Macbeth: Hero or Villain?
Wajeesha Fernando, 11.4
Macbeth: Hero or Villain?
The play 'Macbeth' gives the audience plenty of opportunities to consider the reasons for the main character's actions. In this essay, I will consider the changes in Macbeth from the beginning of the play to the end. How the witches' interferences affected Macbeth's judgement.
In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a well-known hero. Many praise him for his bravery and loyalty. The King, Duncan makes his appreciation very public. He calls Macbeth a "worthy gentleman" and makes his closeness to Macbeth clear to the audience by stating that he is a "valiant cousin!"
He also honours Macbeth with the title 'Thane of cawdor' since the previous thane is on trial for treason. Duncan makes there closeness clearer by inviting himself to Macbeth's castle. At this point Macbeth is the most popular man in Scotland. The brave and loyal soldier, who just happened to be the king's cousin.
Everything seems to be going well for Macbeth an at this point; I would consider him a hero.
The first time we meet Macbeth is upon the heath in stormy weather. He and Banquo (his best friend) are going back to the castle after winning the battle. He and Banquo meet three "weird sisters", witches.
In the first Act and scene of the play we meet these three witches again "upon the health"", in thunder, lightning and in the rain," "to meet with Macbeth". These are signs of evil, as normal human beings would not want to meet in these terrible conditions.
Macbeth and Bonquo meet these witches upon the heath in thunder, lightning and in rain. Just as the witches had said. These witches hail "Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis!
All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter!" Bonquo asked them of his future and they predicted that he shall be "lesser than Macbeth, and greater. Not so happy, yet much happier". They say that he will never be the king, but can father kings.
This news had sent Macbeth and Bonquo into a state of shock. Macbeth considers the situation carefully. He thought about being the thane of the Cawder but remembered that the thane lives a prosperous life. He does not even want to think about being the king; it is too farfetched and overwhelming. "To be king stands not within the prospect of belief". Banquo then wonders if he is hallucinating. Macbeth seems quite happy about of what he had heard about Banquo and himself. "Your children shall be kings".
Then Angus and Ross arrive. They announce that Macbeth has been honoured as the Thane of Cawdor. Banquo's reply is "can the devil speak true?" This indicates that Banquo has recognised that the "weird sisters" are not of good but evil. Macbeth however, is more willing to believe the witches. He asks Banquo if he does not want his children to be kings, just as they promised to make Macbeth the Thane of Cawdor, "Do you not hope that your children shall be kings, when those that gave me the Thane of Cawdor to me promised no less to them?"
Banquo is wiser. He says that usually evil let us have something good first to gain our trust, and then let us down in the end.
"And oftentimes to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray's in deepest consequence".
Then Macbeth analyses the situation carefully, he thinks to himself, if
something is bad
or evil then it cannot be good. If it is evil then why does it give him success?
Then he says, "if good, why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image cloth unfix my hair, And make my seated heart knock at my ribs, against the use of nature? Presents fears are less than horrible imaginings: my thought whose murder yet is but fantastical, shakes so my single state of man that function is smothered in surmise and nothing is what is not".
This speech suggests that Macbeth is thinking of the unthinkable. He is imagining what it would feel like to be king. However, that would mean that his king is no longer alive. Macbeth's reaction is quite visible here because of the reaction he has against these thoughts. "Shakes so my single state of man that function is smothered in surmise". He does not want to think of such appalling thoughts, which I believe show his true loyalty to his king. Some may say that he should not have had that thought in the first place. But I disagree, as Macbeth experienced one of the key emotions humans have, greed, and selfishness.
Macbeth and Banquo then leave to see the king. King Duncan again shows his gratitude and love by greeting Macbeth highly and inviting himself to Macbeth's castle. But the main event, which set off Macbeth is when the heir to the throne is announced; Malcolm.
This is when Macbeth's dark side surface. Macbeth decides to kill the king and to get rid of the Prince, whom he only thinks of as an obstacle, not a human.
"The prince of Cumberland: that is a step on which I must fall down, or else o'er leap". ...
This is a preview of the whole essay
Macbeth and Banquo then leave to see the king. King Duncan again shows his gratitude and love by greeting Macbeth highly and inviting himself to Macbeth's castle. But the main event, which set off Macbeth is when the heir to the throne is announced; Malcolm.
This is when Macbeth's dark side surface. Macbeth decides to kill the king and to get rid of the Prince, whom he only thinks of as an obstacle, not a human.
"The prince of Cumberland: that is a step on which I must fall down, or else o'er leap".
