Claim: Macbeth is about a man who becomes the King of Scotland.

Lord Macbeth , the Thane of Glamis , is the title character and titular main protagonist turned primary antagonist of William Shakespeare 's Macbeth -LRB- c. 1603 -- 1607 -RRB- . The character is based on the historical king Macbeth of Scotland , and is derived largely from the account in Holinshed 's Chronicles -LRB- 1587 -RRB- , a history of Britain . The play was written for King James I of England and King James V of Scotland .   Macbeth is a Scottish noble and a valiant military man . After a supernatural prophecy , and at the urging of his wife , Lady Macbeth , he commits regicide and becomes King of Scotland . He thereafter lives in anxiety and fear , unable to rest or to trust his nobles . He leads a reign of terror until defeated by his former ally Macduff . The throne is then restored to the rightful heir , the murdered King Duncan 's son , Malcolm .