Macbeth's Tragic Flaw Quotes
analytical Essay
1377 words
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. Shakespeare accurately …show more content…
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how shakespeare uses characterization, conflict, irony, and foreshadowing to show the audience that macbeth is a tragic hero.
- Analyzes how shakespeare portrays macbeth as a tragic hero using many literary devices.
- Analyzes how shakespeare characterizes macbeth as a tragic hero through the use of characterization.
- Analyzes how macbeth is portrayed as a tragic hero by his internal conflicts and his desire to seize the throne.
- Analyzes how shakespeare uses irony to portray macbeth as a tragic hero.
- Analyzes how shakespeare uses many examples of foreshadowing to portray to the readers that macbeth will fall as a tragic hero.
- Analyzes how macbeth is one of the most famous examples of a tragic hero. he is corrupted by his greed and ends up losing everything he held dear to him.
Macbeth began this play with a great future ahead of him: a Thane to the King with a great life and many friends. Shortly after Macbeth is given the title Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth and his companion Banquo encounter a group of witches. The witches are portrayed as wicked and menacing, saying “Fair is foul, and foul is fair. Hover through the fog and filthy air” (Act 1, Scene 1). This quote shows that what appears to be fair and good, similar to that of Macbeth at the beginning of this play. This quote also applies to the Witches themselves. The Witches’ prophecies to Banquo and Macbeth appear to be fair and very appealing to the men, but are actually very deceiving and leads to Macbeth’s ultimate downfall. Following Macbeth’s visit by the witches, he tells Lady Macbeth of his encounter but says that he does not wish to kill King Duncan to become King. Shakespeare characterizes Lady Macbeth as an evil mastermind, using her powers of seduction to challenge Macbeth’s masculinity. Macbeth may not have murdered for the throne if it was not for the actions of Lady Macbeth, who accuses Macbeth of being too kind hearted to take the closest path to the throne. Macbeth’s downfall begins with the actions that his wife convinces him to take. Shakespeare uses characterization to show that Macbeth is a tragic hero, but these characters’ actions also cause many conflicts that lead to Macbeth’s
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- Macbeth Tragic Hero Analysisanalytical essayA tragic hero is someone born into a noble lifestyle, destined for greatness, but is tested by fate through great destruction and suffering. In the book Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, this concept is well demonstrated in the main characters uprising. When Macbeth chooses the wrong path, he is led by his ambition to his destruction. The presence of an active flaw, the struggle to eliminate it when too late and the path to demise it created are all reasons Macbeth’s story is tragic. As a result, Macbeth’s tragic flaw of ambition led him to become a tragic hero.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that a tragic hero is someone born into noble lifestyle, destined for greatness, but is tested by fate through great destruction and suffering. macbeth's ambition led him to his destruction.
- Analyzes how macbeth began to become a tragic hero when many of his decisions allowed him to act upon his ambition. his ambition made him want to remove malcolm’s future title to make it his own.
- Analyzes how macbeth realizes his flaw after committing duncan's murder, regretting his actions, and is told the sceptre can never grow in his name.
- Analyzes how macbeth made himself a tragic hero as he let his ambition lead him to his demise.
- Analyzes how macduff's rage was enough to want revenge on macbeth, having him killed.
- Analyzes how macbeth's ambition made him a tragic hero by giving in and acting upon it, realizing it too late, and having it lead to his demise.
978 wordsRead More - tragic hero in macbethanalytical essayWhen discussing Tragic Hero’s in William Shakespeare’s plays one of the better examples where it can be seen is in Macbeth. Macbeth himself serves as the tragic hero meeting all of the requirements to be considered that. He most definitely start off the play with a high standing among all of Scotland due to his prominence and gallantry in battle for his country. This eventually puts him in the position to be a powerful thane and ultimately a great king, now that his actions would serve to have a much more significant impact on Scotland. Macbeth certainly had the potential to be a great leader as a thane as well as a king. His potential would be stopped by the ambitious drive towards becoming a king which created a passion within himself to remain the king of Scotland. When tempted by the evil of the three witches Macbeth without doubt seals his fate and leads to his downfall by believing the witch’s prophecy that he will become the king. To further prove that Shakespeare was portraying the character Macbeth as a tragic hero, it can be seen that Macbeth makes his tragic decision to kill Duncan completely out of free will. Towards the end of the play Macbeth actually realizes and acknowledges the incredible amount of terror he has caused. Taking all these factors into account it is clear that William Shakespeare was portraying in his own way that the character Macbeth was perfectly reflects the traits of a tragic hero.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how shakespeare's portrayal of macbeth as a tragic hero reflects the traits of the character.