Then he calls upon the darkness to hide his cruel thoughts. "Let not light see my black and deep desires".
In Act 1, Scene 5, Lady Macbeth is reading the letter Macbeth has send, while he is ridding to the castle. The letter shows the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth is very close, as he could not wait until he got home to deliver his wife the news. He calls her "my dearest partner of greatness", which shows their equality and love.
After reading, this letter Lady Macbeth makes it known to this audience what kind of a man she thinks her husband is. She says that he is ambitious enough to have goals in his life and to reach them, but he does not have the evil, which should accompany this ambition, to catch the nearest route. "I fear thy nature, it is too full o'th' milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way". She claims that he is too kind. This same man split open a man's body at the beginning of the play. She says that he is just and fair, "that wouldst thou holily, wouldst not play false".
Lady Macbeth then decides what to do to get her way. She decides to persuade Macbeth to kill Duncan. "I may pour my spirits in thine ear, and chastise with the valour of my tongue".
She then calls upon all powers of evil to take away her femininity. "Unsex me here". She asks the evil to fill her with "direst cruelty" and to stop her from feeling remorse. This shows what kind of a woman Lady Macbeth really is. She is certainly not the typical woman in the Seventeenth Century. She can be described as a modern day (21st Century) woman as her ideas are very independent and very unlike the quiet, sensual women portrayed in those days.
She then makes a statement saying that Duncan will not live to see tomorrow's sun. This is said when Macbeth enters the castle. After encountering Macbeth, she says to him that his face is like an open book; his feelings are too obvious. She tells him to hide his feelings, and to pretend and act as a happy host. She tells him to, "look like the time"", look like th' innocent flower, but be the serpent under't". Macbeth neither agreed nor disagreed. He only says that they would speak further.
At the beginning of Act 1, Scene 7, Macbeth is alone in the hallway, contemplating the situation. This is his soliloquy and is one of the most important ones. Macbeth says; if the deed is successful then it would be wonderful. However, that would not be the case, as consequences follow every action committed. He knows that eventually he would have to pay a price for his actions. "If th' assassination could crammel up the consequence". He gives many reasons why he should not kill the king, and he chooses the right path by deciding not to kill the king. At this point, Macbeth is able to see the difference between right and wrong.
However, he does not feel strong enough about it because he let Lady Macbeth convince him otherwise. A lot of verbal abuse by Lady Macbeth does this. "Was the hope drunk wherein you dressed yourself?", "And live a coward in thine own esteem". This shows how dominated Macbeth is by his wife. He and Lady Macbeth conspire about the deed and Macbeth ends the conversation by saying that they should mask their feelings and pretend with the time; "mock the time with fairest show: false face must hide what the false heart doth know" This is very similar to the speech Lady Macbeth made in Act 1, Scene 5. This is another sign showing the charges in Macbeth's character.
Act 2 is a very important Act. This is the Act, which determined whether the king lives, or die. In this Act, Macbeth makes another very important speech; a soliloquy. Macbeth hallucinates and sees a dagger before him. He tries to tough it, but fails, as it really is not there. This shows that his mental stability is deteriorated. He follows the dagger and commits regicide.
In Act 2, Scene 2 Macbeth comes out of Duncan's chamber after doing the 'deed'. He is holding on to the daggers and his hands are covered in blood. He looks down at his hands and says, "this is a sorry sight", his sorrow is very clear then. Lady Macbeth tries to console him but he starts talking about what has taken place. He says that one of them cried out "murder" in his sleep, (it is almost as if nature is trying to show its distress). Then they got up and said their prayers and went back to sleep. Then one cried out "God bless us" and they both said 'Amen'. What troubled Macbeth was that he was unable to say 'Amen'. This is quite ironical because Macbeth has just committed murder and he expects to say 'Amen', which refers to all things good and right.
Then Macbeth says that he heard a voice crying out, "sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep"", sleep no more, Glamis hath murdered sleep, and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more. Macbeth shall sleep no more!" This shows that Macbeth's state of mind has deteriorated, and he is delusional. Lady Macbeth asks him to take the daggers back, but Macbeth is too afraid to look at what he has done, the brave soldier seems to be losing the grip, "I'll go no more. I am afraid to think what I have done". After Lady Macbeth leave, Macbeth dwells on his guilt. "What hands are here?" "Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?" He also regrets his actions "wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!"
