Macbeth as a Tragic Hero
Macbeth is probably Shakespeare’s most complicated yet greatest tragedy. Similar to other plays written by the prodigious playwright, Macbeth teaches a valuable lesson: excessive ambition and power may corrupt one’s ability to follow their conscience, especially with the help of a suggestion. From his example, we can learn not to allow ambition, temptation, and evil forces (supernatural, internal, or external) to sway us to do something immoral.
Macbeth is the titular character and tragic hero of Shakespeare’s last tragedy. However, scholars have argued whether Macbeth is solely responsible for his fall or if he received help in this regard. At the beginning of the play, we meet three witches. The famous line uttered by the three sisters “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” refers particularly to Macbeth.
The crux of the statement is that appearances are deceptive. One may appear good or ‘fair’ on the surface, but there might as well be something evil lurking within the depths of their soul. Therefore, readers believe that the witches knew about Macbeth’s ambition and the lengths he would go to fulfill his desire. This was a primary reason for approaching Macbeth.
Although they never state directly that the only way for him to become king is by killing Duncan, perhaps Macbeth had thought about it already; this would explain why he looked so anxious upon seeing the witches. We later see the witches’ prediction coming true as Macbeth, who once showed himself as a loyal servant to King Duncan, ends up splatting Duncan’s blood on his hands. In conclusion, the witches definitely had a role in Macbeth’s fall.
Fall deeper, Macbeth!
Another person who played a part in making Macbeth fall was his wife, Lady Macbeth. Commonly referred to as one of “Shakespeare’s most infamous female characters” (Jamieson, 2020), she is already planning King Duncan’s murder after receiving Macbeth’s letter. Lady Macbeth is quite the opposite of her husband.
She is more ruthless, stronger, more cunning, and more ambitious than him. It seems as if she’s a “masculine soul living in a feminine body” (“Lady Macbeth Character Analysis in Macbeth | SparkNotes”, n.d.). Various scholars have gone so far as to declare that without her, Macbeth never would have pursued the path that led to his ultimate demise.
“Yet do I fear thy nature
It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness” (Shakespeare, 1904, 1.5.)
She is aware of the fact that her husband is way too gentle and kind to do anything about the witches’ prophecy. Therefore, she takes it upon herself to ensure the crown. Although she would have committed the horrendous deed herself, she was unable to do so because Duncan reminds her of her father. Therefore, she knows that their destiny as royalty lies in the hands of Macbeth.
Macbeth’s reluctance displays his conscience and goodness in nature. He believes that if he is to be king, it will happen without him needing to even lift a finger.
“If chance will have me king, why, chance may
crown me,
Without my stir” (Shakespeare, 1904, 1.3.)
This line serves as evidence for Lady Macbeth’s testimony of his gentle and good character. When he greets his wife at the castle, he tells her that they will not kill Duncan as he has been very gracious to them. There is a bond of mutual respect between Duncan and Macbeth.
“We will proceed no further in this business:
He hath honour’d me of late” (Shakespeare, 1904, 1. 7.).
In rebuttal, Lady Macbeth employs her superior rhetorical skills while persuading them to carry on with their diabolical scheme. She questions his manhood repeatedly until he confesses that he will kill Duncan to prove himself to be a real man.
“I dare do all that may become a man;
Who dares do more is none” (Shakespeare, 1904, 1. 7.).
Consequently, Lady Macbeth forces her husband to commit the crime using her persuasive speech and insulting remarks about his masculinity. Macbeth submits, killing Duncan. However, his paranoia gets the better of him and he calls for multiple executions, some of which were probably unnecessary.
There is no doubt that both (the witches and Lady Macbeth) had a significant role to play in Macbeth’s fall. The question remains of who plays a bigger role. Is it the witches or Lady Macbeth? While the witches awaken Macbeth’s temptation and desire, it is Lady Macbeth who encourages him time and again to go through with the evil plan. The debate is ongoing, however, we have to side with Lady Macbeth on this one.
The EVIL wife?
Lady Macbeth is an influential character to our tragic hero. When Macbeth tries to forget the heinous plan, it is his wife who uses her rhetorical skills to keep him on the dark path. Although he argues with her that they might get the throne eventually and that there is no point in killing Duncan, she replies by jabbing at his ambition, masculinity, and strength. Macbeth is no match for his wife when it comes to verbal arguments, though he might be a great warrior on the battlefield, he eventually gives in.
Although she is a woman, she has no feminine features about her. She is cunning, strong-willed, extremely determined, and ambitious and other traits we usually associate with men. She is quite manipulative and devoid of compassion. She emotionally blackmails Macbeth by telling him that if he loves her, he will prove it by slaying Duncan.
“I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums
And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you
Have done to this” (Shakespeare, 1904, 1.7.).
The aforementioned lines bear witness to how cold-hearted Lady Macbeth is. She is devoid of warmth and compassion—two ideal characteristics of women (especially mothers). She is ready to kill her baby for the fulfillment of her personal desires. Therefore, she took advantage of Macbeth’s love, courageousness, ambitious persona, as tools to compel Macbeth to comply with her plans.
A couple of scholars propose that Macbeth is not merely a puppet to the witches’ prophecy nor his wife’s wishes. Macbeth already had the plan of acquiring the throne and he obtains support and advice for murdering Duncan from both his wife and the witches. Apparently, Macbeth needs this sponsorship from the two external forces to help him silence his conscience and start giving in to temptations. He killed Banquo and Macduff’s family by himself, without consultation or support from them. Consequently, Macbeth brought about his destruction and fall.
As a tragic hero, Macbeth falls prey to internal, external, and supernatural forces. These forces participate in his fall. Macbeth’s inner desire, his wife’s persuasive speeches, and the witches’ prophecy come together to bring the tragedy of Macbeth. However, as I believe, Lady Macbeth’s role is substantial to his fall. Without her, perhaps, he might not have killed Duncan but waited for his turn to rule Scotland.
Currently, I am a student of Fatima Jinnah Women University. With a burning passion for psychology, words, and dreams, I decided to abandon medical studies for humanities. These days, when I’m not listening to ballads, watching movies, or sitting down with a good novel, I am rigorously studying Hangul (Korean language) to satisfy my obsession for BTS and K dramas. I’m a thinking introvert and INFJ personality. Therefore, I like ‘me time’. My articles typically resonate with psychological well-being advice.