- Analyzes how shakespeare created a tragic hero, macbeth, who is cousins with the scottish king, the thane of cawdor and glamis.
- Analyzes how macbeth's mistakes contribute greatly to his downfall. the witches are responsible for the inception of the ideas that led to king duncan’s death.
798 wordsRead More - How Is Macbeth A Tragic Heroanalytical essayAristotle once said, “A man cannot become a hero until he can see the root of his downfall.” According to Aristotle, the characteristic of a tragic hero is a man of noble stature and occupies a high status position. There should be a fatal flaw that eventually leads to his downfall, the tragedy is usually raised by its character’s fatal flaw and the audience must feel pity or fear for this character. While there is less pity or fear for Macbeth, Macbeth still is a character who portrays a tragic hero through his nobility, high status position, his hamartia, and error in judgment.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how macbeth fits aristotle's definition of a tragic hero, stating that the character is noble in stature and occupies high status. the tragedy is raised by its fatal flaw and the audience must feel pity or fear for this character.
- Analyzes how macbeth was a brave and strong nobleman. he was the leader of king duncan's army, and his actions as the general won him the battle.
- Analyzes how macbeth's tragic flaws led him to his downfall, because of his selfish ambition and his pride.
- Analyzes how macbeth's error in judgment prevails in every situation he confronts. his ambition causes him to commit many murders to acquire the throne.
- Analyzes how aristotle's definition of a tragic hero is one who falls from high status and prosperity to the state of demise.
617 wordsRead More - macbethanalytical essayA Shakespearean tragic hero may be defined as “an exceptional being of high degree” who contributes to his own degeneration and illustrates a personality flaw. The character of Shakespeare’s Macbeth is in all ways the perfect example of a tragic hero. His greatness and bravery in battle for his country ultimately leads him to be a great thane and eventually a powerful king, making his actions have a significant impact on a country. Macbeth’s ambition on becoming a king leads to an obsession to remain in his current position. His ambition comes to a point where he falls to the temptation of evil which leads to Macbeth’s inevitable downfall. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is portrayed as a brave man whose performance in Scotland’s battle is celebrated.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how shakespeare's macbeth is a tragic hero who contributes to his own degeneration and illustrates personality flaws. his greatness and bravery in battle for his country ultimately leads him to become powerful king.
- Analyzes how macbeth's courage in defense of scotland is evident in the opening scene. a wounded soldier describes his actions as "cannons overcharg'd with double cracks... doubly redoubled strokes upon the foe."
- Analyzes how macbeth's ambition to become a powerful king rises with each word spoken from the witches.
- Analyzes how macbeth's moral decision is clouded by his ambition when he hears of malcolm’s succession to the throne.
- Analyzes how lady macbeth decides it's time to get rid of the person that’s keeping him from the throne. his crave for power and moral weakness lead him to evil suggestion which inevitably lead to his downfall.
- Analyzes how macbeth makes the mistake of relying solely on the witches prophecies.
- Analyzes how macbeth's ill-fated decision proves to be his last. he misinterpreted his own power into believing he was invincible. his ambition and belief in the witches prophecies brought him to his tragic end.
