Aristotle's Tragic Hero in Shakespeare's Macbeth

Aristotle's Tragic Hero in Macbeth

Aristotle and Shakespeare lived ages apart, but Aristotle had a great affect on Shakespeare's plays. In Shakespeare’s tragic play, Macbeth, the character of Macbeth is consistent with Aristotle's definition of the tragic hero.

Aristotle's tragic hero is a man who is characterized by good and evil. He is a mixture of good characteristics and bad characteristics. For example, Macbeth was an honorable Thane of Glamis. He was a valiant fighter who had protected his country of Scotland well, but he wanted to be king. His "vaulting ambition" caused him to kill King Duncan which ended up in his fall. Aristotle's tragic hero has a tragic flaw, or harmatia, that is the cause of the downfall. Macbeth's vaulting ambition, though it is what brings him to his height of power, it is also what leads him to his downfall. Vaulting Ambition is Macbeth's only flaw; it disables him to achieve his utmost goals and forces him to face his fate. Without this ambition, though, Macbeth never would have been able to achieve his power as King of Scotland or have been able to carry out his evil deeds. In these instances, ambition helped Macbeth do what he wanted to do. But, consequently, Macbeth's ambition has another face and is what leads him to his tragic downfall. Had he not been so enveloped with becoming King and remaining powerful, he would not have continued to kill innocent people in order to keep his position. It was because of these killings and his overbearing attitude that caused him to be overthrown and killed himself.

Macbeth, at the beginning of the play seems to be a very noble person. He is characterized as being very loyal and honorable. He fights in the battle against ...

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...o his tragic death. Had it not been for Macbeth's obsession with power, he would have been able to remain powerful, but it is because of his ambition that causes him to become less powerful and leads him to his downfall.

Works Cited and Consulted:

Brooke, Nicholas, ed. Macbeth. Oxford: The Oxford University Press. 1990.

Coursen, H.R. Macbeth-A Guide to the Play. London: Greenwood Press.1997.

Elloway, David. Tragic Ambition in Macbeth Macmillan Education Limited. 1985.

Nostbakken, Faith. Understanding Macbeth. USA: Greenwood Press. 1997.

Shakespeare, William. Tragedy of Macbeth . Ed. Barbara Mowat and Paul Warstine. New York: Washington Press, 1992.

Slethaug, Gordon. "Lecture Notes" for ENGL1007. Online posting. November 2000. .