Does Macbeth become king?

Macbeth does become king, but only after committing a brutal act that sets the rest of the play in motion.

After hearing the witches’ prophecy that he will one day rule Scotland, Macbeth is tempted by the idea of power. When King Duncan visits his castle, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth murder him during the night and frame Duncan’s guards for the crime. With Duncan’s sons fleeing out of fear, suspicion falls on them instead, and Macbeth takes the throne.

His rise to kingship isn’t a triumph so much as the beginning of his downfall. Once crowned, Macbeth becomes increasingly paranoid and violent, ordering more murders to protect his position. The crown he gains through blood never brings him security or peace, and his rule turns him into a tyrant feared by his own people. Macbeth’s kingship shows that while ambition can win power, it can also destroy people.