Macbeth: The Tragic Hero in Shakespeare's Macbeth

Macbeth was one of Shakespeare's most tragic heros. He had flaws and weaknesses, he was very noble but lost his good qualities through the play. He was brave and a courageous noble man who got corrupted by superstition, Love, and overwhelming enthusiasm. Three points that contributed to Macbeths decay are first the prophecy that was told by the three witches, Lady Macbeth's influence and manipulation, and finally Macbeths long going enthusiasm to be king. He might of been the courageous hero at the beginning of the play but progressed in a downward spiral which caused his condemnation, and made him into a tragic hero.

Macbeth was a strong nobleman. He along with Banquo were leaders of the King Duncan’s army. The captain describes Macbeths strength and power that won him the battles, “But all’s too weak:/ For brave Macbeth -- well he deserved that name- / Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel,/ Which smoked with bloody execution,/ Like valor’s minion carved out his passage/ Till he faced the slave;” (1.2.17-22). But then Lady Macbeth pressured Macbeth into killing Duncan to become king by calling him a female and tearing his self confidence down. “When you durst do it, then you were a man;/ And to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man” (1.7. 56-58). As she was saying this Macbeth lost bravery, but when he fought with Macduff he gains some of his bravery and strength back.

Macbeth had a problem of hesitating, he was a very courageous man but his easily persuaded personality became a roadblock to his pursuits. When talking about killing Duncan he changed his mind multiple times before actually going through with it. He was the type of guy who had to be pressured by someone like his wife or the wit...

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...ther than late, but by the time Macbeth did it was too late. He realizes he messed up but now backing down wasn't an option because even though he was cruel and greedy he was still nobel underneath everything “ Why should I lay theRma fool and die/ on mine own sword? Whiles I see lives, the gashes do better upon them”. Macbeth's death was strangely sympathetic, you had to almost feel bad for him. He was corrupt and ultimately had no choice the to be a murder.

Macbeth starts out a noble, brave, warrior, who had great flaws which made him into a tragic hero. He made some wrong turns and let his superstition, love, and overwhelming enthusiasm overcome him and he lost his title of a “Noble Man” and even lost his love to his cruel heart lust to be King.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William, and John Wilders. Macbeth. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge UP, 2004. Print.