Macbeth: The Most Tragic Hero

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In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, many of the characters may be considered to be the most tragic. Macbeth was the most tragic character in the play because of his high status and how he handled his death with dignity. After he killed Duncan, he became the king of Scotland. When he knew Macduff could kill him, he stayed to fight him and died with dignity. Macbeth’s high status is one of the reasons he is the most tragic character in the play rather than anyone else. Before he and Banquo meet the three witches, he is already the Thane of Glamis and is about to become the Thane of Cawdor. “By Sinel’s death I know I am Thane of Glamis. But how of Cawdor?” (I.3.74-75) He is telling the witches that he is aware that he is the Thane of Glamis. Soon after meeting the witches, he is given the title of Thane of Cawdor. After he and Lady Macbeth killed Duncan, he became the new king of Scotland. “Thou hast it now¬-king, Cawdor, Glamis, all as the …show more content…

When Macbeth found out that Macduff was not of woman born, he stayed to fight and died with dignity. Before he knew that Macduff wasn’t of woman born, and the English were invading he stayed to fight because he did not want to seem like a coward by running away or killing himself. “Why should I play a Roman fool and die on my own sword?” (V.8.1-2) He is saying that he isn’t going to kill himself like a captured Roman would because he doesn’t think anyone is able to kill him. After Macduff told him that he was not technically born, Macbeth refuses to surrender to Macduff. “Though Birnam wood be come to Dunsinane and thou opposed, being of no woman born, yet I will try the last.” (V.8.35-37) Even though he now knows that Macduff was not born from a woman, and that he is able to kill him, he stays to fight him. By staying to fight, Macduff was able to kill him, and he died with

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