832 wordsRead More - Character Analysis Of William Shakespeare's Macbethanalytical essay“So foul and fair a day I have not seen”( 1.3.40). In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth is the Thane of Glamis who comes across three witches upon leaving a battlefield who prophesize that he will become the Thane of Cawdor and King of all. As his ambition grows, along with the aid of several outside forces including his wife and the witches, he kills his king which sets him on a path from which there is no return. The witches also prophesied that his friend, Banquo, will have children who become kings. This leads Macbeth, as king, to hire a group of murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance who escapes his demise. Throughout the rest of the story, we see Macbeth’s life spiraling out of control in which he murders several more people as a result of his ambition and outside influences. In the play of Macbeth, many key informational items point us to the conclusion that Macbeth is a tragic hero which which include the witches as the true antagonists, lady Macbeth’s deceptive character, and his own ambition and regret. On the other side of this debate, many may use the fact that he
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how macbeth is the thane of glamis who comes across three witches upon leaving a battlefield who prophesied that he would become the king of all.
- Explains that the witches are the true antagonists in the play and have manipulated macbeth into doing horrible acts.
- Analyzes how lady macbeth is equally or more guilty as she convinces her husband to kill the king. she sleepwalks and continuously tries to wash the blood from her hands to no avail.
- Analyzes how macbeth's ambition, unlike greed or envy, is a tragic flaw. the witches' prophecies steered his ambition in the wrong way, making it difficult to be himself.
- Analyzes how macbeth's ambition and regret clear him from being known as a true shakespearean tragic hero. the witches, evil from their work with dark magic are the obvious, villainous, antagonists of this shakespearean play.
1027 wordsRead More - Macbeth Character Analysisanalytical essay“You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” (The Dark Knight, 2008). This quote describes the archetypical tale of the tragic hero. As Aristotle had illustrated in Poetica, the tragic hero is defined as possessing hubris and harmartia, arrogance or a tragic mistake respectively. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, we follow the titular character as we witness his rise to the throne to then see his immediate downfall. Macbeth stands among Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies, showing the effect of power on an individual. His ultimate demise in the story’s resolution gives insight into what catalyzed the supposed events. Without a doubt, Macbeth had transformed from the hero to eventually the villain.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the quote describes the archetypical tale of the tragic hero, defined as possessing hubris, harmartia, arrogance, or a tragic mistake. in shakespeare's macbeth, we follow the titular character as he witness his rise to the throne to see his immediate downfall.
- Analyzes how macbeth's catalyst for his drive to kingship was his encounter with the three witches in act i, scene iii.
- Analyzes how macbeth's murder of duncan stands as a landmark event in the story, as audiences witness the tragic demise of his conscience.
- Analyzes how the witches' prophecy of macbeth's kingship foretells his children becoming the heirs to his throne.
- Analyzes how macbeth's hamartia leads to the notorious shakespearean demise by tying up the foreshadowing of the three witches.
523 wordsRead More - Titleanalytical essayIn William Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, the villainous protagonist Macbeth embraces his fatal flaw of avarice, in which he transforms from a loyal subject and honored warrior to a murderous traitor and tyrant king. As the character of Macbeth is developed, he quickly defines Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero: one who is noble and brave, shows great courage and perseverance but is undone by a fatal flaw in his character. Macbeth models a villain in an average, everyday society through the nature of his depraved personality.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the villainous protagonist macbeth embraces his fatal flaw of avarice and transforms into a murderous traitor and tyrant king.
- Analyzes how macbeth freed his fatal flaw of uncontrollable greed and ambition after being told of a prophecy of becoming king one day from the wicked witches.
- Analyzes how macbeth contributes to the play's meaning since he portrays the loss of innocence of humankind through avarice and unrestrained ambition.
- Analyzes how macbeth's critical role in william shakespeare’s play macbeth parallels the fate of a villain. he was unnaturally ranked up to king, conflicting with the great chain of being.
538 wordsRead More - Social Authority In Macbethanalytical essay“Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee” (Shakespeare, Act 2 Scene 1). In order for someone to be a “tragic hero,” there are four categories that the protagonist must fall under; social authority, importance in society, hubris, or pride, and hamartia, or a tragic flaw. Macbeth falls under each of the categories, as seen throughout the play as he dramatically changes. As the play goes on, Macbeth slowly, but surely lands himself deeper and deeper into the category of tragic hero.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how macbeth falls under social authority, importance in society, hubris, pride, and hamartia, or a tragic flaw.
