Abstract

This paper examines Shakespeare's psychological craftsmanship displayed in his tragedy, Macbeth. A comparison is made to the work Crime and Punishment by the Russian author, F. M. Dostoyevsky, with regards to the motivations for the crimes of the both protagonists. Those motivations are traced in the psychological subtexts in the mentioned literary works, particularly in the suppressed feelings of inferiority. The emphasis is put on the fluid psychological development of Shakespeare's character, from a valiant knight to a merciless murderer and a tyrant. Several side issues, such as morality and ambition are also explored, as well as their influence on Macbeth's fate and eventual demise