Macbeth: The Tragic Hero

649 Words2 Pages

Recommended: Shakespeare as a tragic hero

The celebrated play, “Macbeth” written by William Shakespeare, chronicles the events of the protagonist by the same name. His rise, his transformation, and ultimately his demise. Although some may argue Macbeth is a monster due to his actions, it is his human nature that triggers his grievous destiny. A classical hero is an individual who is of noble stature, who has a tragic flaw that can lead to many things including Hamartia, Peripeteia and pathos. Macbeth represents the classical definition of the term, “tragic hero.” His tragic flaw leads to a reversal of fortune, despite his treacherous behaviour, the audience exudes sympathy for Macbeth and, his tragic flaw (his ambition) pilots his downfall.
Firstly, Macbeth experiences a reversal of fortune as a result of his tragic flaw, indicating the presence of Peripeteia and that Macbeth is doomed. “Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly! Thou may’st revenge” (Act3, Scene3, Lines17-18), Banquo cries to Fleance, his only son, before he is slain by the murderers and Fleance escapes. Prior to Act 3 everything has gone as planned for Macbeth, the turning point or reversal of fortune is Fleance’ escape since it is his first failure. Macbeth fears Banquo will have more sons (strengthen his bloodline), continue to raise suspicion and he will lose his kingship to Banquo’s bloodline as the witches foretold, therefore, he orders their murder. His ambitious nature and fear of losing power provoke the decision made to kill them. The audience is again reminded of the witch’s prophecy, Fleance does not die therefore the possibility of him acquiring the throne in the future is still a possibility. Despite his greatest efforts, Macbeth’s ambition does not trump destiny.
Secondly, the audience expresse...

... middle of paper ...

...eal to him is his future rank. Despite murder being unfathomable to him, he is willing to kill Duncan if it means he can claim his fate. Macbeth did nothing to obtain Cawdor, however he chooses to accelerate his means of obtaining the throne by committing murder. His avidity towards gaining power leads to his tragic death.

In conclusion, Macbeth has committed treasonous and despicable crimes to both his friend, Banquo and the King of Scotland in order to obtain rank. He may be referred to as a monster, however he is the classical definition of a tragic hero. His reversal of his fortune foreshadows his doom, despite his treacherous behaviour and disloyalty, the audience experiences sympathy for Macbeth and his ambitious nature evokes his tragic, untimely death. Shakespeare effectively uses Macbeth to model the dangers of unchecked ambition and its consequences.

