Macbeth: Hero or Villain

He is perceived as a hero, but it could be hinting to the audience that he has the potential to be a bloody murderer and a villain.
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             The witches" revelation of the prophecy regarding Macbeth's kingship of Scotland can be seen as the beginning of Macbeth's transformation from hero to villain. When he is first told Macbeth flinches and looks worried as he 'Stands not within the prospect of belief.' This is a sign of his reservations about the actions he may have to undertake. It is soon afterwards, however, that Macbeth's ambition begins to show itself as he does whatever he can to ensure the prophecy ' thou shalt be king hereafter.' (I.ii) comes true. .
             The way in which the witches appear with their 'prophetic greeting' initiates Macbeth's evil thoughts about killing Duncan ,the current king. The Shakespearean view of witches as links to the devil and hell make the truth of the prophecies questionable. The fact that Macbeth is willing to perform an act of pure evil, namely Duncan's murder, on the evidence of an unreliable source suggests that he has evil in him, or is at least susceptible to it, even when being described as a 'hero.' It is human nature to be susceptible to evil thought. The extent to which Macbeth is willing to act tips the scales to the side of his villainous nature.
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             Macbeth's 'deep desires' about killing Duncan are not expected and are a dramatic change from the 'noble' Macbeth the audience met at the beginning of the play. The traditional idea of a villain is that he or she should follow evil methods to get what they want. In the case of Macbeth, he is going to kill Duncan to become King of Scotland, so at this point Macbeth will certainly appear villainous if he acts upon his evil thoughts.
             The audience become aware of Macbeth's thoughts through his soliloquy (I.iii), in which he is preparing himself to commit murder. 'Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair And make my seated heart knock at my ribs Against the use of nature?' In the soliloquy Macbeth's villainous nature becomes apparent as the audience sees that he is hardened to the act he will perform.