Macbeth, villain or victim?

Should Shakespeare’s Macbeth be portayed as a villain or is Macbeth a tragic hero and a victim?

If you have seen Macbeth performed on stage several times you will realise that no two Macbeths are ever played in quite the same way.

Of course, both actors and directors will have their own views on how Shakespeares’ Macbeth should be portrayed, they may show him as being strong or weak, courageous or cowardly, basically good or basically evil.

In Macbeth, and Lady Macbeth, Shakespeare created two characters who might be interpreted in such very different ways, it is up to the actor, director, or indeed the reader or audience to judge.

Macbeth the victim

Do we view Macbeth as being tricked by the witches into murdering Duncan, as being driven to his fate by evil out side of himself? Is Macbeth a man whose fate is ordained and who is simply fulfilling his destiny? If we do, then his guilt is greatly lessened.

But surely Macbeth has the power to choose. The witches may encourage him, but something inside Macbeth makes him listen to them. His path may be foretold, but he chooses to follow it.

If we see Macbeth as a man driven to kill the King because of unbearable pressure from his ambitious wife, then his guilt may also be lessened. But then our respect for Macbeth is diminished as he appears as something of a hen-pecked husband. On the other hand if Macbeth is deeply in love with his wife, and kills out of fear of losing her love, we may feel pity at his dilemma.

Yes, we can see the witches and Lady Macbeth as influencing Macbeth but they do not force him.

Was Macbeth basically a good and decent man, not driven but rather tempted by the witches and Lady Macbeth to commit a crime that he knows is wrong, and which is completely out of character? Being human, and an ambitious man, did Macbeth find the temptation of the crown just too hard to resist? Maybe he gave in to temptation after a fierce struggle with his nobler instincts and resolved to murder the king. But his conscience was at war with his desire and his soul cut in two by the conflict and he is horrified by that part of himself that could contemplate such a foul act.

Peace and innocence

When he does kill the king, the horror of it almost drives him mad, he has murdered his own peace and innocence by killing Duncan.

But, whatever anguish Macbeth suffered over killing Duncan, he was desperate not to be revealed for what he is, which is perhaps why he killed the grooms. And, if Macbeth was basically a decent man, why then did he go on to kill the noble Banquo?

Was he haunted by the prophecy that Banquo’s line will become kings, but his own will not? Or perhaps his fears are different and he suspects that Banquo knows but is remaining silent. Either way, Macbeth himself wasn’t entirely happy with the task of having Banquo killed and persuaded the murderers that they had a personal grudge against Banquo.

When Banquo’s ghost haunts him, it may be Macbeth’s conscience working through his imagination, to produce a fearsome picture of his awful deeds, and the only escape from these terrible pictures is further action. The witches warn Macbeth to beware Macduff, but Macduff has fled and Macbeth decides to strike immediately at the Thane through his family.

Surely even a basically honourable Macbeth is in danger of losing all of our sympathy now?

What possible reasons could he have for such a horrible act? The witches had made him drunk with power by telling him to be bloody, brave and bold, making him believe he is invulnerable, almost immortal. But they have also caused him great anguish by showing that Banquo’s line will be kings.

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