As with all persons that want to gain power many innocent people will suffer
on the way.
The character Banquo is also a tragic hero in this play although not so
prominent. He and Macbeth fought bravely against Norwegian troops but
Macbeth sends three murderers to kill him. First Murderer, (act 3 scene 3)
'But who bid thee join with us?' Third Murderer, ' Macbeth'. The tragedy here
is that Banquo was a friend and fought for his country alongside Macbeth
only to be killed by him.
Macbeth is the main tragic hero in this play, as said before Macbeth fought
very bravely for his country and was hailed a hero by the captain as he said,
'For brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name.' The three witches led him to
tragedy as he tried to fulfil their prophecy of him becoming king
and tried to break their other prophecy where they told Banquo that his
descendants would become kings not Macbeth's. 'Thou shalt get kings,
though thou be none.'(act 1 scene 3)
The futher it gets into the play the more tragic he becomes as he is led by
his wife's suggestions of who to kill in order to break Banquo's prophecy.
It is a great tragedy when a person of high birth that is looked up to by
others is so weak minded that they can be so easily persuaded by others to
behave in an amoral way. As king Macbeth rules with fear and is a tyrant.
Audiences that have watched this play since it was written in the late 1500's
and early 1600's have probably all known of a person who was a tyrant.
From knowing this not all of them would be moved to pity Macbeth in this
play.They would hold more pity for those around him that have been
murdered, particularly his friends.
The late 20th century audience should all know of the tyrants of the time.
One in particular, Hitler! With this in mind Macbeth would not get much pity
for himself and would be condemmed for such actions and his final defeat
would be seen as justice for his crimes.
In Macbeth there several characters of high birth. Duncan, the king of
Scotland, his two sons, Macduff Thane of Fife and his son and Macbeth
himself progressing from Thane of Glamis to Thane of Cawdor and
eventually king of Scotland. There is also an English character of high birth,
Siward, Earl of Northumberland and his son.
These characters show the struggle for position of high status among the
nobility and the struggle for power of one country over another and how
along the way how innocent people around always suffer. The son of
Seward, young Seward is killed by Macbeth as he boasts that he cannot be
killed, 'But swords I smile at, weapons laugh to scorn, brandished by man
that's of a woman born.' (act 5 scene 7). The audience are moved to pity for
the death of a young man and perhaps a little for Macbeth who is deluding
himself.
Macbeth does not show that many good qualities needed for that of a tragic
hero. His quality, loyalty to his country is most obvious. He is greatly upset
at the thought of Macduff going to the England who at the time were wanting
to rule Scotland. His quality, bravery, is seen at the onset of the play where
he is praised for his valient efforts in fighting and killing the rebel Macdonald
who was aided by Norwegian troops and at the end of the play when the
tragic hero's speech is proud and defiant, 'I will yield to kiss the ground
before young Malcolm's feet ', ' Yet I try the last,' (act 5 scene 9). Duncan
also calls Macbeth a, 'Valient cousin, worthy gentleman.' (act 1 scene 2). One
other quality which he has is the great love for his wife, Lady Macbeth. The
tragedy of this situation is that Lady Macbeth is just as ambitious, or even
more so, for Macbeth to rule Scotland. Because of this she suggests many of
the amoral deeds, and also helps occasionally to carry them out. Macbeth is
more receptive and in agreement to the suggestions made by someone that he
loves.
Macbeth's concience pricks him at time when he is planning to murder
Duncan. Macbeth finds several good reasons for not killing Duncan. They
are related and a subject of Duncan, 'First, as I am his kinsman and his
subject, strong both against the deed,' He is the host, 'as his host who against
his murderer shut the door,'. Duncan is a good man, 'Duncan has borne his
faculties so meek, hath been so clear in his great office,' and could him being
over- ambitious bring about his downfall, 'Vaulting ambition which o'erleaps
itself and falls on th'other.' (act 1 scene 7)
The thought of gaining power is the one flaw in many a person. All their
decency towards seems to evaporate the nearer that they reach their goal.
