A Tragic Heroine: Lady Macbeth As A Tragic Heroine

Lady Macbeth: A Tragic Heroine

The definition of a tragic hero is much more than a heroic character with a tragic ending. In William Shakespeare Macbeth, there are many detailed qualifications as to being the tragic hero. Although it is said that a Shakespearean tragic hero must be a male, it is highly arguable that Lady Macbeth is a potential contender as the tragic hero in the play Macbeth in replace of the main character, Macbeth.

Firstly, an important characteristic of a Shakespearean tragic hero is that one must suffer outwardly and inwardly which is something that occurs for Lady Macbeth throughout the majority of the play. The first incident in which Lady Macbeth displays acts of suffering is the constant referencing to the removal of blood from her hands. For example, after taking part in the killing of the king, Lady Macbeth begins to go mentally ill in the sense that she is constantly thinking that Duncan's blood is still on her hands from that night. This is a clear example of how she suffers inwardly and outwardly as it is said that she is constantly washing her hands to try to remove the blood from her body. As Lady Macbeth said, "Here's the smell of the blood still: all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand" (Macbeth 5.1.54-56) This is showing that her brain suffering and showing signs of mental illness as well as obsessive compulsive disorder to which is making her believe that Duncan's blood is unable to be removed from her hands. On the same note, Lady Macbeth is showing signs of outward and inward suffering is when she sleepwalks because of her guilty conscience as well as doing and saying things due to

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The regret she is suffering from. For example, during Lady Macbeth's sleep...

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...beth 5.1.65) This makes the final conclusion that Lady Macbeth has an incurable disease of the mind and foreshadows that she will soon be dead, once again requiring the audience to make a personal connection therefore admitting pity for her. On the other hand, Lady Macbeth also delivers a message of fear to the audience as she presents relatable situations that would be frightening towards others in the same situation. With that being said, Lady Macbeth sends out signals that in which elicit both pity and fear from the audience which is a very important character trait to possess while being the tragic hero.

To summarize, although the traditional definition of Shakespearean tragic hero is said to be of the male gender, the character, Lady Macbeth from the play, Macbeth, portrays multiple signs that apply to the characteristics of a Shakespearean tragic hero.