That Which Separate Hero From Villain

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Heroes and villains often have many of the same characteristics, ambition, strength, pride, and desire for glory. In most situations it is one characteristic that distinguishes someone as either a hero or a villain. Shakespeare’s Macbeth is an example of a villain, while Homer’s Odysseus is a classic example of a hero. Many of the characteristics of the two are men are the same, but it is the few differences that determine them to be villain or hero. Macbeth and Odysseus are similar in the way that they are both set back due to their character flaws; but a difference between them was the knowledge that they gained, or did not gain as a result of their journey.

The journeys of Macbeth and Odysseus were hindered as a result of flaws in their personalities. Macbeth is originally portrayed as a brave and capable leader on the battlefield. After seeing the witches, Macbeth learned that it was his future to become king, this stirred up conflict for Macbeth. Macbeth was faced with two choices, either to wait patiently for his kingship to come, or to take action in order to immediately become king. He chose the latter, which gave a glimpse into Macbeth’s true character. Macbeth impatiently wanted this power, so he took action by murdering the present king. This shows Macbeths lack of patience, and his lust for power as he knew that he would eventually become king, but he did not want to wait for it to come. In addition after returning to the witches the second time, Macbeth learned that “…none of woman born / shall harm Macbeth” (Macbeth-4.1.91-92) and “Macbeth shall never be vanquished be until / Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill / Shall come against him” (Macbeth-4.1.105-107). This led Macbeth into a false sense of security (he...

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...ersonalities. A major difference between the two characters was the knowledge or lack of knowledge that they gained over the course of their journeys. Macbeth thought himself invincible, untouchable by any man born from a woman, though it was his overconfidence that led to his dismay and death. Odysseus on the other hand showed hubris, and contempt for his crew, as in all situations he put his life above the lives of his crew. Through his journeys, Odysseus did however learn to be weary of overbearing pride and devotion to glory. Macbeth on the contrary did not learn anything through his experience, he died as king the same way he became king, greedily and scornfully. Odysseus and Macbeth share many of the same qualities, but the major difference between the two is that Odysseus acted out of pride, Macbeth out of greed; which defined the men as a hero and a villain.

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