Macbeth: Not A Hero

What makes a hero a hero? By definition, a hero display courage in adverse situations and who are willing to self-sacrifice in positions of weakness. Based on this definition, the character of Macbeth is not a hero but a man whose lust for power led to his own destruction and take opposition against Ian Johnston’s Introduction to Macbeth. I believe that the character of Macbeth in Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth is not a hero because he was responsible for killing Duncan, murdered people on unjustified grounds, and was the cause of his own demise

In Johnston’s lecture he says that Macbeth cannot be held accountable for the death of Duncan. The lecture says, “His (Macbeth) imagination has committed him to evil before his conscious mind realizes that the decision has been made.” The lecture further breaks down the state of Macbeth’s mind and exactly how Duncan’s death occurs. Johnson makes a good point on Macbeth’s mental behavior, but it should also be said that he agreed to kill Duncan before he even entered the room. In Act 2 scene 1 Macbeth says, “I go and it is done. The bell invites me/ Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell/ That summons thee to heaven or to hell.” He has come to consensus that he will kill Duncan and that his soul will face the entrance of heaven or hell. I am certain of Macbeth’s obvious consent to killing Duncan. Later in that act, after Duncan’s death, Macbeth goes to see his wife to tell her that Duncan is dead. They then begin to discuss the all the incidents that occurred after his death, like the owl hooting. Macbeth tells his wife, “Methought I heard a voice cry “Sleep no more!/Macbeth does murder sleep”- the innocent sleep,/ Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care,/ The death of each day’s li...

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...tragedy Macbeth is not a heroic one. Using both Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Ian Johnston’s Introduction to Macbeth, I believe that I have proved my point. To be a hero your character has to be willing and capable of sacrifice. Macbeth’s character and decisions do not allow him to be a hero.

Works Cited

"Hero." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Jan. 2014. Web. 16 Jan. 2014. .

Johnston, Ian. "An Introduction to Shakespeare's Macbeth." An Introduction to Shakespeare's Macbeth. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2014. .

"No Fear Shakespeare: Macbeth."SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 16 Jan. 2014. .

Shakespeare, William . Macbeth. New York: Washington Square Press, 1992. Print.