The Titular Character Of William Shakespeare s Macbeth

The titular character in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a typical hero who undergoes a series of nasty situations, and gradually loses his humanity in the process. Although he begins the play as a traditional hero, he most certainly does not retain that title towards the end. Over the course of the play, the reader can see Macbeth gradually decline in his mental and emotional state. From the beginning, he is portrayed as a traditional hero, with his courage on the battlefield and his honor at all times, not to mention his natural mercy and loyalty. Toward the end, however, he is a cruel and treacherous-as well as overly ambitious-tyrant. Throughout the play, we see challenges occur to make him this way, beginning from the point at which the witches spoke to him, and prophesied for him his rise to power. Before evaluating Macbeth’s character, it is important to define both a traditional hero and an anti-hero. Dictionary.com defines a hero as: â€Å"a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.† The Macbeth that we see at the commencement of the play most certainly fits this description, and never better than in the opening remarks in regard to him by the sergeant. On the other hand, an anti-hero is described by the same source as: â€Å"a protagonist who lacks the attributes that make a heroic figure, as nobility of mind and spirit, a life or attitude marked by action or purpose, and the like†. What we see as the play progresses is thatShow MoreRelatedcompare and contrast1507 Words   |  7 PagesStory Time and Macbeth 4. Compare and contrast the dramatic function of deception in two plays. The two plays that are going to be compared are ‘Macbeth’ and â€Å"Old Story Time†. Macbeth is written by a well-known dramatist by the name of William Shakespeare. Old Story Time is written by one of Jamaica’s best playwrights Trevor Rhone. ‘Macbeth’ is often said to be one of Shakespear’s most powerful tragedies. According to Poem hunter.com William Shakespeare was widelyRead MoreMacbeth : Not A Rare Monster1832 Words   |  8 Pages Macbeth: Not a Rare Monster Many directors, actors, and audience members have different opinions regarding the titular character of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Harold Bloom, author of Bloom’s Guides: Macbeth, states that â€Å"Macbeth is a villain, indeed a monster of murderousness† (Bloom 7). Even Macbeth’s rival, Macduff, calls him a â€Å"rare monster† (Macbeth 1.5.76-8). Macbeth is not a rare monster, he is human. In fact his humanity is a major theme in both Shakespeare’s script and in manyRead MoreAnalysis Of William Shakespeare s Hamlet And Macbeth 1854 Words   |  8 PagesThe work of William Shakespeare is, to many, the purest representation of theatricality there is. He is the most instantly and internationally recognizable playwright, and so works like Hamlet and Macbeth have come to be seen as staples of the dramatic genre, expected to be studied and performed, with critical acclaim, on a massive scale. However, as with so many forms of art, Shakespeare s work was not necessarily appreciated as such in his own time, specifically by certain critics of the theatre