- Analyzes how macbeth defeats norway and becomes thane of cawdor. social authority is being able to persuade and control certain areas and not having to answer for it.
- Analyzes how macbeth's importance in society slowly arose as he defeated norway and found out that his name was thane of cawdor.
357 wordsRead More - A Tragic Heroanalytical essayMany of us want to become a hero, a person with exceptional courage and strength. Macbeth desired this, but he wasn’t flawless. Macbeth was a man with many faults that led to his downfall. Starting out as a hero, Macbeth soon became a cowardly man, a tragic hero. Aristotle defined a tragic hero as a man who "falls into misfortune through some flaw” or simply a great man, who possesses a character flaw, which eventually causes their downfall. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth is a good example of a tragic hero. Macbeth is portrayed as a man who falls from his position of nobility due to a flaw in his character that eventually results in his tragic death. Macbeth, even though a great man, let the witches prophecies, influence of Lady Macbeth, and his ambitions get the best of him leading to his tragic death.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how macbeth became a tragic hero after falling from his position of nobility due to his character flaw.
- Analyzes how macbeth fought honorably for duncan against the invading forces at the beginning of act i. king duncan recognizes his bravery on the battlefield and makes him the thane of cawdor.
- Analyzes how macbeth was dumbfounded by the witch's prophecy that he would become thane of cawdor and the king of scotland.
- Analyzes how macbeth let his wife influence and manipulate his emotions so severely that he makes ultimately the decision to kill the king.
587 wordsRead More - Lady Macbeth Quotesnarrative essay(1.2.84-86) For they are actions that a man might play; But I have that within which passeth show, These but the trappings and the suits of woe. (1)
In this essay, the author
- Describes the trappings and suits of woe within which a man might play.
- Narrates how the lord swore upon his sword, and he let him go without his eyes.
- Opines that it is nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles.
- Opines that they are indifferent honest, but could accuse them of such things that it was better their mother hadn't borne them.
- Narrates how a rat is dead, and the ducat is slain. mad as the seas and wind, both contend which is the mightier.
- Opines that no place should murder sanctuarize; revenge should have no bounds.
564 wordsRead More - Lady Macbeth Quotesanalytical essayWilliam Shakespeare's epic tragedy, Macbeth, is regarded as one of the most influential works of literature in the modern history. The tale recounts the great rise and fall of Macbeth, a valiant soldier whose ambition leads to kingship after hearing about his supposed future from mysterious Witches. With the aid of his wife, Lady Macbeth, Macbeth conspires to murder several friends and superiors. However, the actions Macbeth committed throughout his ascension to power plague him with both guilt and madness. Lady Macbeth’s monologue in Act 1 initiates the development of Lady Macbeth as an evil and ruthless character through her reaction to her husband’s supposed rise to power, provides an introduction to her as an accessory in Macbeth’s mental demise, and establishes a resemblance between the characteristics of Lady Macbeth and those of the Witches. It illustrates the intentions of Lady Macbeth as a powerful figure while breaking the gender stereotypes of 15th Century.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how shakespeare's epic tragedy, macbeth, is regarded as one of the most influential works of literature in the modern history.
- Analyzes how lady macbeth's immediate response in act 1 demonstrates her ill-intentioned mindset. she desires for a position of power in scotland and will commit malicious acts to achieve such goals.
- Opines that glamis thou art, and cawdor; and shalt be; yet do i fear thy nature; it is too full of human kindness.
- Analyzes how lady macbeth advocates for the "fate" spoken by the witches in reference to her future kingship.
- Analyzes how lady macbeth's "kindness" is used as a disparage for him. the prize of power will inevitably occur unnaturally, as malcolm was announced as the succeeding king.
- Analyzes how shakespeare establishes each of the female characters to possess male qualities and stereotypical intentions of power, corruption, and manipulation.
- Analyzes how the critical monologue from lady macbeth in act 1 demonstrates her true intentions of the future after hearing of her husband’s fate.
