Another example of heroic qualities in Macbeth is they way in, which he attempts to fight against Lady Macbeth concerning the murder of Duncan. Would a true villain have doubts and be torn by the connections he has with his victim? “First I am his kinsman and his loyal subject” although in the same speech he refers to the venerability and innocence of Duncan, “like a new-born babe” would a true hero murder an innocent and vulnerable old man? Eventually Lady Macbeth fights against her husband with her great power of language. “Then you were a man” she questions his manhood which he can’t take and feels he must prove himself. After the actual “deed” Macbeth has to deal with enormous amounts of guilt, he can’t sleep and because of the murder the relationship with his wife deteriorates. What he has done is completely unnatural so his life becomes unnatural, he can’t even do the most natural things such as sleep. So in a strange way he becomes a victim of himself, although this was self-inflicted this is something you would associate with a hero not a villain. Again this could be interpreted by an audience in two ways one as Macbeth being a hero once more or because he hardens to the outside world including his wife “strengthens in evil resolve” it could be seen as a hardened villain. Although I see this as a weakness perhaps not a heroic quality but certainly not villainous.
One of Macbeth great weaknesses is his love for Lady Macbeth. She has played a large part in ruining him but he still loves her and doesn’t blame her, as it is he that did the dreadful deed. She doesn’t see it like that at all she is plagued with guilt and this is what eventually drives to her early grave. She goes slowly insane and Macbeth sends for a doctor knowing full well that this may mean putting all that he has worked for and his secrets in jeopardy. “ yet who would have thought the old man to have so much blood in him?” This was an action of a hero not a villain.
At the end of the play Shakespeare surprises the audience with a sudden flicker of a heroic action in Macbeth, just when the audience has consigned Macbeth to be a villainous murder. When Macbeth is faced with fighting Mcduff { someone who he has already been warned about} he confronts his fear and fate. “yet I will try the last.” While this doesn’t excuse his crimes it does enable the audience to see some remnant of his great bravery. At this end also Macbeth is betrayed by the witches of whom he has almost become one of them: the witches have earlier referred to him as a “ wayward son”. They betray him which again puts the label of a victim onto Macbeth so once again Macbeth is seen as having heroic qualities.
I think that if Macbeth was played like a villain without emotions or any heroic qualities then they play would loss most of the plot and it’s originality at that time. There would be no point in the play, without a hero there is no tragedy, the tragedy is Macbeth becoming corrupt and coming from a hero into a villain.
How can such a man with heroic qualities murder a king, and innocent women and children? I would question his heroic qualities.
Macbeth is determined and ambitious, and with that goes a violent and ruthless nature. Some say it was the witches that sparked off the evil inside Macbeth I would agree but I also would agree that Lady Macbeth is also to blame. Macbeth becomes a villain and becomes one of the witches, “so foul and fair a day I have not seen” he begins to echo the witches. This makes it very hard for him to posses heroic qualities. Right from the star of the play we can see the way in which Macbeth is headed, from the way in which he reacts to the witches "can the devil speak true” is his reply when Banquo challenges the witches motives. Macbeth’s attitude and even his speech changes to match that of a villain. At the end of the play his speech produces evil imagery again a strong connection with the witches, “slaughterous thoughts”, “infected air”.
The ultimate villainous act that Macbeth commits is the cold-blooded murder of McDuffs wife and children. This act cannot be forgiven and highlights Macbeth’s ruthless and heinous nature. The murders were committed because McDuff was abroad therefore Macbeth couldn’t harm him so he went for the next best thing, also because Macbeth has no children of his own the act may have been committed out of jealousy. It is very doubtful that a man that could slaughter harmless women and children can have any heroic qualities. The killing of Duncan is also a villainous deed; to kill a king is completely unnatural. Duncan was a defenceless “old man”. Surely only a villain could murder the king that has just bestowed upon him The Thane of Cawdor, and who is loved by all. And if Macbeth did have any heroic qualities wouldn’t he have given himself up, not blamed and murdered the two loyal guards.
The relationship between Macbeth and his wife, after the death of Duncan slowly breaks down, and the lack of communication increases as the Macbeth gets deep into the villainous life. She was the main force behind the murder of Duncan, but Macbeth can’t accept her as he used to because she didn’t have to face the actual murder of Duncan. A good example of the communication break down is when Lady Macbeth is resigned to asking to speak with her husband “may I hold a conference with the king?” He feels that he can’t trust anyone; would a hero desert his wife? I think not. Although it could be said that he was trying to protect her from his suffering.
I have come to the conclusion that I agree that Macbeth is a
villain of the worst kind but he also poses some heroic qualities. Like all the characters in Shakespeare’s tragedies Macbeth develops and changes throughout the play. When the play begins he is a god-like hero, a firm, strong and loyal character. Unfortunately for him through following his great ambition that suppresses his good and heroic qualities he becomes a “Tyrant”. Macbeth, despite the evil he commits, is nevertheless a courageous soldier.
