Who are the protagonist and antagonist in Macbeth?

The protagonist of a literary work is the main character.  As such Macbeth of Shakespeare's play is a protagonist, albeit not a good man.  Still, he is the character who drives the plot of the drama. The antagonists are any character whom Macbeth opposes or with whom he comes into conflict. Thus, Macbeth conflicts with Duncan, Banquo, Lennox, Macduff, Ross, Mentieth, Simward, and all noble Scotsmen.  Of course, Malcolm III must be included in this list, and even the three sisters whom Macbeth encounters in Act I since they make predictions that work against Macbeth.  For instance, they tell Macbeth in the first act that he will be Thane of Cawdor, but they also tell Banquo that his sons will be king. Later, in Act III Banquo asks Macbeth if the witches can fulfill their prophesies for him, which prove to be antagonistic, why cannot his prophesies be also fulfilled:

As the weird women promised and I fear

Thou play'dst most foully for't:  yet it was said

It [being king] should not stand in thy posterity

But that myself should be root and father

Of many kings,. If there came truth from them--

Why, by the verities on thee made good,

May they not be my oracles as well

And set me up in hope?  But, hush, no more. (3.1.1-10)

This statement, of course, is Banquo's undoing as he, thus, becomes antagonistic to Macbeth in wishing his sons to be king.  In another example, when Malcolm speaks of returning Scotland to its people, he also intends to dethrone Macbeth.  This action again sets the witches as antagonists since they have predicted that no man born of woman will kill Macbeth; however Macolm is not "born of [any]women"; he has been surgically removed from his mother's womb.  Worried about Malcomb, Macbeth attempts to destroy him.

Is Lady Macbeth a protagonist or antagonist in Macbeth?

The term "protagonist" is taken from ancient Greek drama and simply means "first actor." The "protagonist" of a drama is the central or leading character, and he or she usually has the most lines and is played by the "starring" actor. In antiquity, the cast for a play consisted of three actors and a chorus. As well as a "protagonist," there was a "deuteragonist" (second actor) and "tritagonoist" (third actor). In some cases, a protagonist would have a strong single opponent called an "antagonist," usually played by the second actor or deuteragonist, but not all plays had that structure.

Shakespeare's Macbeth is a modern drama with more than three actors. Although Macbeth is definitely the leading role and Lady Macbeth is the second most important role (one that would have been played by the deuteragonist in antiquity), she is not an antagonist to her husband. Instead, there are a series of antagonists, including Duncan, Banquo, and, the most important, Macduff.

Is Lady Macbeth the protagonist of Shakespeare's Macbeth?

Lady Macbeth is one of the most important characters in Macbeth as she plays a key role in the events of the play. However, when considering whether she is the protagonist (the leading character) you need to think about whether Shakespeare presents her as a more prominent character than her husband. In your conclusion, you should sum up the arguments for and against Lady Macbeth as the protagonist before arriving at your own conclusion.

When arguing for Lady Macbeth as the protagonist you could draw attention to her power in the first acts of the play. She is a strikingly strong female character who, at this point, is presented as the driving force in the Macbeths’ partnership. More ruthless and ambitious than her husband, she is the one who devises the plan to kill King Duncan. Her only fear is that Macbeth is “too full o’ the milk of human kindness” (act 1, scene 5) to take the necessary action to become king. Her fears are confirmed when the audience sees Macbeth wavering in his resolve to kill Duncan. However, Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband into ignoring his conscience by questioning his manhood. It could be argued that Macbeth would not have embarked on his violent path to kingship without Lady Macbeth steering, encouraging, and manipulating him.

In evaluating the other side of the argument (that Macbeth is the protagonist), there are also important points to consider. Firstly, Macbeth is the titular character and the conventions of drama suggest that this makes him the protagonist. Secondly, while Macbeth becomes increasingly proactive in his plot to become king, Lady Macbeth’s role diminishes. From act 3 onwards, Lady Macbeth is no longer her husband’s “partner of greatness” as he orders murders without consulting her. We see less and less of Lady Macbeth until, in act 5, she apparently ends her life, driven mad by guilt. Her strong presence fades from the play and, significantly, her death takes place off stage. By contrast, Shakespeare presents the slaying of Macbeth by Macduff as his dramatic conclusion. As tragedies traditionally end with the death of the protagonist, this strongly suggests that Macbeth is intended to be the play’s protagonist.

Is Lady Macbeth the protagonist?

Lady Macbeth is not the protagonist in Shakespeare's Macbeth. That position belongs to Macbeth himself, for the play largely revolves around his choices and actions. Yet Lady Macbeth plays a major supporting role, so let's take a look at her place in the drama.

Lady Macbeth is an instigator. When she reads Macbeth's letter about the witches' prophecy, she knows exactly what her husband should do about it, and she is determined to make him do it. Macbeth, she says, is ambitious but too kind. He needs to take the initiative, kill Duncan, and make the prophecy of his kingship come true. Lady Macbeth will taunt him and push him into doing so.

Lady Macbeth is also a planner. She is the one who comes up with the method of killing the king and getting rid of Banquo and his son. The ideas are hers, and she wishes that she could carry them out. If she were not a woman, she says, she would take the dagger in her own hand. But instead she sets things up for her husband.

Finally, Lady Macbeth is an example of what happens to a person when her conscience catches up with her. For much of the play, Lady Macbeth does not seem to have a conscience. She is brutal, meticulous, and intent upon what she wants. Yet by the end, Lady Macbeth is unraveling. Her guilt has caught up with her, and she believes that her hands are covered in blood that no one else can see. No matter how much she washes them, she cannot get the blood off. The guilt overwhelms her, and Lady Macbeth kills herself.