Macbeth Tragic Hero or Cruel Tyrant
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Macbeth's complex character makes it hard to define whether he is a tragic hero, a good character with a fatal flaw, or a Cruel Tyrant, an evil, totalitarian foe. There are parts of the play where Macbeth is clearly evil such as the scene where he orders the death of the Macduff family, however during his soliloquies it clear that he is not just a heartless villain. Even his evil acts could be the result of the supernatural overpowering him.
It is impossible to claim that Macbeth does not have an evil streak because many of his actions are clearly unforgivable for example the murder of Duncan, the good king who did so much for his country and was so generous towards Macbeth.
Yet straight after he commits the dreadful deed he immediately regrets it as he yells at the knocking at the door "Wake Duncan with thy knocking!
I would thou couldst!"
At this point of the play I believe that Macbeth only murdered Duncan to defend his manhood to his wife.
"Was the hope drunk
Wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since?
And wakes it now, to look so green and pale
At what it did so freely"
The way he allows his wife to manipulate him shows he is not as brave and courageous as everybody thinks when they call him "Brave Macbeth" and "Valiant Cousin"...