Macbeth is not a villain...

A detailed Summary of Macbeth is not a villain...

The proposition that "Macbeth is a villain in whom there is little to admire" is an inadequate judgement of Macbeth's character. Macbeth is not consciously and naturally malevolent, and there are many aspects of his character and his downfall which serve to support this. Macbeth was not only a victim of his own actions, but also of the human condition and the extremely powerful forces of both his wife and fate. Throughout the play the audience undoubtedly experiences feelings of horror at Macbeth, but we are also driven, through an understanding of his character, to admiration and sympathy. This would not be the case if Macbeth was a totally vile and reprehensible villain, and thus the tragedy of Shakespeare's Macbeth is clear.

Macbeth was certainly no villain to begin with. He is introduced to us as a man of great honour, nobility and strength of morals. He is held in high regard by King Duncan, who addresses him as "valiant cousin, worthy gentleman"- so highly, in fact, that Macbeth is granted a promotion over Banquo (who seems to be of an extremely worthy and loyal character). But there is a fatal difference between Macbeth and Banquo- Macbeth's ambition and lust for power. He is a man with an unsurpassable

In his soliloquy "Out, out, brief candle...Signifying nothing" (Act 5 Sc. 5, ll. 23-28), Macbeth shows how he feels trapped by time, which is forcing him to endure. He is lamenting another aspect of the human condition. This is that we are all trapped by time, which "Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time...to dusty death", and that "Life's but a walking shadow...a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing". The audience identifies with him and can't help but pity him. We all at times feel trapped and disillusioned with life, and often fear that it is meaningless. By voicing our own feelings, he captures our understanding and sympathy, and thus his death is made more tragic.

In Act one scene seven, Macbeth voices the terrifying images which deter him from crime - the protestations of his deepest self. He tells himself that by killing Duncan he would be committing a triple murder; "He's here in double trust; First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, Strong both against the deed; then, as his host, Who should against his murderer shut the door, Not bear the knife myself. Besides, this Duncan hath borne his faculties so meek, that his virtues Will plead like angels trumpet-tongued against The deep damnation of his taking -off..." Macbeth can fathom the damnation that will follow the deed, and he is unprepared to face it. He also sees his ambition as doomed to miss it's mark and pictures himself ending up on the other side of the murder, floored by it's consequences; "Vaulting Ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on th'other". The images are so extremely clear, intense and disturbing and Macbeth is so speculative that it is clear that he is not a natural villain. These are not the reservations of a ruthless, unconcerned, killer. We are reminded of Lady Macbeth's criticism of Macbeth's nature when she began to contemplate the murder of Duncan on her own in scene five of Act one; "Yet do I fear thy nature. It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness To catch the nearest way." Lady Macbeth doubts her husband's ability to carry out the murder of Duncan on his own. It is quite obvious that she is correct to have such suspicions, for by the end of his own soliloquy he has decided against the murder. He tells Lady Macbeth; "We will proceed no further in this business: He hath honoured me of late..."

Some common words found in the essay are:
Lady Macbeth, Lennox MacDuff, Vaulting Ambition, Banquo Fleance, Lady Macbeth's, MACBETH ESSAY, Firstly Macbeth, Wake Duncan, Besides Duncan, MacDuff Macbeth, lady macbeth, human condition, vaulting ambition, macbeth's ambition, vaulting ambition o'erleaps, ruthless callous, own actions, inevitable fate, macbeth extremely, ambition o'erleaps falls, victim own, murder duncan own, terms accepts, ruthless callous villain, victim own actions,

Approximate Word count = 2383
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English