TO WHAT EXTENT DOES SHAKESPEARE PRESENT MACBETH AS A VILLAIN?
Shakespeare presents Macbeth more extensively as a villain using methods which would be more understood in the era the play was composed, which was the Jacobean period, but influenced by the reign of Elizabeth. During the Elizabethan period people were preoccupied with the supernatural, which is one of the main topics in Shakespeare’s play. In my opinion Shakespeare structures the play to make the audience see Macbeth transforming from a hero into a villain, we can also see how Macbeth’s character transfigures from a valiant, noble soldier to a deceitful traitor.
Shakespeare exhibits Macbeth as being heroic both at the prelude and the climax of the play by portraying him as
Shakespeare continues to present Macbeth as a tragic hero by having the witches’ prophecies influencing Macbeth’s life by giving him ambition to become king, which was fuelled by Lady Macbeth’s manipulative words. Lady Macbeth manipulates Macbeth by challenging his manhood: “Hath it slept since...” This quote spoken with sibilance shows Lady Macbeth freely challenging Macbeth’s masculinity in a way that will make him respond by saying that his valour sleeps in between battles and can therefore not be used for fighting his every day problems. Lady Macbeth knows Macbeth’s personality and knows he will not stand a direct challenge of his manhood, which is when Macbeth turns in to a villain; he accepts the challenge to kill the king showing the extent of his transformation.
Shakespeare’s presentation of Macbeths as a tragic hero is emphasised by Shakespeare using Lady Macbeth’s speech to input language devices, such as a proverb: “...like the poor cat i’th’adage?” This says the cat wanted a fish but would not get her paws wet, which is what Lady Macbeth compares Macbeth to; a man wanting to become king but not willing to do anything to get it. Shakespeare uses this in Lady Macbeth’s speech to show how manipulative she is because again she is teasing Macbeth by stating what he wants but that he is not willing to work for it. Shakespeare shows how manipulative Lady Macbeth can which will inevitably be how Macbeth is transformed into a villain.