Lady Macbeth by William Shakespeare: Murder or Hero

Murder or Hero, Sometimes it’s Hard to Say

Though someone who murders and is malicious would be hard to see as a hero, once the evidence has been shown it cannot be denied that Macbeth, from William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, qualifies as one. Though his way of life may be hard to understand Macbeth is a tragic hero. This statement can be made because throughout the play he meets all the criteria necessary to be classified as one. Macbeth has a very clear and definite downfall and he also has the power to draw the pity and attention of the audience which classifies him as a tragic hero.

The word hero generally reference to the biggest and bravest around but when one is looking at a tragic hero there is a list of clear qualifications they must meet. Macbeth might be sinful and evil but with some insight it can be seen that he does fit this category. A tragic hero must be a good person or someone of high rank, someone with power and in the beginning of the play we are introduced to a Macbeth who is praised of by kings and thanes. We hear of him after a battle in Normandy and he is presented with mew titles, “noble Macbeth hath won” (I.II.68). Even though Macbeth has not entered the play the reader already had an image of him as someone of high rank and standing who is loved by those around him therefore showing that Macbeth fits the qualifications. Even if the reader would rather despise Macbeth and watch him die, there is something about him that will evoke emotions of pity and support. He captures the reader then leads them through the story. Though one does not want to, one pity’s his humanity and he then becomes relatable. When he is questioning himself and his surroundings “cannot be ill; cannot be good…is smother’d in surmise,...

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...the action themselves is. He draws the audience in and then makes one take a walk in his shoes, showing how easy it is to succumb to evil and the power welds. This finally solidified his place as a tragic hero.

It can be seen that though Macbeth maybe the one causing the tragedy his heroic self is still visible through the clear criteria that he meets, his rapid and clear downfall and his ability to influence the reader. Even if it’s hard to image Macbeth a hero, he fits.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Missauga; Canadian school book exchange, 1996. Print.

“Principle Topics” Shakespears for students: Book 1 Ed. Mark W. Scott. London: Gale Research Inc. 1997 237-238. Print

Low, Lisa. “Ridding urselves of Macbeth”. The tragedy of Macbteh. Ed. Dom Salioni, Chris Ferguson, Dr. Tim Scott. London: International Thomson Publishing, 1997. 146-147. Print.