Diagnostic Misconceptions - Cowardice

Lady Macbeth accuses Macbeth of being cowardly and says, ‘screw your courage to the sticking-place’ – but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s actually a coward. Ultimately, he does go through with regicide and goes into battle both before the play begins and at the end of the play. However, it is reasonable to say he is a conflicted character, torn between what is right, loyalty, friendship, but ambition, power and the fear of being caught out.