When looking at a hero, some instantly think the stereotypical character that saves the day, is inhumanly perfect, and gets rid of or ultimately defeats the antagonist, but never think of the opposite, a tragic hero. A tragic hero is defined as the character that fails due to his or her own weakness or human error, so when thinking about the Shakespearean character of Macbeth one does not instantly think to use the word hero to describe him, but he is actually an excellent example of a tragic hero. Macbeth shows many tragic hero characteristics such as Noble Stature, Tragic Flaw, and Increased Awareness which eventually leads to his failing fate. Noble Stature involves the fall of a tragic hero in which it affects the lives of others, where …show more content…
This event alone begins the fall of Macbeth from a position of an honorable and noble man to one that is greedy for power. In the result of this event, not only was the family is affected, but all of Scotland as well since now their leader has been killed. In the events following, Macbeth then turns on Banquo ordering murders to kill him and his son so that no one outside his family will obtain the throne after him, still exhibiting his greed. After the wake of Duncan and Banquo people are now beginning to think that Fleance, son of Banquo, is behind the deaths not Macbeth. In the ending result Macbeth further shows noble stature when his actions led to his death by Macduff causing Macduff to become the king of Scotland, the role that Macbeth so treasured. Therefore, Macbeth shows Noble Stature throughout the play when his actions lead to not only his fall from an honorable man, but a now dead man who affected others’ lives. Macbeth is a tragic hero indeed when it comes to noble stature, but he also shows many characteristics of a tragic flaw. Tragic flaw is when a hero falls due to a flaw or weakness in their personality. Macbeth displays tragic flaw throughout the play with his over excessive pride, and letting the pressure and guilt get to his head. For example, in Macbeth’s first encounter with the three witches he is told that …show more content…
(Ant. 5.3.1-2)”
Macbeth’s personal weakness is shown greatly in this one scene due to the fact his confidence over powers his decision to dismiss the reports, instead of being informed. In Macbeth’s case he simply dismisses the reports because the witches told him three things that will kill him, all of which seemed utterly impossible and unnatural to happen in Macbeth’s mind. All together tragic flaw is shown throughout the play in Macbeth’s decision making. Tragic Flaw is definitely one of Macbeth’s biggest tragic hero characteristics, but what also makes him a great candidate to be considered a tragic hero is his increased awareness of his own fate towards his last few moments of life. Macbeth was a confident man throughout the entire play until his final moments of life where he became increasingly aware of what has gone wrong. In his final moments Macbeth begins to realize that what the witches told him that would kill him has come true. His first indicator was when a messenger told him Birnam Wood is moving towards Dunsinane, making his confidence lessen. Than finally, when MacDuff comes to end Macbeth, Macbeth gets information that tells him right then and there that he would be killed.
“MACDUFF: Despair thy
Macbeth could justly be classified a “Tragic Hero” as his tragic story fills out the defined criteria for a tragic hero. Macbeth holds a significant social status, reveals essential truths about humanity through his suffering, has tragically wasted talent, contains a “tragic flaw” leading to his downfall and finally he finds some relief in his death.
Macbeth was a tragic hero. Traditionally, a tragic hero is someone who is born as an example of greatness but somehow along the way they acquire a flaw in character that brings about his own downf...
This together proves that Macbeth was not a tragic hero. Even saying that he did not have the two previously spoken of characteristics, he also never did a single thing for the good of his people. He immediately let the witches prophecy go to his head. His thirst for power got the best of him which ultimately led to his death. Therefor, Macbeth should have taken responsibility for his actions just as a mass murdered and not a tragic
A tragic hero is a person of noble birth or potentially heroic qualities. The role of a tragic hero is common in many of Shakespeare's plays such as Macbeth. The character of Macbeth is a classic example of a Shakespearean tragic hero. A tragic hero often has a noble background. This person is predominantly good, but suffers a terrible fate falling out due to glitches in their personality. The tragic hero has a monstrous downfall, brought out by their fatal flaw. Macbeth is named a tragic hero because he learns through suffering, he is isolated, and he exhibits personal courage in his acceptance of death.
Throughout the play Macbeth allows his pride to interfere with his judgment and succumbs to the witches’ prophecy, leading to his tragic downfall. “Macbeth orders a slaughter of innocents in a vain and futile attempt to preserve kingships threatened by prophecies” (Hassel). He murders King Duncan, his good friend, in order to secure his fate as king. Although Macbeth knows the difference between right and wrong, he is a victim of his tragic flaw: his ambition. His tragic flaw repeatedly leads him to deceit and murder.
