Monday, March 7, 2016

In Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, what quotations show Macbeth is a hero and what quotes show him to be a villain?

In Shakespeare's Macbeth, Macbeth is
at first perceived as a hero, but as time goes on and he is tempted by the witches'
prophecies and his wife's ambitious nagging, he turns his back on his morals and sense
of loyalty, and becomes a villain.


The first quote that
shows Macbeth a hero is from Ross, who is reporting Duncan, the King of Scotland's
reaction to Macbeth's valiant fighting on the battle
field:



The
king hath happily recieved, Macbeth, / The news of thy success...He finds thee in the
stout Norweyan ranks, / Nothing afeared of what thyself didn't make / Strange images of
death. As thick as hail / Came post with post, and every one did bear / Thy praises in
his kingdom's great defence / And poured them down before him.  (I, iii, 89-90,
95-99)



In this passage, Ross
is explaining that Duncan has been happy to hear reports of Macbeth's performance in the
midst of battle. It seems that Macbeth was surrounded by a great number of soldiers of
the Norwegian army. Macbeth seemed not at all concerned. Over and over, the enemy
attacked, but Macbeth continued to battle, undeterred, for the glory of his king,
killing all who came near him.


There are  many quotations
that illustrate that Macbeth is a villain. The following is Ross's report to Macduff
that Macbeth has had Macduff's family killed:


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Ross:


Your
castle is surprised; your wife and babes / Savagely slaughtered: to relate the manner, /
Were, on the quarry of these murdered deer, / To add the death of you. (IV, iii,
204-207)


Macduff:


[Macbeth]
has no children. All my pretty ones?...Bring though this fiend of Scotland and myself; /
Within my sword's length set him; if he 'scape, / Heaven forgive him too!   (IV, iii,
216, 233-235)



In this
passage, Macduff not only learns that his family has been destroyed completely, but that
Macbeth had hoped to find him home as well, and have him killed.
(Macbeth sent assassins.) Macduff prays that providence will bring Macbeth within
sword's reach so that Macduff can exact his revenge.


The
character of Macbeth shows how a good man can turn his back on what he knows is right
and good, and become a vile
black-heart.




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