on a killing spree almost immediately after assuming the throne and doesn't even ask for her input about it. This eventually goads her into complete madness over the monster she's created.