Macbeth Tragic Hero Essay

The role of an Aristotelian tragic hero is common in William Shakespeare’s work. His famous play, Macbeth, and it’s leading character of the same name are perfect examples of the Aristotelian tragic hero. Throughout the play, Macbeth undergoes a change from nobility to disgraced. Macbeth fits the definition of an Aristotelian tragic hero because he begins the play with nobility, has a tragic flaw which causes him to suffer a fall from grace, and because in the end he regains a small measure of that lost nobility when he discovers a moment of self-awareness and goes down fighting. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a man of very high social standing and holds the title of Thane of Glamis. The people around him view him with nothing but respect. Duncan, the king, gives him the title of Thane of Cawdor because of his nobility. “With his former title greet Macbeth.” (Act I, sc ii, line 65). The witches prophesied this earlier in the play as well. Macbeth is also recognized for his courage on the battlefield against Macdonwald’s forces. “For the brave Macbeth- well he deserves that name-” (Act I, sc ii, line 16). Duncan says the same about Macbeth upon hearing about what happened on the battlefield, “O valiant cousin! Worthy gentlemen!” (Act I, sc ii, line 24). Macbeth’s tragic flaw is his vaulting

At the end of the play, Macbeth has nothing left; his wife is dead, he has no friends, and Malcolm and Macduff are coming with an army to remove him from power. He finally realizes that his death is inevitable and that the things that come along with old age like honor, obedience and friends, are things he, “must not look to have,” (Act V, sc iii, line 28). Macbeth knows that he is going to lose to Macduff, but goes down fighting. “I will not yield, To kiss the ground before young Malcolm’s feet.” (Act V, sc viii, line