Macbeth as a Tragic Hero  

For Macbeth to be considered a “Tragic Hero”, he must have some potential nobility, some good qualities that make his downfall terrifying. He must be examined as a human being with human weaknesses. Is he one who, as Lady Macbeth says, Act I, Sc. v, "is too full of the milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way" or is he the "butcher" that Malcolm considers him to be in the final scene of the play? Or is he a victim of his ambition or of moral weaknesses or of his limited concept of manliness, or even of a combination of circumstances that cause him to fall? From the opening scene Macbeth is chosen as a target for temptation; the witches, as agents of evil plan their trap; so the stage is set for his downfall.

One good quality of Macbeth is his bravery. We learn of his physical prowess and bravery on the battlefield - "brave Macbeth", "valour's minion", "valiant cousin! worthy gentleman!", he is an eagle, a lion, "Bellona's bridegroom". These are the outward signs as seen by the Captain, Duncan and Ross, Act I, Sc.ii.  Unfortunately, Macbeth is prone to temptation. In the following scene we observe his interest in the Witches' predictions. He is tempted - "Your children shall be Kings" ; but temptation is not guilt. When Ross tells him he has been made Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth asks, "why do you dress me in borrowed robes?" Does this suggest that, at this stage, he wants no honors that are not rightfully his?

* A Materialist - In this soliloquy (aside) in Act I,Sc. iii we see how the fulfillment of the first prediction is working on him. Does he show himself to be a materialist here, looking for success and closing his eyes to the fact that achievement and goodness do not necessarily go together? Is this what Lady Macbeth sees in him when she says in Act I, Sc. v, "wouldst not play false And yet wouldst wrongly win?"

* Virtuous or Hypocrite - He is aware of his duties as a subject "...and our duties Are to your throne and state children and servants, Which do but what they should, by doing every thing Safe toward your love and honor." Is this an inclination of his virtue, or is it hypocrisy?

* Conscience? - We can see the moral struggle within him when Duncan nominates Malcolm as his successor. He calls on the stars to hide their fires so that his evil thoughts will not be seen. Is this a sign of a delicate conscience? Is he a victim of circumstance in that Duncan announces his successor and indicates his intention to visit Macbeth's castle almost in a single breath? Remember he is still in the throes of temptation: he has not yet committed wrong.

* Compassionate - Lady Macbeth, who knows him best of all people, says in soliloquy that he is "too full of the milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way". Does this suggest that he is compassionate? She says he is ambitious but "without the illness ( the badness)" that should accompany ambition. Although this is a contrast to the picture of the bloody and ferocious warrior of whom we have been told in Act I, Sc.ii, yet it may still be true. When she says "what thou wouldst highly That wouldst thou holily" does she mean that he would not commit evil to achieve his ambition? Does this suggest nobility? Yet when she adds, "wouldst not play false, And yet wouldst wrongly win", is there an indication of moral weakness in him? Is her determination to persuade him to the murder another circumstance that helps towards his downfall.

* As a Husband - What is his relationship with Lady Macbeth at this time? Does his letter to her show a deep affection - an anxiety to share his good news - "my dearest partner of greatness" ? Or might he be trying to impress her with his bravery and achievement - to prove her that he is a man? At he end of this scene (Act I, Sc.v) he is not committal to her proposal - he says "We shall speak further". In his soliloquy in Act I, Sc. vii we see his dilemma. He is well aware of the reasons why he should not kill Duncan. Does he show himself to be a materialist as he foresees the consequences, in this life, of the murder? Is this the deterrent? He says he would risk the life to come.

