Macbeth is one of William Shakespeare’s true masterpieces. Audiences witness a noble Scottish warrior fall to the ways of ambition, distrust, murder, deceit, and betrayal. Macbeth, the titular character, fits the archetype of tragic hero very efficiently. One is able to see and understand the ways that his various temptations bend and mold him into becoming a delusional tyrant. Despite this literary simplicity, some have claimed that Macbeth is not a tragic hero whatsoever. They claim that because he was bended and molded, he is a weak character, and that he is not aware or self conscious of his actions at the end of the play. Not only is this false, but it is quite the opposite. In reality, it is because he was aware of his actions that make …show more content…
After his first battle, he travels to meet the witches on a dark, stormy night. Along with Banquo, he listens to their predictions, and although certainly interested in them, neither believe it will happen. After all of their predictions have actually happened, and after Macbeth kills Banquo, he eventually returns, enraged to continue his quest of dominance. He demands that the witches give him another prophecy, exclaiming, “Even till destruction sicken; answer me To what I ask you,” (Shakespeare IV. I. 53). This contrast between his first and final encounter with the witches offers a clear view of his accepted descent into anger and …show more content…
The witches had given Macbeth three predictions in his prophecy. Macbeth listens and observes them. Killing Macduff’s family was his first reaction to the prophecy. The second action was simply to wait. The witches has told him that no person birthed of a woman could hurt Macbeth (Shakespeare IV. i. 54). His arrogance told him that he was safe, but in reality, he was far from it. The third and final action is the last nail in Macbeth’s coffin. Once the Great Birnam wood actually reached Dunsinane Hill, Macbeth began to realize that the prophecy was being fulfilled. His fate was only solidified when Macduff confirmed “Macduff was from his mother’s womb Ultimely ripp’d,” (Shakespeare V. VIII. 80). Even with knowledge of his ultimate death, Macbeth still chooses to fight Macduff. With a full conscious, Macbeth knowingly walks toward his end, which is only more tragic for Macbeth
At this point, Shakespeare has provided sufficient evidence to prove that Macbeth is mentally troubled. His death and his mental deterioration are inevitable. He is haunted by the deeds he has done and the witches’ prophecies. Macbeth claims that life is utterly meaningless when he says, “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player/ That struts and frets his hour upon the stage/ And then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury/ Signifying nothing.” (5.5 27-31). He no longer has the will to live with knowledge of what he has done. The witches, however, have revealed that he cannot be killed by “one of woman born.” Upon hearing this, Macbeth believes himself to be invincible. During the battle of Dunsinane, he fights recklessly against his foes, under the impression that none can harm him. Macduff then enters the scene. He reveals that he was not of woman born but “from his mother’s womb / Untimely ripped” and therefore has the ability to kill Macbeth (5.8 19-20). Afraid for his life, Macbeth remains persistent and declares that he will not surrender. In the end, Macbeth is slain and Malcolm becomes King of Scotland. Ultimately, Macbeth’s mental deterioration led to his downfall and imminent death. Before Macduff slew him, Macbeth was almost wishing for death. He was overwhelmed with guilt, regret, ambition, power, paranoia, and the blood on his hands.
Thirdly, feelings of paranoia and guilt cause Macbeth characters to make damaging choices. When Macbeth asks the witches to reveal the truth of their prophecies to him, they summon horrible apparitions, each of which offers a prediction to allay Macbeth’s fears. First, a floating head warns him to beware Macduff. Macbeth says that he has already guessed as much. Later when Lennox enters and tells Macbeth that Macduff has fled to England. Macbeth in reply says, “The castle of Macduff I will surprise; / Seize upon Fife; give to th'edge o'th'sword / His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls / That trace him in his line.” (4.1.149-152). As Macbeth descends to madness he becomes obsessed with eliminating any threats to his power. Macbeth orders the murderers to kill Macduff's family and eliminate any threat to him. Ironically, this is the moment that Macbeth seals his own fate, by murdering Macduff's family he ensures Macduff's retaliation against him, which ultimately leads
At this point in the play, Macbeth is afraid of losing his crown that he is willing to do anything to save it. He lost his moral values and rational judgment. Every actions does indeed have consequences. Macduff learns the truth that Macbeth killed Duncan and when Macduff is often absent from Macbeth’s sight he grows suspicious. Macbeth has also been told by the witches during his second visit to beware of Macduff. Upon hearing this, he decided to send people to kill Macduff and his family. Macduff fled the castle first leaving his family behind. During the time Lady Macduff voice her fear: "He loves us not; / He wants the natural touch: for the poor wren, / The most diminutive of birds, will fight, / Her young ones in her nest, against the owl" (4.2.11).