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:
Greed is a quality that many have, but too much of it can be catastrophic. In the tragedy Macbeth by William Shakespeare, the character Macbeth has a tragic flaw that leads to his eventual downfall. A tragic hero is generally defined as someone who has great potential; someone who is born into nobility and could have a great future. However, they are doomed to fail and often die because of a tragic flaw. These characters usually learn a lesson from their deeds. However, it is usually too late for them to have a happy ending. These characteristics apply to Macbeth, whose greatest flaw is his greed for power. Shakespeare uses characterization, conflict, irony, and foreshadowing to show the audience that Macbeth is a tragic hero.
Macbeth’s provocative or violent actions on the challenges placed before him cause him to build an effect of downfall and dismay throughout the play. Originally, Macbeth handles his challenges in different ways and manners and is constantly changing his procedure. From handling situations carefully to not caring, Macbeth and his violence resulted in guilt and selfishness which he had to overcome. By the end of the play, Macbeth had become a selfish, greedy king and the challenges as well as experiences he encountered shaped him into who he is. He was shaped by the guilt of killing Banquo and Duncan, just to become powerful and a king. For example, in Act 3 Scene 4, Macbeth faces adversity when his mind creates a ghost of Banquo, who he just found out was killed. In Macbeth, the uprising of adversity was often handled in various manners. By dealing with his own challenges, Macbeth transforms his handling of adversity from being cautious to thoughtless, which reflected his character and the transformation he portrayed throughout the
Macbeth’s tragic flaw is his ambition and it consequentially leads to his downfall and ultimate demise. Macbeth is a tragic hero who is introduced in the the play as being well-liked and respected by the general and the people. He brings his death upon himself from this tragic flaw. His strengths turn into his weaknesses and his ambition drives him to the edge and sets himself up for his tragic death.
MACBETH AS A TRAGIC HERO Tragic heroes are within everyone, but cannot be fully exposed or understood without the essential tragic qualities. One must be a potentially noble character who has heroic qualities and has respect and admiration from the society. Consequently, they are essentially great. Also within the character must be a flaw or weakness that leads to a fall. Lastly, one is required to possess an element of suffering and redemption.
Tragic heroes, who destined for a serious downfall, are the protagonist of a dramatic tragedy. A tragic hero is usually a great hero, who gets the most respect from other people; on the other hand, a tragic hero can also lose everything he gained because of his mistakes. His downfall is the result of a wrong judgment, a flaw which might combined with fated and external forces. The downfall can cause the tragic hero to suffer for the rest of his life. In many literary works, the downfall of the tragic heroes usually happen in their highest point. In the same way, Macbeth is a tragic hero in the play called “The Tragedy of Macbeth” which is written by a legendary writer, William Shakespeares. Macbeth is a great general who gained many respect from the people and even the king. In the highest point of his life, because of seeking for greater power, it created Macbeth’s downfall. Macbeth, a tragic hero, causes suffering for himself and others by committing murders and creating distress, which are the negative effects of seeking for a greater power.
Macbeth is a brave man who is not naturally inclined to perform evil deeds, yet he desperately wants and desires power and succession. At the end, he is not happy with what he has accomplished, "I am afraid to think what I have done; look on `t again I dare not" (Shakespeare Macbeth 2.2.51-52). He kills Duncan against his own logical judgement and later drowns in paranoia and guilt. Macbeth is led to wicked thoughts by the prophecies of the three witches, especially after the witches' prophecy that he will be made Thane of Cawdor comes true. Macbeth is a powerful man and...
A Shakespearean tragic hero starts out as a noble person; a great exceptional being who stands out. A tragic hero has a tragic flaw of an exaggerated trait that leads to their downfall and eventually to death. William Shakespeare often made his main characters tragic heroes in his plays. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the role of the tragic hero is given to the main character: Macbeth. This is because he starts off as a loyal and well liked man in the beginning, but has a tragic flaw of ambition which ultimately leads to his downfall.
Macbeth as a Tragic Hero in Shakespeare's Macbeth. When William Shakespeare created "Macbeth" he included in the title character all the key elements of a tragic hero. Macbeth has a decline from his good standing, reaches a lowest point and soon after turns himself around, the epiphany, and finally rises in his morals and standing; however it is too late and his death is apparent. Macbeth's decline begins when he heeds the witches prophecies.
The tragic hero is a very specific character and must meet several criterias. This tragic character must not be an extremely virtuous individual that instead of the audience feeling pity or fear for their downfall, they feel anger. The character must as well not be so evil that the audience wishes their downfall, simply for the sake of justice. This tragic hero is best described as someone ‘’who is neither outstanding in virtue and righteousness; nor is it through badness or villainy of his own that he falls into misfortune, but rather through some flaw", Macbeth fitting this character perfectly. He is introduced to us as a military hero who has proven himself in battle time and time again, but still an average man, easily comparable to a modern day soldier. Along with all of Macbeth's many positive attributes comes his tragic flaw, a moral weakness of being extremely ambitious. It is this seed planted in him that inevitable takes over this ordinary man and entraps his will and leads him down his