At the beginning of the play Macbeth seems to be brave and strong, but in the end he gets overwhelmed and corrupted by his fears of the future. He betrays his friends and allies to protect himself from his own future. The constant fear starts to drive him to madness. In the end he is alone without the friends or family he had once had before all of the fighting had happened.

      Macbeth is shown to be strong and brave at the start when the battle is occurring. It is also not just Macbeth who believes it either the others who witnessed the battle new his great strength. Impressing a captain in King Duncan's army telling the king all the “ But all’s too weak,For brave Macbeth”(1.2.14-15), and this impresses the king enough to make him the thane of Cawdor “And with his former title greet Macbeth”(1.2.66). This all sets up Macbeth as a trusted friend to his cousin the king.

      The first major problem Macbeth faces is the predictions of his and Banquo's future chance to become royalty. After being told this he begins to fear what he will do to become king. It is immediately obvious that he does not like the prophecy because the current king would have to die for him to become king. He then becomes distrustful of his own mind fearing it will make him kill the king so that he will get the throne from him. Even after being convinced that he could kill the king, Macbeth was scared  “if we should fail”(1.7.58). Then later in the play after the king is dead Macbeth begins to fear the prophecy that Banquo’s children will be kings “Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo”(4.1.117).

       Macbeth after getting this new fear he allows himself to be consumed by it, and let it take over his life. After following his fear, and killing the king the guilt after following his instincts “Glamis hath murdered sleep”(2.2.44). It can be seen when he see the witch sisters and says “Deny me this, and an eternal curse fall on you”(4.1.109-110). Then Macbeth follows the witches advice to protect himself from Banquo's descendants. Killing not only Banquo, but also Macduff’s family in hopes to kill him as well. The amount he has been corrupted can be seen when Lady Macbeth dies, and Macbeth does not seem to care very much.

       Anyone can see how Macbeth fear of the future effects all the future choices Macbeth makes even when it forces him to abandon himself in the process. Giving up on those he loved before the prophecy. After betraying all his friends he was left alone with everything falling apart around him. Until the death of the shell that was left of him.