Macbeth Tragic Hero Research Paper

The role of a tragic hero is a familiar literary element in many of William Shakespeare’s works. Macbeth, as a character, is a prime example of a Shakespearean tragic hero. There are a vast number of factors that contribute to Macbeth being labeled as a “tragic hero.” Typically a tragic hero, according to Aristotle, is an individual of high stature, often of noble background: a king, a prince or an officer of high rank. This individual is good-natured, however, not perfect. As the story progresses, the tragic hero will have a tremendous downfall, brought about by their hamartia, or the “tragic flaw”. The character reaches what Aristotle called “anagnorisis,” a critical discovery that completely alters the dilemma that they are in, often after they are already trapped in it. Finally, a true Shakespearean tragic hero must lose his life at the end of the play so that the message of what is good, in the play, may be reestablished. Early on in the play, Macbeth is established as being a man of great valor. He has already earned the title of Thane of Glamis, and as prophesized by the three Weird Sisters, he will soon be given the title the Thane of Cawdor. In

His actions left him in a constant state of paranoia. With the path he had laid for himself, his fall was only inevitable. He was fully aware that this would happen. However, he simply dismissed it, as he fell for the deceptive words of the witches. The three witches had told him to be, “bloody, bold and resolute for no [man] woman born shall harm Macbeth…[you] shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against” (Mac 4.1.81-95). Macbeth saw both of these things as impossible and thus did very little to protect his castle from an attack. He was shocked when he was told that the forest was in fact attacking his castle, which in actuality was Macduff’s army carrying branches as a means to camouflage