Shakespeare's Macbeth was a Tragic Hero

Macbeth was a Tragic Hero

Macbeth exhibits most, if not all, of the classic traits of a Shakespearean tragic hero almost flawlessly. From his rise to greatness to his ultimate destruction and death, he is most certainly a tragic hero.

At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a thane--a high-ranking vassal to the king, much like a duke. Macbeth is also an extraordinary general. Macbeth meets three witches after his victory in a great battle. The witches already know his weakest point and act upon it. Their prophecies rap into his pride he becomes their overly-determined puppet. Ultimately, Hecate's final words in scene III.5 show us the true intent of the witches:

"He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear

His hopes 'bove, wisdom, grace, and fear:

And you all know security

Is mortals' chiefest enemy" (3.5.30-33).

These lines give us a give us a glimpse at the witches' intent. Hecate's words also tell us a little bit about Macbeth and his pride.

Although many have argued that Macbeth's flaw was "over-ambition", this author would have to disagree. Macbeth's pride ultimately was what killed him. His pride was what brought him to power as the witches prophesied. It fed his determination, and finally, in Act V, Macbeth's final lines show this pride in full-blook at its ugliest:

"I will not yield,

To kiss the ground before young Malcolm's feet,

And to be baited with the rabble's cause.

Though Birnam Wood be came to Dunisane,

And thou opposed, being no woman born,

Yet I will try the last. Before my body

I throw my warlike shield. Lay on, Macduff;

And damned be him that first cries "Hold, enough!" (5.8.28-34).

If Macbeth had had less pride, he would likely have acted much differently. For one, he would have been more discerning of the witches and much less willing to believe the prophecies of his death. Macbeth has victories in many battles. His victories surely fill him with pride. His captain tells King Duncan of his victory in the following lines:

"As the sparrows eagles, or the hair the lion.

If I say sooth, I must report they were

As canons overcharged with double cracks;

So they doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe" (1.