Ambiguous Morality
Exploring the moral
ambiguity of MacBeth
Morally ambiguous characters are quite common in many
works of literature. These characters are written vague, sometimes undefined,
moralities which would make it difficult for the audience or reader to
categorize the characters as simply good or evil. Characters’ moralities are
not always black and white, heroic or villainous. Some characters lie in the
grey area between good and evil. These characters are usually portrayed one of
two ways. The first way of these characters’ portrayals involve them expressing
some values that most readers or audience members would view as being good and
heroic, but they might perform an action that many people would categorize as
being evil villainy. The second way is the exact opposite; a character might
show a trait that people look down upon with distaste, but then they would
perform a heroic deed. These characters can be found in many works of
literature, a prime example being the play MacBeth
written by William Shakespeare. Several characters in MacBeth can be described as morally ambiguous; however there is no
better example than the title character. MacBeth is an example of the first
portrayal, meaning that MacBeth has traits that the audience or reader would
view as being heroic; however his actions would be described as villainy. In
Act I, scene ii, a wounded captain tells King Duncan of the
favourable traits that MacBeth has shown in battle. MacBeth is said to be loyal, yet he
betrays the king; he is said to be honourable, yet he kills people while when
they cannot defend themselves; and he is said to be courageous, yet he orders
the deaths of multiple people strictly out of paranoid fear for his own life.
The first example of MacBeth’s moral ambiguity is his
loyalty. The captain in Act I, scene ii tells Duncan of how MacBeth fought
fiercely out of his loyalty to the crown. Later in Act I, King Duncan tells
Lady MacBeth about how her husband has earned Duncan’s trust. MacBeth has
earned Duncan’s trust through great loyalty. After both the king and a captain
who witnessed MacBeth in battle emphasize his loyalty, MacBeth’s actions bring
a cloud of doubt concerning MacBeth’s loyalty.
Despite his loyalty being emphasized, MacBeth betrays the
King. With some influence from his wife, MacBeth murders King Duncan while he
is sleeping. After earning the trust of the king, MacBeth commits regicide as
he believes that he would be crowned king. He also kills his best friend
Banquo, the man who fought alongside MacBeth, because he feared for his own
life.
The second example of MacBeth’s moral ambiguity is his
honour. MacBeth is said to be honourable yet he acts dishonourably. In the
final Act of the play, unlike MacBeth’s loyalty, MacBeth shows that he still
has some honour left, even when he knows that he is more than likely going to
die. MacBeth’s remaining honour is expressed by him preferring to die in battle
than survive by fleeing.
Even though MacBeth is still honourable, he does not act
in such a manner. MacBeth kills the king while he is sleeping. MacBeth also
orders the assassinations of Banquo, Banquo’s son, Lady MacDuff, and MacDuff’s
son. This shows that MacBeth would not kill these people himself, but have
others do it for him, as well as him no longer valuing the lives of women and
children if they could possibly negatively affect MacBeth.
The third and final example of the ambiguity of MacBeth’s
morality is his courage. The wounded captain in the second scene of the first
act speaks of the courage that MacBeth has shown in battle. The captain speaks
of how MacBeth faced death without fear, as well as face his foes directly
instead of running to safety. This contrasts with MacBeth’s behaviour in the
final act of the play. MacBeth was said to act out of loyalty and courage but
his behaviour suggests that he acts out of fear and paranoia.
Towards the end of the play, MacBeth does not show the
courage that he supposedly had. Instead of directly facing his foes, MacBeth
orders the assassination of Banquo because he is paranoid that either Banquo or
Banquo’s son would assassinate him. Not only does MacBeth order the murder of
his closest friend but he lacks the courage to do it himself and instead hires
assassins to kill Banquo, he does the same with Lady MacDuff and her son.
In conclusion, MacBeth’s morality is quite ambiguous due
to his heroic traits conflicting with his villainous behaviour. MacBeth is said
to be loyal, yet betrays the king; he is said to be honourable, yet kills
people who cannot defend themselves; he is said to be courageous, yet acts out
of fear and paranoia. The conflict between MacBeth’s heroic traits and his
villainous actions results in a morally ambiguous anti-hero.