Macbeth: The Cursed Scottish Play
1019 Words | 3 Pages
In the play Macbeth, or more commonly referred to as the Cursed Scottish Play, the multitude of death and betrayal covers up or destroys the potential heroism of many characters, except for that of Macduff. His purity, courage, and sacrifice throughout the course of the play enable this hero to eventually orchestrate the fall of Macbeth.
Read More
Macbeth: Shakespeare’s Two Key Motifs
1016 Words | 3 Pages
The play “Macbeth”, by Shakespeare, contains many motifs. Two very powerful motifs that Shakespeare illustrates in this play are blood, and weather. Blood is important because it shows that this play is violent, and the blood physically shows that these characters in the play are warriors. Weather plays an important role because it usually foreshadows events that are about to take place. For example, a storm usually foreshadows terrible things, like death and destruction.
Read More
An Analysis of Macbeth
1136 Words | 3 Pages
In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the protagonist, Macbeth, murders the king of Scotland and eventually murders several other people. In the end, Macbeth meets his tragic fate of being killed by the nobleman Macduff. Throughout the play, Macbeth makes decisions that affect his fate, but other characters manipulate his choices and his actions. Early in the play Macbeth, Macbeth has control over his actions, but due to the influence of other characters and his subsequent insanity, by the end of the play, Macbeth has no control over his fate.
Read More
Macbeth: The Tragic Hero
1040 Words | 3 Pages
Throughout the play Macbeth allows his pride to interfere with his judgment and succumbs to the witches’ prophecy, leading to his tragic downfall. “Macbeth orders a slaughter of innocents in a vain and futile attempt to preserve kingships threatened by prophecies” (Hassel). He murders King Duncan, his good friend, in order to secure his fate as king. Although Macbeth knows the difference between right and wrong, he is a victim of his tragic flaw: his ambition. His tragic flaw repeatedly leads him to deceit and murder.
Read More
Macbeth Argument Essay
783 Words | 2 Pages
Typical of Shakespeare’s works, the play Macbeth has a protagonist who ultimately experiences a downfall that lead to his demise. The protagonist or tragic hero of this play is Macbeth, once brave and honorable, who eventually becomes tyrannical and feared by many due to what Abrams describes as his “hamartia” or “error of judgment or, as it is often…translated, his tragic flaw.” In this case, Macbeth’s tragic flaw proves to be ambition; however, he cannot be held solely responsible for his downfall. As a result of many outside influential factors, including the witches’ prophecies and a rather coaxing and persuasive wife, one should not hold Macbeth entirely culpable for his actions and tragic end.
Read More
Macbeth: The True Nature of Man
827 Words | 2 Pages
In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is described as being “valiant”. He is a skilled warrior, who is loyal to his king and his country. Almost single-handedly, he wins the war for Scotland. He defeats many of the enemy soldiers, including a traitor, all in the name of his king. But, when three witches encounter Macbeth and his friend Banquo, Macbeth’s ambition begins to grow. They tell Macbeth that he will be Thane of Cawdor and King. Soon after, Macbeth meets with King Duncan. He informs Macbeth that he is the new Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth is astonished, and from then on he is obsessed with being king. His ambition begins to become ruthless when Duncan proclaims that his son Malcolm is the Prince of Cumberland, and therefore, the heir to the throne: “The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step/On which I must fall down, or else o’erleap, /For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires;/Let not light see my black and deep desires:/The eye wink at the hand; yet let that be/Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.” (I,iv,48-53) At this moment, Macbeth, realizing that they stand in the way of the witches’ prophecies, decides that both Duncan and Malcolm need to die for him to be king. As soon as Macbeth kills Duncan, he enters into a world of evil. Later in the play, Macbeth’s ambition becomes increasingly ruthless. He kills his best friend Banquo, and almost kills Banquo’s son, Fleance, because he believes they would stand in the way of his reign. The witches told Banquo “Thou shall get kings, though thou be none.” (I,iii,67) This means that Banquo himself would not be a king, but that his successors would be. Macbeth tries to prevent this by killing Banquo and his son Fleance.
Read More
Macbeth: A Tale Of Two Theories
724 Words | 2 Pages
text of the play seems to imply that Macbeth is indeed responsible for his own
Read More
Macbeth: A Tragic Hero
1162 Words | 3 Pages
Tragic heroes, who destined for a serious downfall, are the protagonist of a dramatic tragedy. A tragic hero is usually a great hero, who gets the most respect from other people; on the other hand, a tragic hero can also lose everything he gained because of his mistakes. His downfall is the result of a wrong judgment, a flaw which might combined with fated and external forces. The downfall can cause the tragic hero to suffer for the rest of his life. In many literary works, the downfall of the tragic heroes usually happen in their highest point. In the same way, Macbeth is a tragic hero in the play called “The Tragedy of Macbeth” which is written by a legendary writer, William Shakespeares. Macbeth is a great general who gained many respect from the people and even the king. In the highest point of his life, because of seeking for greater power, it created Macbeth’s downfall. Macbeth, a tragic hero, causes suffering for himself and others by committing murders and creating distress, which are the negative effects of seeking for a greater power.
Read More
Macbeth: The Not So Great Macbeth
630 Words | 2 Pages
In “Macbeth” written by William Shakespeare the main character Macbeth is a general in the Scottish army. After Macbeth and Banquo another general return from battle they encounter three witches the witches give Macbeth and Banquo three Prophesies. The witches prophesy that Macbeth will be made thane (a rank of Scottish nobility) of Cawdor and eventually King of Scotland. They also prophesy that Banquo will produce a line of Scottish kings although Banquo will never become king himself. King Duncan’s men come to thank the two generals for their victories in battle and to tell Macbeth that he has been named thane of Cawdor. The previous thane betrayed Scotland by fighting for the Norwegians and Duncan has condemned him to death. Macbeth’s wife Lady Macbeth hears about king Duncan coming to their castle and try’s to persuade Macbeth to murder king Duncan. He and Lady Macbeth plan to get Duncan’s two chamberlains drunk so they will black out; the next morning they will blame the murder on the chamberlains, who will be defenseless, as they will remember nothing. While Duncan is asleep, Macbeth stabs him, despite his doubts and a number of supernatural visions, including a vision of a bloody dagger. Macbeth now becomes king and Fearful of the witches’ prophecy that Banquo’s heirs will seize the throne, Macbeth hires a group of murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance. They ambush Banquo on his way to a royal feast, but they fail to kill Fleance, who escapes but kills Banquo. Lady Macbeth later kills herself while sleepwalking and Macbeth becomes depressed. Later Macduff comes with his army and beheads Macbeth. And Malcolm becomes king.
Read More
Macbeth the Tragic Hero
705 Words | 2 Pages
Macbeth could justly be classified a “Tragic Hero” as his tragic story fills out the defined criteria for a tragic hero. Macbeth holds a significant social status, reveals essential truths about humanity through his suffering, has tragically wasted talent, contains a “tragic flaw” leading to his downfall and finally he finds some relief in his death.
Read More
Macbeth: A Very Complex Character
1982 Words | 4 Pages
Macbeth is a very complex character whom reflects man's thirst for power through the drastic changes of his personality; thus being one of the slightest reasons in which make this intriguing character, greatest of all Shakespearean’s well-known works.
Read More
Macbeth: An Analysis of Lady Macbeth
401 Words | 1 Pages
Lady Macbeth, one of the main characters in the play Macbeth, is an example of a character that throughout the course of the play has had a change of heart of some sorts. Lady Macbeth's conscience, which seems to have never appeared or mattered to her before, suddenly becomes an uncontrollable part of her psychological state of being.
Read More
Macbeth: Tragedy
906 Words | 2 Pages
According to the classical view, tragedy should arouse feelings of pity and fear in the audience. Does macbeth do this?
Read More
macbeth as a tragic hero
818 Words | 2 Pages
A Shakespearean tragic hero starts out as a noble person; a great exceptional being who stands out. A tragic hero has a tragic flaw of an exaggerated trait that leads to their downfall and eventually to death. William Shakespeare often made his main characters tragic heroes in his plays. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the role of the tragic hero is given to the main character: Macbeth. This is because he starts off as a loyal and well liked man in the beginning, but has a tragic flaw of ambition which ultimately leads to his downfall.
Read More
Macbeth: From Hero To Villain
1263 Words | 3 Pages
Throughout Macbeth by William Shakespeare we see the transformation of the main character, Macbeth, from hero to villain. Translated, this basically means that Macbeth changes from a brave warrior to a serial killer!
Read More

Open Document

Wait a second!

Macbeth: The Tragic Hero

Macbeth: The Cursed Scottish Play

Macbeth: Shakespeare’s Two Key Motifs

An Analysis of Macbeth