How Is Macbeth A Hero

The typical hero is usually defined as a valiant person who displays true acts of selflessness. In William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, we are introduced to Macbeth the plays protagonist, who resembles a typical hero. However, every hero has a fatal flaw, and Macbeth is no exception. Macbeth allows his ambition to rule over him and transform him from an honorable man to a despicable scoundrel.
At the start of the play, Macbeth is introduced as a revered and highly successful individual. After an intense battle with the Norwegians and rebel Macdonwald, Macbeth encounters the king’s messenger, Ross, who graciously greets Macbeth and cordially informs him of King Duncan’s admiration and pride towards Macbeth. Macbeth’s actions of bravery displayed
during the battle show that Macbeth is a loyal subject who places his king’s wishes before his own. Additionally, Macbeth earns Duncan’s reverence since he is not only a prized solider but an honorable man. Furthermore, Macbeth is well-regarded by his peers; his own friend, Banquo, greets Macbeth as the “worthy Macbeth” after the battle (Shakespeare 1.3.154 ). Macbeth is viewed by his peers as an honest man, who deserves the proper respect and recognition. As the scene moves on it becomes evident that Macbeth is a worthy man who in the future may warrant to be more than just a solider. However, as Macbeth’s is raised and exalted his ego inflates causing, his moral lines to begin to blur.
The prophecy of the witches’ which was originally given over to Macbeth after the battle, reminds Macbeth of the great potential he has to become greater in position, but a lesser man.
When Macbeth is notified of the death of the thane of Cawdor and that he has been granted the title, the witches’ prediction is reignited in Macbeth’s mind. Macbeth is allowing his ego to overpower his mind. His intense passion and longing to be king allows his mind to wonder about the endless possibilities of him becoming king. Macbeth believes that since the first part of the prediction has become a reality, it must mean that the next part must also become a reality; which leaves Macbeth with an internal dilemma of what course of action he should take. Macbeth is obsessed with power and he constantly yearns for more titles and fame when merely a few weeks prior to the battle, he was perfectly satisfied with his title thane of Glamis. Macbeth’s outlook begins to shift from being a subservient subject of Duncan to a murder planning his death to resolve his inner turmoil. It is evident that as the play progresses, Macbeth’s hungry nature for power allows his emotions to rule his
actions.
Under the pressure of his emphatic wife, Macbeth’s ambiguous heart succumbs to his wife’s pleas and he murders Duncan.
The turning point where Macbeth goes from being a sane man to a ludicrous man is after the murder, when he is haunted by the hallucination of a bloody dagger. One’s hunger for power is so powerful that it can sway one’s heart to something completely unnatural for them. External pressure also causes one to do things that he will later come to regret. Moreover, after the murder, Macbeth reacts as if he has lost his mind when he openly states that he has killed the chamberlains prior to any conviction or trial. One can assume that there is something strange occurring with Macbeth. It is quite obvious that this slip–up was caused by the guilt of the murder. Nevertheless, a man of his stature and intelligence should not have made such a careless
mistake.
One’s hunger for power can be so great that it blinds him from thinking rationally. Macbeth did everything and anything in his power to become king. He even went as far as to potentially destroy his reputation and corrupt his morals. Without proper morals, one veers from the proper path in life and develops from a sane human to a corrupt individual.