It allows the reader to understand the change in character that Macbeth has undergone due to the stark contrast between his characterization at the beginning of the play and that at the end. Shakespeare also shows the change by allowing the reader to make a comparison between the characterization of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth throughout the story. Shakespeare makes the contrast so great that, after placing Macbeth's behavior at the end in context with the full story, the reader feels that he is not a cold tyrant but rather a tragic hero. It is because Shakespeare placed so much emphasis on his mental decline that the reader still finds that he had many qualities that counteract his character in the end. Macbeth is undoubtedly a great example of a tragic story.