Is Macbeth a hero or a villain?

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Macbeth

                                           

                 Is Macbeth a hero or a villain?

A hero is a man who is idealized for possessing superior qualities in any field.

A villain is a main evil character and antagonist to the hero. (Collins Shorter Dictionary).

This essay will explore whether Macbeth was a villain or not. Macbeth may be the main character whom the play focuses on. This is because he saved his country from defeat in the beginning of the play. Then he becomes a villain by killing the king and many other people. Therefore, the play mainly focuses on Macbeth’s action. So therefore, he can be called both a hero and a villain. Macbeth also can be called a traitor like the old Thane of Cawdor, because he endangered his country and turned his back on his friends.

                   Why was he the hero to the country? Some people may ask, because most of Scotland's soldiers died or fled the battle. Macbeth and a few other soldiers were left. Macbeth never lost hope and stayed until Thane of Cawdor was defeated. King Duncan obviously likes Macbeth, because he saved his country from defeat. Not only the king likes Macbeth, everyone does. This is shown when Sergeant says

   "For brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name."

(Act1 scene 2 line 16)

Even King Duncan respects Macbeth for example when he says

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   "O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman."

(Act 1 scene 2 line 24)

                    Killing King Duncan needed a lot of bravery, because if anyone found out, or Macbeth was stopped somehow he would have been executed. The awful deed needed a lot of bravery and determination, which Macbeth had in abundance. But he did not have more determination than his wife, because at a point she said

     "Had he not reassembled my father as he slept I had don't."

(Act 2 scene 2 line 13)

Macbeth knew ...

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