In the next scene, Duncan's body is found. Everyone is distorted, and Macbeth shows his grief and anger. His deceitful nature is shown, as he murders the guards and surpasses it on as love for the king. After finding out that their father was murded Malcolm and Donalbain retreat to England and Ireland. The suspicion of murder id put upon them and Macbeth is appointed the King of Scotland.
In Act 3, Scene 1 everyone is getting ready for the big banquet at Macbeth's palace. This is done to celebrate his coronation. Macbeth goes over to Banquo and asks if he is attending the banquet. Banquo says replies he is. Macbeth then asks if Macbeth is going riding. Banquo says yes. Macbeth continues to ask few more questions about it. This is very peculiar as Macbeth is really pressing the issue and seems very interested about Banquo's whereabouts. And the fact that Banquo is going riding with his son, Fleance.
After Banquo leaves, Macbeth orders the servant to bring in the murderers. During the absence of his servant, Macbeth makes another important speech. Macbeth talks about his fear of Banquo. He cannot feel safe because Banquo lives. He is the King of Scotland, but he wants to feel safe that his place in the throne is secure. "To be thus is nothing, but to be safely thus". He talks about Banquo's wisdom, which will guide him to safety. He says that there is no one else he fears apart from Banquo. He talks about the meeting with the witches.
Then he says that the witches has placed a "fruitless crown, and put a barren sceptre in my gripe", which means that even though he is named king, it is not enough, as no son of his would become a king. He has killed Duncan for Banquo's benefit/future, for Banquo's children. His peacefulness is lost because of what he has done, for them. But Macbeth decides that he is not going to let that happen. He has added them to his murder list, which shall alter their fate. He decides to get rid of them.
Two murderers come in to the scene. Macbeth tries to convince them that Banquo is an evil, cruel, deceitful man. He makes them feel as if it is an obligation to do their duty, to kill Banquo. If they do the deed, they will be serving the country and its people. Macbeth succeeds as the murderers agree to his plan.
Later on in Act 3, Scene 2 Lady Macbeth goes to Macbeth. She asks him why he is keeping her in the dark and is depriving her from finding out what really is going on. "Why do you keep alone?" Their tight relationship is slowly breaking up as Macbeth continues to keep things to himself. "Be innocent of the knowledge, till thou applaud the deed".
In the banquet, one of the murderers goes to see Macbeth to let him know what had happened. As he informs Macbeth that Banquo was brutally killed, Macbeth feels greatly relieved, but he informs Macbeth that Fleance has escaped, this brings back all his worries and doubts; "then comes my fit again".
Macbeth returns to the banquet and makes a toast. But to Macbeth's horror Banquo's
Ghost appeared. This caused Macbeth to make quite a scene, as no one else could see him.
In Act 4, Scene 1, Macbeth goes to fins the witches, when he does he demands answers from them. The witches ask if he want to hear it from them or from the higher powers. Macbeth chooses the latter. Three apparitions appear before him.
The first one is an armed head. The apparition says "Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff, beware the Thane of Fife". Macbeth decides to kill Macduff at this point.
Second apparition is a bloody child; it says "Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Be bloody, bold, and resolute: laugh to scorn the power of man; for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth".
After hearing that Macbeth decides to let Macduff live, then changes his mind just to be double sure. This shows how quickly and easily Macbeth takes life and death decisions.
The third apparition is a child crowned, with a tree in his hand. It said, "be lion-mettled, proud, and take no care who chafes, who frets, or where conspirers are: Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsainane hill shall come against him".
Macbeth immediately realises that all the apparitions have given him good news. He will soon take care of Macduff; therefore, he is temporarily trouble free. Moreover, someone who is born of a woman cannot kill him. The third apparition is that he would never be vanquished until Great Birnam wood march up the hill to his castle, which he thought was impossible. Macbeth then demands to know if Banquo's children will rule the kingdom; the witches show a whole line of kings who are Banquo's descendants.
Macbeth returns to the castle and Lennox brings him bad news; Macduff has fled to England to join Malcolm. Macbeth makes another fatal decision; he orders Macduff's castle to be attacked and everyone in it to be slaughtered. "The castle of Macduff I will surprise, seize upon Fife, give to the edge o'the' sword his wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line".
In Act 5, Scene 1 a doctor is brought in to look at Lady Macbeth's problems. She is having difficulties, living with the sins, she has committed; "here's the smell of blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand". The doctor realises that all she need is peace in her mind by getting forgiveness from God for the sins she has committed. The doctor has an encounter with Macbeth. Macbeth's love for his wife is quite clear here, but the affection is dying out slowly. "Pluck from the memory a rooted sorrow, raze out the written troubles of the brain, and with some sweet oblivious antidote cleanse the stuffed bossom of that perilous stuff which weighs upon the heart?" The doctor merely agrees and clears out of the castle knowing that if he utters the truth, his life would be in danger.
