Hero to Villain in Macbeth by Shakespeare - 791 Words

Is it possible to go from being a loyal hero to a selfish villain in a short period of time? In the tragedy Macbeth by William Shakespeare, written in the 1600s, Macbeth is first depicted as a noble and loyal Scottish general, who is allegiant to his sovereign, King Duncan. After three witches reveal prophecies to both Macbeth and Banquo, ambition begins to cloud Macbeth’s judgment, resulting in ominous thoughts about killing his king. Although not yet completely ignoble, Macbeth begins to embark on a bloody course with his wife, Lady Macbeth, resulting in the deaths of both King Duncan and Banquo. By Act III, scene iii, Macbeth has lost his noble qualities and is no longer considered a hero. This is best exemplified by Macbeth’s ambition and his role in Banquo’s murder. Macbeth has lost his noble qualities and is no longer considered a hero due to his ambition. After one of the witches’ prophecies came true, King Duncan announces that his son, Malcolm, will succeed him. The witches told Macbeth that he would become king, so upon hearing this news, Macbeth says to himself, â€Å"The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step / On which I must fall down or else o’erleap†¦Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see† (I.iv.55-60). In this aside, Macbeth reveals the terrible desires that plague his mind in order to become king. His ambition to become king by self-fulfilling the prophecy is what is causing him to think this way. The audience begins to see Macbeth change as a character inShow MoreRelatedThe Tragic Hero Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare1724 Words   |  7 Pagestragedy applies to William Shakespeare s play Macbeth. The play is about a hero who reaches a high position in the play and then falls because of his choices. M acbeth is a tragic hero according to Aristotle s aspects that make a tragedy. Macbeth is neither a villain nor a perfect character, he appears in the play in a high stature, he starts to make multiple mistakes and due to his actions, he causes his downfall. First of all, Macbeth is neither a villain nor a perfect hero in the play. AccordingRead MoreMacbeth Character Analysis732 Words   |  3 Pages Macbeth Characterization is a vital component of a text. How does Shakespeare utilise character traits to demonstrate characters as either heroes or villains? Macbeth is a play about a man who is told three prophecies about his future and he decides to make sure they come true quicker, by killing his friends, but things don’t turn out well. Shakespeare uses character traits and characterisation to demonstrate characters as either heroes or villains. Macbeth is characterized as ambitious, powerRead MoreEssay Macbeth - Hero Or Villain?1487 Words   |  6 Pages ‘Macbeth’ is a play by William Shakespeare that shows a protagonist going from bad to worse throughout the play. Shakespeare wrote this play, taking in mind current affairs at the time of 1603-1606. This is the time when a Scottish king, James I was given the English crown. This king was obsessed with witches, so Shakespeare brought this theme strongly into the play. It also brings the theme of treachery towards the King. This pleased King James and also pleased him about showing the line of StuartRead MoreHow Macbeths Character Changes throughout the Play1725 Wo rds   |  7 Pagesweather he was a tyrant or a tragic hero. The play focuses on the changing character of Macbeth and his increasing greed for power. Many factors contribute to the changes to Macbeth throughout the play which cause the character to deteriorate from a man with nobility and good intentions to one who is ruled by ambition and greed. The play begins with the scene of three witches who prophesise that three events will occur to Macbeth. The Elizabethans believed stronglyRead MoreEssay on Macbeth and Tragic Hero1071 Words   |  5 PagesMacbeth, a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in the 17th century, expresses clearly the strong pull that desire for power can have over a man. Macbeth, the title character of the play, is often expressed as being the villain of the tragedy. However, through studying the play closely it is clear to see that, rather than being an innately evil character, Macbeth is in fact a tragic hero, doomed by fate from the start to descend into the madness which he did. Had it not been for his hamartia andRead MoreMacbeth Imagery Blood1442 Words   |  6 PagesBlood Imagery in Macbeth Shakespeare’s plays are well known for the richness of their imagery. This is particularly true in Macbeth and the many allusions to blood. The use of blood imagery gives the reader some foresight into what is going on in the play and how the characters are thinking and feeling. Blood is used to represent heroics on the battlefield, evil and murderous inclinations, and ultimately guilt and shame. Shakespeare uses the symbol of blood to give the readers insight intoRead MoreCritical Review of Macbeth by William Shakespeare1008 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Running Head: Macbeth Critical Review of Macbeth by William Shakespeare [Aijaz Ahmed Shaikh] [Karachi University] Critical Review of Macbeth by William Shakespeare Introduction Not only is Macbeth by far the shortest of William Shakespeare’s great tragedies, but it is also anomalous in some structural respects. Like Othello (1604) and only a very few other Shakespearean plays, Macbeth is without the complications of a subplot. (Bradley, 1905) Consequently, the action moves forward in aRead MoreTO WHAT EXTENT DOES SHAKESPEARE PRESENT MACBETH AS A VILLAIN?3966 Words   |  16 PagesDOES SHAKESPEARE PRESENT MACBETH AS A VILLAIN? Shakespeare presents Macbeth more extensively as a villain using methods which would be more understood in the era the play was composed, which was the Jacobean period, but influenced by the reign of Elizabeth. During the Elizabethan period people were preoccupied with the supernatural, which is one of the main topics in Shakespeare’s play. In my opinion Shakespeare structures the play to make the audience see Macbeth transforming from a hero into aRead MoreDefining Macbeth in William Shakespeares Play Essay562 Words   |  3 PagesDefining Macbeth in William Shakespeares Play The character of Macbeth is a classic example of a Shakespearean tragic hero. There are many factors, which contribute to the degeneration of Macbeth of which three will be discussed. The three points, which contribute greatly to Macbeths degeneration, are the prophecies, which were told to him by the witches, Lady Macbeths influence and manipulation of Macbeths judgment, and finally Macbeths long time ambition whichRead MoreThe Degeneration of a Hero: Macbeth1158 Words   |  5 Pagesdegeneration of a hero: Macbeth Aristotle once said, The tragic hero must be neither villain nor a virtuous man, but a character between these two extremes.†[1] Such a person would be Macbeth, who begins as a highly respected thane by the King. However, due to the mystical prediction of the Three Witches and Macbeth’s unquenchable thirst for power, he determines to remove all obstacles standing in his way of becoming king. Shakespeare expresses his belief that anyone, from valiant hero to ruthless