Is Macbeth A Hero Or A Villain

Shakespeare presents Macbeth more extensively as a villain using methods which would be more understood in the era the play was composed, which was the Jacobean period, but influenced by the reign of Elizabeth. During the Elizabethan period people were preoccupied with the supernatural, which is one of the main topics in Shakespeare’s play. In my opinion Shakespeare structures the play to make the audience see Macbeth transforming from a hero into a villain, we can also see how Macbeth’s character transfigures from a valiant, noble soldier to a deceitful traitor.

It is important for Shakespeare to present Macbeth as a hero in order to prepare the reader for his tragic downfall. Shakespeare first presents Macbeth as a hero when he is called “brave Macbeth” by the captain. In many ways the captain represents the whole army and this could be a way for Shakespeare to show how Macbeth is viewed by the army it could also show how Shakespeare is seen as brave by a high up member of society. As well as being praised by the captain Macbeth is also praised by the King, the line ‘more is thy due than more than all can pay’ shows how the King respects Macbeth “more is thy due” shows Macbeth is a hero in the eyes of the King as the King believes he owes Macbeth for what he has done.

Avaunt! And quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee! / Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; / Thou hast no speculation in those eyes / Which thou dost glare with! (III.iv.109-103). Macbeth’s deranged actions at the banquet show that any actions he takes past that point, including ordering the death of Macduff’s family, should not be held personally against Macbeth as his mental health has deteriorated to the point that he is no longer sane. Moreover, it is arguable that Macbeth is under the impression that Macduff and his family are dangerous to him. The witches, in the First Apparition shown to Macbeth, tells him to “Beware Macduff! / Beware the Thane of Fife” (IV.i.78-79). This is a direct mention of the danger posed by Macduff against Macbeth, and as Macduff has escaped, Macbeth can only attempt to punish Macduff’s family in order to dissuade him from acting against Macbeth’s regime. Finally, Macduff betrayed and committed high treason against King Macbeth for fleeing to a foreign power to assist an enemy of the state, Malcolm. Macduff’s goal to dethrone Macbeth is clearly shown when he requests that he and Malcolm must “Macduff.

in all purity. This is mainly due to the fact that he was willing to

Macbeth goes back to see the three witches because he wants to know more and more that what is going to happen to him in the future. The witches say they can sense something evil coming near to their cave that is Macbeth. When Macbeth ask the witches they say “Macbeth, beware he thane of fife Macduff”. But Macbeth doesn’t understand the witches and thinks that it is macduff and his family that he should be aware of. The witches also tell him more predictions like no man

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a tragedy in which the main characters are obsessed by the desire for power. Macbeth’s aspiration for power blinds him to the ethical implications of his dreadful acts. The more that Shakespeare’s Macbeth represses his murderous feelings, the more he is haunted by them. By analyzing his hallucinations it is possible to trace his deteriorating mental state and the trajectory of his ultimate fall. Throughout the play Macbeth is never satisfied with himself. He feels the need to keep committing crime in order to keep what he wants most: his kingship. The harder Macbeth tries to change his fate the more he tends to run into his fate. His ambition and struggle for power was Macbeth’s tragic flaw in the play.

First, it is Macbeth’s thirst for power, coupled with Lady Macbeth’s manipulation of him, that drive the murder of KIng Duncan. As Banquo becomes suspicious and as Macbeth becomes increasingly troubled by the witches’ proclamation that Banquo will be the father of kings, Macbeth convinces himself that Banquo must be killed, proclaiming “For Banquo’s issue I have filed my mind [...] the seeds of Banquo kings (III.i.70-75).” Macbeth is paranoid of losing his new-found power to Banquo. This fear is so stout that it drives him to solicit the murder of his most loyal friend. As his morality devolves further, Macbeth senses disloyalty from Macduff, and he resolves to murder MacDuff’s entire family. In Act IV, Macbeth says, “But yet I'll make assurance double sure,/ And take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live; (IV.i.94-95).” Even though the prophecy seems to assuage Macbeth’s fears of losing power, he still plans to kill MacDuff, supporting his further descent into corruption and evil- all driven by his thirst for

In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Lady Macbeth is the true villain of the play as she is evil, ambitious and eventually insane. Lady Macbeth masterminded the idea to kill King Duncan and planted the vision into Macbeths mind, she convinced Macbeth to commit such a crime, and her love for her husband was eventually overruled by her determination and lust for power. Throughout the play she starts to show her true colours and the destructive force of her ambition, which inevitably results in nothing but disaster.