Macbeth is informed that the English forces are coming on to attack; he is not worried because of what he was told by the apparitions. Macbeth talks about what he has sacrificed to become king and to retain it. Things that should accompany old age, "honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have". Macbeth seems to have realised his wrong doings, but he put no effort to stop the continuation of his heinous deeds.
In Scene 5, Macbeth gets the terrible news that his wife had died. At this moment, he is almost inhuman as emotions or feelings are unable to touch him. "She should have died hereafter". Macbeth then talks about life in general. He concludes that there is no meaning to life. Just like an actor who comes on stage and play the part, then leave the stage never to be heard anymore, "poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage, and then is heard of no more". This is ironic as Shakespeare is using an actor to play the part of Macbeth who is saying that actors are similar to life, as they play a part and then disappear.
A messenger reports that Birnam wood is coming up the hill. Macbeth makes a threat to have him hanged alive if he is lying, and goes outside to see for himself. He realises that there is nothing else to do but fight.
The battle begins and Macbeth kills Young Siward who says that hearing Macbeth's name is worse than hearing devil's name; "the devil himself could not pronounce a title more hateful to mine ear".
Now Macbeth is feeling invincible arrogant. He says that he is not going to act like a Roman fool and kill himself, when he can just make gashes on others around him. "Why should I play the Roman fool, and die on mine own sword? Whiles I see lives, the gashes do better upon them". Macbeth and Macduff finally meet and Macduff address him as a "hell-hound". Macbeth refuse to fight him saying that his "soul is too much charged with blood of thine already". They finally fight and Macbeth says that he cannot be killed from one of woman born. Macduff says that he was not born naturally but "untimely ripped".
At this moment Macbeth realises that he was deceived by the witches, that they were making 'double sense'. Macbeth realises that everything he has done was for Banquo's family. Macbeth's sacrifices have all been done for someone who he has terminated.
Macbeth again refused to fight Macduff, this time it was done knowing that does not lead a charmed life and that he can be killed easily. Macduff says that he will be put in
a cage and put on show.
Macbeth then decides to die like a hero, fighting. He and Macduff fight and Macduff slay Macbeth and his reign of terror finally ends. In the end of the play, Macbeth is known as a "dead butcher". Everything he has done is to be known in years to come, but only as a murderer, a butcher, not as a great ruler or a hero.
Macbeth was known for his great ambitions, Lady Macbeth states this clearly in the end of Act 1. His greediness and ambitions drives him to commit mass murder and to lose sight of all things right and good.
He is also very dominated by his wife in the beginning of the play, but by the end, (after he kills Duncan and the guards) he distances himself from her. He stops sharing his thoughts and plans. This maybe because he did not want to burden his wife with his vicious plans. On the other hand, it could be because he stops trusting her; he makes it clear that he trusts no one, (he place spies in every Lord's castles).
Did Macbeth become a murderer because of his ambitions, Lady Macbeth's influences or because of the witches' prophecies? Would Macbeth kill the king if the witches had not predicted his future? I do not think he would have. Nevertheless, why did the witches choose him? Is it because they knew that he would react, as he reacted to what the witches had to offer? These are just some of the questions that arise when reading Macbeth and only Shakespeare himself can answer. But the main point Shakespeare was trying to make is the clash between good and evil, and good triumphing evil. His message is that whatever your actions are there is always consequences. Especially when you are dealing with evil, the consequences will only be more brutal and treacherous.
When Macbeth started taking drastic actions about the predictions the witches made, we could have said that his actions were the result of the witches' predictions coming true. Banquo, however, thought that evil cannot bring any good, and if they do, then they are going to betray them later with something big and important. Banquo decides not to do anything and just let things take its course.
Macbeth decides to take matters into his own hands and spread things up. This causes the changes in Macbeth's character. The loyal, brave soldier in the beginning of the play slowly disappears, and a cruel, vindictive man emerges. The hero ended up being the villain. And it was neither the witches' nor Lady Macbeth's fault, even though they played a major part. It was due to Macbeth's own ambition and ruthlessness, in which he became the known villain of Scotland. Therefore, the question stands; "is Macbeth a hero or a villain?" My answer is, he was a hero who eventually became a villain by his own ill doings.