Macbeth remains a shakespeare
Macbeth remains a shakespeareIn the end of the play we view Macbeth as a tyrant, a traitor and a bloody butcher because of the murder of King Duncan, and the chaos he imposed on Scotland. However, Macbeth did have honourable qualities within him, but because he was turned into an evil character from the circumstances the witches, his wife and his country put him in we sympathize with him to the extent of treating him as a tragic hero; an honourable, and important figure who has inherent weaknesses in his character which brings about his tragic end.
Macbeth’s honourable character can be seen by his loving, loyal and respectful attitude towards those around him. His loyalty is demonstrated from his inspirational speech after his appointment as the Thane Of Cawdor:
“Macbeth: The service and the loyalty l owe,
In doing it, pays itself. Your Highness' part
Is to receive our duties, and our duties
Are to your throne and state, children and servants,
Which do but what they should, by doing everything
Safe toward your love and honor.”
He doesn’t want to kill King Duncan because he isn’t willing to lose the respect that he has painfully earned: “he hath honoured me of late”. This respect Macbeth has for King Duncan is mentioned by Lady Macbeth: “Lady Macbeth: Yet do I fear thy nature/It is too full o' the milk of human kindness”.
His love and respect towards Lady Macbeth is an indication to one of several of Macbeth’s honourable character. He told Lady Macbeth that he was appointed as the Thane of Cawdor, and his address to her as a “dearest partner of greatness” in his letter deserves some merit, since it shows his love and devotion towards her. He listens to what she has to say about killing King Duncan without questioning her opinions.
Macbeth’s sensitive conscience is evidence to suggest that he can tell right from wrong. The images he sees are all horrific images played by his conscience that is plagued by the fear of being an outcast who is hated by his subjects. The image of the sword that lead him to King Duncan, and the image of Banquo and his sons as Kings are all indications of the guilty conscience haunting his mind. Macbeth even admits to his fears:
“ The time has been, my senses would have cool'd
To hear a night-shriek, and my fell of hair
Would at a dismal treatise rouse and stir”
Macbeth even shows courage throughout the whole play. Although the whole country was plotting against him at the end of the play, Macbeth still tries to keep his courage and strength at a time when other people would’ve lost hope and given up a fight: Macbeth: “But swords I...
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