932 wordsRead More - Macbeth Fair Quotesanalytical essay"Fair is foul, and foul is fair" (I.i.12) illustrates the ultimate view of appearance versus reality. William Shakespeare captures the suspense of foreshowing opening the beginning of the play. The quote interpreted is "foul", ideally bad, yet "fair" which is good. The witches foul and fair quote, simply state bad is good and good is bad, which is just like Macbeth’s character. Macbeth is both foul and fair throughout the play. Many explanations come from the quote, a world where nothing is what it seems. A world where you are never sure whether something is what it actually seems. Macbeth’s character is not who he seems, yet he is. What one thinks is good, it is actually foul, and what one believes to be foul is indeed good. Shakespeare uses characterization, soliloquy, and archetype to show the destruction of over-ambition in Macbeth's
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how shakespeare captures the suspense of foreshowing opening the play. the witches' foul and fair quote states bad is good and good is bad, which is just like macbeth’s character.
- Analyzes how macbeth's actions on the battlefield honorably won him honor from king duncan. the plot continues in the play, but his good qualities disappear, while the evil ones become easily seen and developed.
451 wordsRead More - Macbeth Tragic Hero Essayanalytical essayA “tragic hero” is both fair and foul. In our society, a hero is someone that does something good for someone and doesn’t ask for anything in return. A tragedy is when something bad/sad happens and it will eventually have a negative impact on people. Macbeth by Shakespeare is about a brave warrior, Macbeth, who receives a prophecy to be king. The prophecy slowly destorys the brave warrior he once was; his wife manipulated him into killing Duncan (the king). This leads Macbeth down a path of darkness. Which led him to his sad death, and him figuring out what led him to this. All those characteristics of the story of Macbeth shows that he is a tragic hero.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that a "tragic hero" is someone who does something good for someone and doesn't ask for anything in return. shakespeare's macbeth is about the brave warrior who receives the prophecy to be king.
- Analyzes how macbeth's hamartia is his ambition to be king.
- Analyzes how thane of cawdor's hamartia is shown because of his ambition of having the title of king. macbeth sees the dagger and is about to kill duncan.
- Analyzes how macbeth has lost his decency for the lives of innocent people. he knows how bloody it will be and how his ambition led him to doing terrible stuff.
- Analyzes how macbeth's cockiness leads him to his sad fate. he mocks malcolm when the british army approaches.
- Analyzes how macbeth is sick of his men's fears, mocking how malcolm can't kill him.
- Analyzes how macbeth's overconfidence in the two examples shows that he doesn't care about other people, allhe cares about is himself. his nemesis is the third appartion and his actual death
- Analyzes how macbeth was in shock when macduff said: "tell thee, he was from his mother’s wombuntimely ripp’d." these moments connect to mac's hubris because those "helped" his sad fate happen.
- Analyzes how macbeth's anagnorsis makes him feel remorse and leads to the catharses, which is the moment when the tragic hero discovers his flaw.
- Analyzes how macbeth knows now that what he thinks will lead to his downfall.
- Analyzes how macbeth acknowledges he has done wrongs and never meant to do those from the start. his ambition led him to his sad death.
1041 wordsRead More - Macbeth Tragic Hero Essayanalytical essayWhile reading William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, it is clear that Macbeth is great example of a tragic hero, which is also the main theme of the play. A tragic hero is defined as a person who makes a bad choice and it eventually causes them to self destruct. Although Macbeth has his qualities of being an average hero, he shows more traits of a tragic one, hence; from the prophecy given by the three witches to the manipulation by Lady Macbeth, he shows common characteristics of the tragic hero he truly is.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how macbeth is an example of a tragic hero, which is also the main theme of the play.
- Analyzes how macbeth, a tragic hero of william shakespeare, trusts the prophecy of the three witches of his future to become the king, and his fate unravels as he has some error in judgement.
- Analyzes how macbeth began relying on the prophecies given to him by the witches to become the thane of cawdor.
- Analyzes how lady macbeth tended to manipulate her husband, which led to his killing of his best friend, banquo.
- Analyzes how macbeth became an unrespected, unstable man who let fate control his life by the end, which was the leading cause of his murder.
583 wordsRead More