* Public Opinion - Is he concerned only with what the world thinks of him when he tells Lady Macbeth the they will "proceed no further in this business" because he is well thought of by others and does not wish to lose their good opinion? Is this vanity or fear? What do you think persuades him to agree to the deed? Is he afraid that Lady Macbeth will consider that he lacks manliness? Does he value her opinion of him so highly that he dare not lose it? Is this a moral weakness - an understandable one? Or is he afraid of the consequence of failure? Does his own addition to the murder plan - that the chamberlains be marked with blood and so be blamed for the murder - show that he is actively involved in the murder? His final words "I am settled, and bent up Each corporal agent to this terrible feat" imply a total commitment to the murder. Is the dagger in Act II, Sc.i, a figment of his imagination? If so, is it the result of a guilty conscience? Does this give the notion that he is not altogether evil ? Is this guilty conscience emphasized in the scene that follows? Is he morally horrified at what he has done ? Is it because he could not say 'Amen' ? Are his words, "I am afraid to think what I have done" a sign of remorse? Is this borne out by , "Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst!" ? Could one really believe, at this stage in the play, that Macbeth is a butcher? In Act III, Sc.i Macbeth plots the murder of Banquo and Fleance. Does this show a deterioration of his character? Does it show that his double standards i.e. his acceptance of the Witches' predictions in respect of himself and his refusal to accept them in respect of Banquo, are irrational? He uses L. Macbeth's arguments to persuade the murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance i.e. he challenges their manliness. Is this hypocrisy, or is it that he does not really 'know' himself.

* Alone - Why does Macbeth now "keep alone" as L. Macbeth asks him? Is it because he is a victim of remorse, or because his children will not be Kings? Does he plot the death of Banquo alone because he does not want L. Macbeth to become involved further in murder? Or is he trying to prove his manliness to her, to show her that he can conceive and carry out a plan unaided?

* Coward? - Does Macbeth show himself to be a poor 'criminal' in the Ghost Scene, in so far as he cannot conceal his guilt? Does his fear of the Ghost show him to be a coward or a conscience stricken human being? Is his notion of manliness associated with physical bravery only? When he says, "It will have blood, they say; blood will have blood." is he really showing fear that he will be found out?

* Despair? - When he announces, "I am in blood Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er" (Act III, Sc.iv) he is making a deliberate decision to commit himself to evil. He has full knowledge of what he is doing. Has he fallen into despair because he considers that his people will not forgive him? Or has he become so hardened that he can now think only of himself? Is this the turning point? When he visits the Witches again he decides to murder all Macduff's relatives. Is this a sign of his brutality or is it a sense of self - preservation? In Act IV, Sc.iii, Malcolm describes Macbeth as 'treacherous' and Macduff refers to him as a tyrant. Malcolm further calls him "...bloody, Luxurious (i.e. lustful), avaricious, false, deceitful, Sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin That has a name." Examine these charges. How many do you consider apply to Macbeth? Is Malcolm an unprejudiced witness? Is he judging Macbeth by his actions only, unaware of the circumstances that have joined together to produce Macbeth's evil deed? Examine also the "King becoming graces" set out by Malcolm. Is there any evidence in the play to suggest that, in other circumstances, Macbeth might have been a good King? In Act V, Sc.ii, Caithness, speaking of Macbeth, says "Some say he's mad: others, that lesser hate him, Do call it valiant fury." Is he mad? Note how he treats his Servant in Act V, Sc.iii, and the Messenger in Act V, Sc. v. Does 'valiant fury' better describe his attitude? Is he raging against his Fate? In Act V, Sc. iii when he says "And that which should accompany old age, As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have; but, in their stead, Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honors, breath Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not." Is he showing himself overcome by self-pity, or is he facing up to reality?

* Defiance of His Enemies?- Is his defiance of his enemies in Act V, Sc.v a reflection of his bravery or is he still full of confidence in the prophecies of the Apparitions? Does his rejection of life as something "full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing" suggest that deep within himself he realizes that there is no hope? In the final scene his reluctance to fight Macduff may be because his conscience still bothers him, "my soul is too much charg'd With blood of thine already." Is his refusal to fight after he had learned that Macduff is not "one of woman born" a sign of cowardice? Why then does he fight him? Is it because Macduff calls him "coward" and his concept of manliness cannot stand this? Or is it because he cannot bear to be humiliated in public and so forfeit his pride? Is there despair in his final words, "Yet I will try the last" ? Or is he heroically accepting Fate, knowing that he must die? Dead butcher or Tragic Hero? Given similar circumstances what might we do?