Does macbeth deserve sympathy or criticism? Why?

Answer 1

for the first half of the play, sympathy.
He has been brought up to be a soldier, and for years has been the centre of widespread adulation due to hacking and killing record numbers. All this while Duncan sits blithely on the throne.
Whe finally he killes the wrong man, suddenly it is wrong. By whose rules? His first killing served the establishment = "good." His later disabled them - "bad."
But this is a man who has spent his life killing. Its a classic "retired soldier" thing - not that I'm suggesting all retired squaddies top people, nor that this excuses him. But after years of warfare his mind was bound to be unhinged.

However, as the play progresses, he becomes infatuated with himself, arrogant, and kills a close and loyal friend. he is indiscriminate in his killing. At the very least he deserves criticism for actign selfishly, though to be fair he is facing ruin and death.

I think its fair to say he meets his rightful end, but he is unusual in Shakespearean "heroes" in having come from the working class to the top, and he cannot handle it. I think S had a soft spot for him as he gives him some memorable lines.

Answer 2

No, he was ambitious and let his wife push his "manly" button, vaulting ambition is not enough to kill someone, he ruined his life...and murdered people...ect...ect...

Answer 3

aah both