Evaluating a Hero
Shakespeare's tragic play Macbeth can be interpreted by using Joseph Campbell's steps of a hero. Although Macbeth himself is not a Campbell's hero in the full sense, he does go through a number of the hero stages. Other characters in the play can also be seen as a partial Campbell's hero, such as Macduff and Malcolm.
Macbeth can be evaluate as a Campbell's hero by following the steps of Departure, Initiation, and Return in the Campbell's notes. First is the call to adventure, in which Macbeth was summoned to two quests. One was fighting against the Norwegian to defend his country. This mission was honorable and worthy to his country and he was praised for that. The second one was killing Duncan. He was summoned to this quest because he thinks that he was destined to be king, but truly it was his ambition that led him to do so.
Lady Macbeth by George Cattermole.
English: Poster of Thos. W. Keene in William Shake...
The sleepwalking Lady MacbethAfter the first prediction of him becoming the Thane of Cawdor comes true, he thought maybe it was his destiny to be king after all. The second step is refusal of the call, in which Macbeth temporary decided not to go through with the murder of Duncan. He hesitated because he doesn't know for sure what the consequences would be like after killing Duncan. He is afraid of failing and considers the reasons why he shouldn't go through with it. He said that he is Duncan's kinsman, subject, and host, and has no real motivation to do so. He faces the fact that there was no reason to kill the king other than his own ambition, which he realizes is an unreliable guide. The third step is having a supernatural aid. Macbeth's supernatural aid is the three witches, who told him his future. They appeared to him...