In the play, the central protagonist Macbeth, is confronted with the supernatural and the prophesy of becoming king. He cannot help but want this position, as this flaw also includes his weakness through over ambition. It is generally said that those possessing a flaw will die. The first Thane of Cawdor was a traitor, Duncan was too trusting, Banquo did not act on the knowledge he had about Macbeth’s murders, Lady Macbeth helped plot the murder of Duncan, and Macbeth destroyed the natural order and harmony of the time. All of these deaths are a result of Macbeth’s over ambition to become king, fuelled by the prophecies of the evil witches.
Macbeth fails to realize the witches never promised happiness, contentment, or safety in their words, but rather they managed to lure him in because he convinced himself that being ... ... middle of paper ... ...that he damns all who have faith in the dark forces, basically cursing at himself that he was able to be manipulated by evil. Macbeth begins to understand that he could not have it all, after all. Equivocation eventually fairly wins against our ambitious hero. The consequences of equivocation can be observed through Macbeth’s vulnerability to evil, overconfidence in dark forces, and irrational ambition. An honourable man is destroyed before our very eyes as “instruments of darkness” deceive him by their warped honesty.
Another fatal mistake in Brutus’ premeditated plan was allowing Antony to live. “And for Mark Antony, think not of him; For he can do no more than Caesar’s arm when Caesar’s head is off” (916). Brutus’ main flaw was his lack of judgment in making critical decisions for those implicated with the conspiracy. He believes it is best to leave Anton... ... middle of paper ... ... His cause seems honorable, but as murder and loss twist his judgment, we begin to see that he was mistaken. His misjudgments have led to the downfall of Rome, creating the monarchy he had wished to prevent.
Insanity is defined as “[the] inability to understand the nature and consequences of one's acts or of events, matters, or proceedings in which one is involved.” In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the protagonist turned antagonist, Macbeth, was once “valour’s minion” (I.ii.16) a loyal and devoted nobleman of Scotland. However, he commits a heinous act of regicide in order to ascend the throne, only to become a tyrant who in the end was regarded as nothing but a “dead butcher” (V.ix.35). Macbeth was unarguably sane in the beginning of the play, however, at the end of the play its unclear whether or not Macbeth truly was a “deranged blood hound” (V.ii.32), or if he was still acting on his own accord. Critics may say that this “Bloody sceptered tyrant” (IV.iii.95), who murdered innocent people indiscriminately through the novel befell the holds of insanity, but in truth, Macbeth, whether for better or for worse, never was truly driven insane. An attribute of insanity was previously defined as the inability to understand the consequences of one’s acts or events around one, which furthers the argument that Macbeth was sane.
By describing Macbeth’s violence towards others as a result of his ambitions to become king, Shakespeare demonstrates that power can cause people to commit evil actions. Although not written, Shakespeare implies that Duncan encountered a gory death to show how controversial Macbeth is willing to be in hope of gaining power. Macbeth says, “I go, and it is done. The bell invites me./ Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell/ that summons thee to heaven or to hell” to demonstrate that he is ready to end the life of a man who once regarded Macbeth so highly in order to be king of Scotland (II. i.
The celebrated play, “Macbeth” written by William Shakespeare, chronicles the events of the protagonist by the same name. His rise, his transformation, and ultimately his demise. Although some may argue Macbeth is a monster due to his actions, it is his human nature that triggers his grievous destiny. A classical hero is an individual who is of noble stature, who has a tragic flaw that can lead to many things including Hamartia, Peripeteia and pathos. Macbeth represents the classical definition of the term, “tragic hero.” His tragic flaw leads to a reversal of fortune, despite his treacherous behaviour, the audience exudes sympathy for Macbeth and, his tragic flaw (his ambition) pilots his downfall.
Shakespeare's Macbeth as Tragic Hero Shakespeare's Macbeth follows the journey of nobleman Macbeth that starts with him as Thane of Glamis and ends with him as King of Scotland. Macbeth is a tragic hero because he possesses all the traits that Aristotle outlined in his poetics. He said that the tragic hero must be a man that is higher than mortal worth, but has tragic flaws. Aristotle also stated that the flaws will lead to great suffering and usually death; the cause being fate. The flaws that lead to Macbeth's degeneration are his sense of ambition, his reliance on the prophecies and his influence and manipulation by Lady Macbeth.
Macbeth, a tragedy that was written by William Shakespeare in the 17th century is a play that expresses how ambition destroys people and how a strong pull for desire of power can have over a man. Macbeth is a tragic hero and had it not been for the witches prophecies and his wife's ambition and interaction with him, the play would be been ended very differently. From the beginning, Macbeth is doomed by fate to descend into the madness, which in the end he did. Of course like every other tragic hero, Macbeth had a tragic fall which lead him to his ultimate downfall. His tragic flaw was his vaulting ambition and his hunger overall for power.
There are many attributes that Macbeth has that shows how he is a tragic hero in the play. First, what characteristics make a person a tragic hero? There are multiple aspects that a person must have that will declare them a tragic hero. The most notorious tragic hero is Oedipus from the play Oedipus Rex written by Sophocles. In the play, Oedipus is frightened about the prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother.
The Protagonist as Victim in Oedipus the King and Hamlet In Sophocle's Oedipus the King and William Shakespeare's Hamlet, the unruly forces surrounding the protagonists are the source for their downfall. Fate, women, and divine intervention are the foundation for the protagonists' demise. The protagonists are powerless against these elements, and for that reason, are not responsible for their finish. The uncontrollable force of fate is one component that assists in destroying Oedipus. Oedipus cannot improve his situation because of fate and realizes this when he declares, "But I count myself the son of Good Chance, the giver of success-I shall not be dishonored."