Macbeth Tragic Hero Research Paper

A Ruler that is Ruled by Others
A tragic hero is a virtuous character that is predominantly good, but suffers from self-inflicted destruction due to flaws in their personality. A tragic hero has a tremendous downfall which usually ends in demise. In Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, the idea of a tragic hero establishes the story. In the story, Macbeth has fatal flaws that lead him to his own demise. These fatal flaws make Macbeth a tragic hero.
Early on in Shakespeare's play, Macbeth is established as being of great stature. He has already earned the title of Thane of Glamis, and King Duncan speaks very highly of Macbeth. The way the leaders of Scotland speak about Macbeth show his respectable and honorable nature. King Duncan not only speaks

highly of Macbeth, but also has much honor for Macbeth, unaware of what Macbeth will later inflict on him.
Macbeth suffers from tragic flaws. His most prominent flaws are his very strong ambition, pride, and the fact that he is very easily influenced. In the beginning of the story this ambition and pride reside inside of him, subdued and in check. When he runs into the three witches, learns of their prophecies and sees one come true, his ambition begins to grow. Macbeth is told three prophecies by the witches; that he will become Thane of Cawdor, that he will be King of Scotland, and that Banquo will not be king, but his sons will. When Macbeth becomes Thane of Cawdor, he assumes that the other prophecies will come true. This leads to blinding ambition to become King of Scotland. His honorable nature fades and is replaced with a “by any means necessary” mindset. This lust for power and to be king, along with persuasion from Lady Macbeth, led him to murder King Duncan. Macbeth, when crowned King of Scotland, began to experience extreme paranoia. He began to fear anyone who suspected him as the murderer or anyone with a noble bloodline. At the end on the play he is responsible for four deaths. His ambition blinds him to the destructive path he is taking, ruling as a tyrant instead of a noble king. His easily influenced nature causes him to not think for himself and instead listen to Lady Macbeth and the three witches. These fatal flaws play a big role in Macbeth's demise.
Macbeth’s fatal flaws lead him to become a tyrant, and he is removed from power by Macduff and the Scottish people.

With the bloody path he created to ensure the throne, his fall from power and demise was inevitable. Macbeth was aware that his deeds would lead to people wanting revenge, however he did not fear them. Due to the words of the three witches, he thought of himself as invincible. The three witches told him to be bold and fearless, that no man born from a woman could defeat him, and that he will never be defeated until the trees of Great Birnam Wood attacked Dunsinane. Macbeth saw these two things as being impossible, so he thought he would never be defeated and did little to protect his castle. Macbeth was surprised when he heard the forest was attacking his castle, which was actually Macduff and his army using the forest as camouflage and to hide their numbers. Macbeth's true discovery was when Macduff tells him that he was not born from a woman, and that he was actually ripped from his mother’s womb. Macbeth then realizes his vulnerability, and Macduff goes on to behead him. Macbeth solidifies himself as a tragic hero.
Macbeth fits every characteristic of a tragic hero. He goes through a full cycle from a rise to power, followed by a great demise. His ambition rises him up to the top, to become the King of Scotland, but it is also what destroys him and results in his ultimate downfall: death. Macbeth displays all the characteristics of a tragic hero, making him

an infamous character in Shakespeare’s time as well as present day.