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Example research essay topic: Macbeth Hero Or Villain - 1,495 words

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Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare that shows a protagonist going from bad to worse throughout the play. Shakespeare wrote this play, taking in mind current affairs at the time of 1603 - 1606. This is the time when a Scottish king, James I was given the English crown. This king was obsessed with witches, so Shakespeare brought this theme strongly into the play. It also brings the theme of treachery towards the King.

This pleased King James and also pleased him about showing the line of Stuart Kings, James descendants, in Act 4, Scene 1. The play, Macbeth is a tragedy. The traditional specification of a tragedy requires the tragic hero to be a person who holds a high position who must oppose a conflicting force, either externally or internally (a conflicting force from his own state or another. Also, the hero should have a Hamartia, which is a tragic flaw. This will lead to the heros downfall, in this case, it is Macbeth's ambition. This downfall should lead to the heros death in order for him to qualify as a tragic hero.

The action the tragic hero does must be real and could happen at any time. Macbeth becomes a villain when he discovers he will become King of Scotland. The traditional idea of a villain says that he or she should go by evil methods to get what they want. In the case of Macbeth, he killed Duncan to become King of Scotland. A villain is also cruel and ruthless. The villain may also be a person who commits crimes against the people and is all powerful.

We hear about Macbeth even before we meet him. This is because the witches are casting a spell that foretells that Macbeth will meet them at the heath. In the scene with the captain, we hear that Macbeth is like a hero and is faithful to his king. O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman, (I, ii) When we first hear about Macbeth, we learn the descriptions of him are positive towards King Duncan. But, they are also gory. They tell of Macbeth being a fierce warrior and not being afraid to kill in war.

Till he unsealed him from the nave to th chops, (I, ii). After Macbeth meets the witches, he fully supports the evil they tell of to get what he wants. Whenever we see the witches, they appear to be pure evil, especially when they cast their spells. Liver of blaspheming Jew (IV, i). Even though the witches say Macbeth will be King of Scotland, they do not suggest that he kill Duncan to achieve this. Their words are for Macbeth to interpret.

Macbeth does not have to follow his ambition, he could resist it, making him a better man. All through the play Macbeth becomes obsessed with what the witches have for-told. He always follows this the obvious way. Macbeth thinks that he should kill Banquo because the witches say that there will be a line of Banquo kings. Macbeth doesnt want to loose the crown to Banquo or his son, so he tries to kill them both so the line will continue in his family.

Macbeth also chooses to kill Macduff anyway, even though the witches said know one would kill him. The witches did not really mislead Macbeth; they only put an idea into his head, and left him to decide what action to take. Banquo tries to warn Macbeth away from the prophecies. Were such things here as we speak about?

Or were we eaten on the insane root. That takes the reason prisoner? , (I, iii) In Act 1 Scene 3, we hear in Macbeth's soliloquy how he is planning to achieve his aim. Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair And make my seated heart knock at my ribs Against the use of nature? Present fears are less than horrible imaginings. (I, iii) By Act 1, Scene 4, we can find evidence to suggest that Macbeth is hardened about committing high treason. In this scene, Macbeth is being very good to the King by what he is saying. This shows that he is trying to give the impression to the people around him that he has nothing against the King and would not kill him.

They may not suspect him if they thought this. Lady Macbeth also shows her husbands ambition to be all-powerful. She insists that Macbeth must kill King Duncan in order to fulfill prophesy. He thats coming (Duncan) Must be provided for, and you shall put This nights great business into my dispatch, (I, v). When Macbeth is feeling really guilty about committing high treason, Lady Macbeth insults him for being a coward by saying; And live like a coward in thine own esteem (I, vii). If we look through Macbeth's valour and courage, we see he is human and suffers humiliation from these words.

This encourages him to commit murder. Saying this, it is clear that Macbeth has to be persuaded by his own wife to turn to evil. He hath honoured one of late, (I, vii). When Macbeth murders Duncan, the King has no fighting chance against Macbeth because he was asleep and has no weapon. It is a cowardly murder, in the dark. When Macbeth walks past Malcolm and Donalbains room, he cant say Amen to their request of a blessing on their father because he has just murdered Duncan and has a lot of guilt about this.

When he gets to Lady Macbeth, the noises of the night torment him badly. He seems to be a human being who has made a very bad mistake. At this point we realise that Macbeth's tragic flaw is his ambition that leads to his downfall. Later in the play, Macbeth is demonstrating that he is more like the villain that he ends up as.

This is shown by his murder of Banquo and the attempted murder of Fleance. Macbeth has the appearance of innocence, but in keeping the murder of Banquo a secret, even from his wife, he is devious underneath. And to our dear friend Banquo, whom we miss, Would he be hear! To all, and him we thirst, And all to all, (III, iv).

This quote tells us that Macbeth is questioning Banquo not being at the banquet, meaning he is trying to make people think that he doesnt know where Banquo is at the time of he banquet. We realise that Macbeth has sunk into bad things when he is collaborating with badly clothed murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance for him. He keeps this murder even from his wife in order that nothing gets out, and he has become so strong now, he doesnt need his wife anymore. By Act 4, Macbeth has degraded into something more like the villain he has become. This is emphasised by the brutal murder of Macduff's family, when the Thane is in England. In Act 5, Macbeth believes he is indestructible.

This is because one of the witches prophecies of Macbeth is that he can only be killed by a woman not born of a woman. This makes him not have a care about how the battle with Malcolm is going, and he is confident it will go well for him. He does not make any good orders because of this, and then leads to his downfall. Near the end of the battle Macbeth's villainy increases. He even orders the hanging of people talking of fear. He still thinks it was a mistake to kill Duncan, but not as much as when he initially did.

This is because he speaks of the good life he could have had if he didnt commit the murders. He still wants this, but has chosen completely the opposite. Just before Macbeth is killed in his castle, he speaks valiantly and warrior-like, showing where his strength is. If we can forget about Macbeth's ambition we can admire him for this.

Why should I play the Roman fool and die On mine own sword? Whiles I see lives, the gashes Do better upon them. (V, viii). At the beginning of the play, we view Macbeth as being a hero who would defend his King and country against traitors. He also holds a lot of guilt about killing Duncan, and is commanded by his own wife to do so. When Macbeth progresses into a villain, he becomes more detached from Lady Macbeth and can make decisions without her. With this, he becomes more ruthless in his efforts to stay as the King of Scotland and people describe him as This tyrant (V, iii) and A dwarfish thief (V, ii).

Throughout the play whenever Macbeth tries to achieve his ambition, he always blocks his good qualities in favour of a more villainous way. It is this ambition of his that leads him to become a miscreant later in the play, which leads to his undoing and eventual killing by Macduff.


Free research essays on topics related to: tragic flaw, macbeth ambition, murder of banquo, king of scotland, act 1 scene

Research essay sample on Macbeth Hero Or Villain

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