They will consider any means of achieving what they want. Macbeth first
displays this flaw when he is hurt by Lady Macbeth's taunts that he is a
coward, (and live a coward in thine own esteem,' (act 1 scene 7) and allows
her to persuade him to actually kill Duncan even though it will result in
vengeance, but ambition spurs him on. He has become a deciever as he
relays his sorrow at the death of Duncan, The wine of life is drawn, and the
mere lees is left this vault to brag of.' (act 2 scene 3).
As the play progresses the flaw in Macbeth's character is surfacing more
often as Banquo is murdered. Banquo's son Fleance escapes the murderers.
This is in order to try and ensure Macbeth's own family succession to the
throne of Scotland.
Next it is when he purposly visits the witches to find out more about his
future. Before he had any ambitions to the throne Macbeth was afraid of the
witches because he thought they were evil. Banquo comments, 'Good sir,
why do you start and seem to fear things that do not sound so fair?' (act 1
scene 3).
Finally the power which he seeks makes him believe that he is invincible and
that no one can kill him and that he will never be overthrown. He thinks this
because of the last two prophecies that the witches make. 'Be bloody, bold,
and resolute; laugh to scorn the power of man, for none of women born
shall harm Macbeth.', and ' Be lion - mettled, proud, and take no care who
chafes, who frets or where conspirers are. Macbeth shall never vanquished
be until great Burnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him.'
(act 4 scene 1).
These last two prophecies are the ones that finally bring his down fall and
death. Downfall and death is the usual fate of any tyrant real or imaginary and
it is the major part of the finale of this play.
As with all people under the rule of a tyrant it is the innocent that suffer and
this play also has the convention of innocent people suffering, the first being
Duncan the rightful king of Scotland who is unwittingly party to his own
death by visiting Macbeth at his castle in Inverness. The next innocent victim
is Banquo. Macbeth thinks that if he gets rid of Banquo and the son Fleance
there will be none of Banquo's decendants threatening his throne. Macbeth
succseeds in having Banquo murdered by fails with Fleance. After that it is
the wife and son of Macduff that fall fowl of Macbeth. Along with these
people are all the soldiers that are ignorantly loyal to Macbeth and any
soldiers that fight against Macbeth.
At the time that Shakespeare wrote this play witches and witchcraft were the
morbid facination and fear of the population. He used this in Macbeth to
catch the audience's attention showing that witchcraft is an evil and
dangerous thing and should not be dabbled in, not even if you are a king.
Where the witches are preparing to meet Macbeth the second time
Shakespear uses their cauldren and horrible ingredients to show how
poisonous evil is and how it can into anyone.(act 4 scene 1)
James I was king of England at the time and was known to be interested in
witchcraft. The play is opened with the scene of three ugly, old women
agreeing when next to meet. The characters usually refer to them as 'wierd
sisters'.
Shakespeare may have written Macbeth as a warning to all of the perils of
using or condoning witchcraft. Many of the people that watched Macbeth
would have seen the ravings of Macbeth, when he sees the ghost of Banquo,
Thou canst not say I did it; never shake thy gory locks at me! (act 3 scene 4)
and Lady Macbeth, 'Out damned spot! Out I say!, (act 5 scene 1) as
possession of demons.
Macbeth shows how a strong supporter of the church can be so easily
involved in evil as a result of allowing witchcraft to aid his ambitions.
Shakespeare was a supporter of James I and probably wrote the play with
him in mind. In history Banquo was actually responsible for the death of the
Scottish king and was a descendant of James I so in writing this play he
made sure that no rightful royal character was responsible for the murder of
Duncan. James I hated anyone that was responsible for the death of a king.
Edward the Confessor, who was thought to have healing powers, is also
mentioned by an unnamed Lord,'Of the most pious Edward with such grace,'
(act 3 scene 6).James I believed in the Devine right of kings, that kings were
appointed by God and that God had let him inherit the healing powers of
Edward. This all went towards gaining the approval of his plays by the king
and making sure that he was in his favour.
Macbeth has all the ingredients required for story of a 'tragic hero'.
He leads himself to downfall and death due to his one foremost flaw.
It is a thought provoking, deep and frightening study of ambition.
