“Macbeth: The Tragic Hero’s Struggle with Darkness and Self-Reflection”

Macbeth has committed terrible crimes, with Lady Macbeth by his side, urging him on. Like Richard III, Macbeth (directly and through the hiring of killers) has murdered kings, close friends, children, and others in pursuit of his ambitions. However, as critics have noted, Macbeth is not considered a “villain,” in the same league as Richard, but rather as a tragic hero. Shakespearean scholar Amanda Mabillard notes that “…what sets Macbeth apart is his penchant for self-reflection. Although ultimately, he cannot resist his dark desires, his struggle to regain his goodness is constant, and the part of his character that is capable of much love and compassion, although ever fading, is always present.