Coincidentally, Duncan, honoring the hero, decides to stay at Macbeth’s castle overnight. Lady Macbeth believes that this is a perfect opportunity given by fate to kill Duncan and usurp his power. Exhibiting extreme ambition and masculinity, Lady Macbeth orchestrates the entire scheme and persuades her husband into committing evil deeds, chiding him for behaving like a feminine and coward. Macbeth eventually yields to his wife’s pressure and manipulation. After the murder is discovered, Malcolm and Donalbain, Duncan’s sons, flee to England and Ireland, respectively, while Macbeth assumes a dictatorial sovereignty of Scotland. Macbeth, however, becomes insecure about his power, for the witches have prophesied that Banquo’s descendants will be kings and Macduff, another Scottish nobleman in England, may threaten him. Hence, the vicious tyrant assassinates Banquo and Macduff’s family. As a result, Macduff, with aids from Malcolm and England, vows to retaliate against Macbeth. Meanwhile, Lady Macbeth is greatly agonized by guilt, sleepwalking, rubbing her hands as if trying to wash away the bloodstains, and finally committing suicide. The downfall of Macbeth immediately succeeds when the English army invades his castle and is marked by Macduff outplaying Macbeth in a fierce

He is not truly evil yet because there is sane parts of him holding him back. Finally Macbeth falls to the pressure and starts thinking of ways he could evade the consequences instead of just not doing it. He thinks, "that but this blow might be the be-all and the end-all here, but here, upon this bank and shoal of time, we'ld jump the life to come" (Macbeth.) Furthermore proving he has almost turned evil, His mind has made it to the stage of acceptance that he will do it, but might be able to escape the consequences that are sure to come. He displays his true nature and leans toward the side of evil because of power lust and pressure.

As time progressed, people began to find comfort in Christianity. Many people expanded their faith not only in Pagan beliefs, but in Christian beliefs as well. Hope was mainly found in Christianity because people liked believing in eternal life and life after death. There were also many differences in beliefs between individuals, writers mainly. Some writers would reference Christianity, others Paganism, and sometimes they portrayed characteristics of both, although it really depended on who was ruling at the time. As literature evolutionized, religion expanded across the world through stories and epic poems which gave people something new to find themselves searching for comfort in.

Macbeth's evil is a dynamic character trait. He begins the play as a celebrated hero, loyal to his friends and dedicated to his king. He is strong and noble, a man to be admired by his audience. Macbeth and Banquo are visited by the three witches, who promise him that he will be king. This veiled intimation ignites a secret ambition within Macbeth. Evil has dawned within him, but at this early stage of his

   The dark aura surrounding Shakespeare's Macbeth is well deserved, as is the darkness shrouding its title character. Although Macbeth is certainly a villainous, evil man based solely on his actions, a fuller examination of his character's portrayal leads to a more sympathetic view of him. The play does not portray Macbeth simply as a cold-blooded murderer, but rather as a tortured soul attempting to deal with the atrocities surrounding him.

Lady Macbeth brings out Macbeth’s tragic flaw when she proposes the idea of killing King Duncan and he states, “I have no spur . . . but only vaulting ambition” (1.7.25-27). Once King Duncan has been murdered, this flaw is revealed because his actions reflect on his ambition to stay king. Macbeth begins by planning on killing Banquo and his son because the witches told Banquo “thou shalt get kings, thought thou be none” (1.3.68). Macbeth must kill Banquo and his son, so no one will have the opportunity to take the crown away from him. When Macbeth sends murderers to kill them, Fleance can get away while Banquo is brutally attacked; however, luckily for Macbeth, Fleance is never heard from again. When Macbeth goes to visit the witches again and the first apparition tells him to “beware Macduff” (4.1.71-72), he then realizes he must eliminate any other obstacle that could potentially keep him from staying king. He says he will “give to th’edge o’th’sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls” (4.1.150-151) just to ensure his throne. By doing these horrible deeds, Macbeth proves he is willing to go above and beyond to remain king until his

Macbeth has some combination of both a villain and a victim in the novel ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare. Macbeth is a brave and powerful nobleman that was urged by his wife lady Macbeth to invite his cousin King Duncan to sleep over. Then, later on kill him so he can become king and become more powerful. Lennox, arrives early in the morning to wake the king and sees that King Duncan is dead. They announce that King Duncan is dead. Macbeth acts upset, Macduff and Banquo are frightened. Lady Macbeth faints once she hears that King Duncan has been murdered. Donalbain flees to Ireland and Malcolm flees to England because they think the murderer of their father will come after them next. Macduff gets very suspicious about Macbeth that he raises an army in order to kill Macbeth. Macbeth goes from an innocent nice nobleman to a murderer.