Macbeth – Hero or Villain

             Macbeth is an interesting character. Do we consider Macbeth a hero or a villain? There has been much disagreement over this. As the story progresses Macbeth's fortune takes different turns, some for good, some for bad. Macbeth changes from "brave Macbeth" to "bloodier villain" all in a short period of time. Anything and everything effected Macbeth's fortune, from when he kills Duncan, to when his wife is tragically killed.
             But all this weren't just his mind telling him and influencing him on what to do and where to go next. Different people telling him different things had the biggest influence.
             We first meet Macbeth as a brave, loyal general who is given the high title of Thane of Cawdor by King Duncan. He seems like a noble, good person. The question is: Does Macbeth get worse throughout the play? Macbeth becomes ambitious, wanting to become king. Though he has misgivings about killing the King, his wife tells him to. She plans the killing. Macbeth's good conscience tells him not to kill the King. He goes through with it, however, feeling guilty after the crime. So right now, Macbeth isn't as good as he was at the start, but he is no villain. Some of it was his wife's fault. He still has a conscience even though he made a bad mistake. Macbeth is still our hero.
             At the beginning of the play Macbeth is seen as a courageous soldier who is loyal to the King but is corrupted from the witches prophecies and by his and Lady Macbeth's ambition. Their marriage is of convenience for Lady Macbeth, but for Macbeth it is more than that. He loves his wife, and she takes advantage of this. She is continuously making him feel guilty, for being weak, and challenging his manhood.
             Macbeth is a hero to Scotland, and a strong person. He is a Lord under the rule of King Duncan, and he has no reason to feel unhappy with where he is in life. It's after t
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Macbeth – Hero or Villain. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 10:22, July 01, 2025, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/39928.html