To What Extent Is Macbeth A Tragic Hero

Is it possible for Macbeth to be a hero? Macbeth the play written by William Shakespeare takes place during a medieval time in Scotland. The main character Macbeth, began as noble swordsman killing a traitor of King Duncan. Afterwards Macbeth is greeted by three witches that prophesize him becoming king. Macbeth then encounters major troubles in his story including murders of innocent people and officials. Although Macbeth is portrayed as a cold, cruel, and dark hearted murderer, he displays the Shakespearen qualities of a tragic hero by having internal conflicts, a fatal aspect, and supernatural influences.

Internal conflicts play a huge part in Macbeth being a tragic hero. While Macbeth is deciding on his actions he ponders “If ill, Why hath it given me earnest of success, Commencing in a truth?” ( i,iii 132,134). Macbeth is starting to question the witches prophesies with his own personal beliefs. Macbeth clearly is having second thoughts on his actions and the prophecies description. This gives him one trait of a tragic hero. Macbeth then further questions the witches’ prophecies saying “If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me. Without my stir.” (i,iii 146-148). Macbeth then questions his own destiny wondering if he should interfere with his fate delivered by the witches’. This is not the

only reason for Macbeth becoming a tragic hero.
Macbeth’s ambitions begins to take his mind and heart over.

Macbeth’s wife, Lady Macbeth, influences Macbeth by saying “ Art not without ambition.” (i,v 18). Macbeth has one good quality of being an eligible leader but, this quality of ambition can easily be turned for evil. Lady Macbeth claims that his ambitious mind should only encourage him to kill the King faster. Macbeth describes his own ambitions as “ Black and deep desires.” (i,iii 59). This foreshadows his own ambitions of having a dark side to his nature if under the right circumstances. Macbeth now gains another quality of being a tragic hero but, is now having supernatural

influences.
Before and after Macbeth kills King Duncan there are more supernatural experiences than just the witches. As Macbeth is about to walk into Duncan's room and kill him he sees “ A dagger of mind...Thou marshall’st me the way that I was going.” (ii,i 39-43). Macbeth’s apparition of the dagger pointing towards King Duncan’s room only further pushes his true wish to become King and kill Duncan to do so. More towards the end of the play Macbeth goes to see the witches to figure out his future. The witches then deliver three apparitions the most effective one stating “ None of women born shall harm Macbeth.” (iv,i 96-97). This apparition is the most important because it causes Macbeth to believe that he is unable to be killed. Which makes him even more power hungry and dominant. Macbeth being affected by outside influences or supernatural influences is the biggest reason he is a tragic hero.
As Macbeth is now considered a tragic hero with the identifying qualities of having internal conflicts, a fatal aspect, and supernatural influences. Consistently during the book Macbeth is almost put through a series of tests such as encountering the witches or having an internal conflict with his own decisions. These qualities may seem as if Macbeth is just a cold and cruel murderer that has no intentions of doing anything unless it is for himself. As there is further analysis Macbeth turns out to be a good leader just with twisted intentions. This being the very definition of a tragic hero.