Is Macbeth a hero or a villain?

Answer 1

Macbeth [c. 1014-August 15, 1057] was the protagonist, or main character of the Shakespearean play. The antagonists were the adversaries and opponents to Macbeth. The antagonists included beings mortal and supernatural. For example, the witches appeared to be on Macbeth's side in letting him know what they led him to believe was his by destiny, due, and right. But they showed themselves to be antagonists by giving him a false sense of security. They set him up for his downfall by encouraging his ambitions, manipulability, and notions of a charmed life. In the way of motal examples, all those who joined together to overthrow Macbeth were antagonists. Specifically, antagonistic characters included the noblemen Angus, Caithness, Lennox, Macduff, Menteith, and Ross. They also included the future King Malcolm III [d. November 13, 1093]; and Siward, Earl of Northumberland, General of the invading English forces, and his son Young Siward.

Answer 2

At the beginning he can be seen as a hero because he is noble and valiant, but his demise and increasing turmoil show him to be a villain on deep down, but you then have to consider was it really his choice to do the things he did.

Literature is down to interpretation and evidence, and this is one of those questions that you need to give evidence for to support what you believe.

He is essentially tricked and manipulated by the witches who are the real villains.

Answer 3

Some readers would say yes, since she is the catalyst that brings about the murder of King Duncan. She persuades Macbeth that it must be done, cajoles and keeps him motivated him in the actual deed and is almost solely responsible for planning the particulars of the murder (drugging the guards and planting the blood-stained daggers on them, etcetera). It is this regicide that marks Macbeth's downfall: it is only after Duncan's murder has taken place that Macbeth becomes his own man in committing evil and Lady Macbeth withdraws from prominence. Before this, Macbeth was largely reluctant and it was only she who was the active force in driving him towards evil. However, the later remorse and guilt which leads her to madness and suicide also suggests that she, like Macbeth himself, are victims of forces beyond their control. Remember that it is the presence of the witches (personifying the idea of The Three Fates) that introduce the prospect of evil - their chant of "fair is foul and foul is fair" indicates their intentions - they are the chief influencers of events and manipulators of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Without the self-fulfilling prophecy of Act I, Scene III, Macbeth and his wife might not have thought of eliminating Duncan. Lady Macbeth's behaviour before Duncan's death is very extreme and potent much like that of the witches. She calls on dark spirits to possess her and her talk of dashing a baby's brains out in Act I, Scene VII is reminiscent of the witches in Act 4 adding a "birth-strangled babe" to their cauldron. All this seems to begin to disappear after Duncan's murder and the onset of remorse and madness to many readers suggest that she has come out of the trance of being somehow possessed or enchanted by evil (i.e. the influence of the witches). Whatever the case, to call her "the real villain" is a vulgar over-simplification and doesn't quite ring true, especially when you consider how much WORSE Macbeth's crimes are after the murder of Duncan.

Answer 4

Yes. The actual villain in Macbeth were the three witches. They manipulated and tricked , Macbeth to kill King Duncan, Banquo, the Guards and many other people. All of the things that the witches do eventually lead to Macbeths downfall

Answer 5

The characters in the Shakespearean play 'Macbeth' tended to be either in the military, part of the nobility, or royalty. In the military were friends and Royal Army Generals Banquo and Macbeth [d. August 15, 1057]. Also following a military career were a bleeding Captain who was impressed with Macbeth's courage; and Seyton, an Officer who attended on Macbeth at Dunsinane Castle. Another career military was Siward, Earl of Northumberland and General of the English forces that invaded Scotland and overthrew Macbeth. Still another career military was Young Siward, who was Siward's son. Also, there were many unspecified numbers of fighting Norwegian invaders and traitorous Scotsmen. And there were the forces under Macbeth's command as General and then as King. Additionally, there were 10,000 soldiers in the English forces under General Siward's command. There were characters who held jobs other than in the military. For example, there was an English doctor, and there was a Scots doctor. There was the gentlewomanwho attended to Lady Macbeth. There were other attendants, messengers, and even murderers. And there were Three Murderers; a Porter; and an Old Man. In the nobility were the noblemen Angus, Caithness, Cawdor, Lennox, Macduff, Menteith, and Ross. There also were the traitorous Macdonwald and the treacherous Thane of Cawdor. And there were the noble women and children: Macduff's son, Lady Macduff, Lady Macbeth, and Fleance. Additionally, there were unspecified gentlemen and lords. Among royalty were King Duncan I [d. August 14, 1040]. There also were his sons the Prince of Cumberland, who became the subsequent King Malcolm III [d. November 13, 1093]; and Donalbain, who became the subsequent King Donald III [d. 1099]. And there was a reference to England's Sainted King Edward the Confessor [c. 1003-January 5, 1066]. Finally, there were the supernatural forces that operated out of the open heath of Scotland. Hecate was the chief witch. She was assisted in her witchcraft, which wasn't the good kind, by Three Weird Sisters; spirits; and the catsGraymalkin and Paddock

Answer 6

lady Macbeth she manipulated Macbeth into killing Duncan and was the one behind the scheme to make Macbeth king she would have power.

Answer 7

Macdonwald and Cawdor were traitors