When Macbeth informs Macduff of the prophecy, which Macbeth thinks, will protect him and will allow him to maintain hold over Scotland, Macduff now makes it know that he was not born of woman. The third piece of fate is now complete; Macbeth can be killed. Macduff becomes assured that he can defeat Macbeth for he was not born of a woman. With this new knowledge Macduff knows that he must be the one to kill Macbeth and secure Malcolm’s right to the throne. Macduff does kill Macbeth, being the only one able to do so and secure peace and prosperity for Scotland.
Macduff and Malcolm, along with ten thousand soldiers, move to Dunsinane to attack Macbeth at his castle. While the army is fighting, Macduff slips into Macbeth’s chambers. He calls out to Macbeth, saying, “That way noise is. Tyrant, show thy face! If thou beest slain, and with no stroke of mine, My wife and children’s ghosts will haunt me still. I cannot strike at wretched kerns, whose arms Are hired to bear their staves. Enter thou, Macbeth, Or else my sword with an unbattered edge I sheathe again undeeded” (420). Macduff tells Macbeth that he is coming to kill him. He hopes to get there before anyone else finds and kills Macbeth because he needs to avenge his wife and children. Macduff then finds Macbeth and stabs and kills him. If Macbeth had not chosen to kill Macduff’s family, Macduff would not have desired to kill him to avenge their deaths. This shows that Macbeth’s decision to murder yet another group of people led to his final
... truly seen as a character when he discovers the just previously murdered Duncan. He shows utter shock at the sight of the deceased Duncan and is first to question Macbeth about the suspicious act, including the death of the servants. Macduff provides Macbeth with paranoia that is evident through the rest of the play and Macduff continues to show his loyalty to Duncan even after the murder by making it his goal to ensure the rightful king is crowned. Macbeth is told by the witches to beware of Macduff, but also that he may not be harmed by anyone “born of woman”. Macduff is therefore destined to slay Macbeth and end the conflict that Macbeth has created with his ambition as his was “untimely ripped” from his mother’s womb. The heroic Macduff through bravery and fate is able to withstand the prophecy and kill Macbeth honoring his family, morals and all of Scotland.
In conclusion, through my quotations and explanations I have shown Macbeth’s descent into madness. It was his guilt and ambition overall that sent him in a downward spiral into madness.
Finally, the witches tell him that he will not fall until ?Birnam Woods meets Dunsinane Hill.? Well, Birnam Wood meets Dunsinane Hill and Macbeth is defeated. This again is partially Macbeth?s fault. If he hadn?t killed the King, Malcolm?s forces would never have attacked him and made the prophesy true.
He gets some of his answers from apparitions. The witches are playing games with Macbeth and the first apparition arrives with thunder, this is symbolic of terror, power and evil. The first apparition is an armed head and the second on is a bloody child this is,
... advancing to Macbeth’s castle to do away with him. Macduff is confident that Macbeth cannot escape from the trap he has set, and that the rightful heir to the throne will have his promise fulfilled.
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.
The witches do not force him to kill Duncan, but they do plant the idea is his head. After murdering Duncan, Macbeth made the decision to murder the guards, making Macduff suspicious of him. He also chooses to kill Banquo, and Macduff’s family. His actions are the reason that his life ended in the way that it did. At the beginning of his moral conflict he says in an aside “If chance will have me king, why chance may crown me without my stir” (1. 3. 143-144). Macbeth is thinking to himself that if he is meant to be king by fate, he should just sit back and let it happen. He does not want to betray his king. After some careful thought, Macbeth chooses to take matters into his own hands by murdering the king. He was not influenced by the witches when he makes the decision to have Macduff’s family murdered. In an attempt to scare Macduff and show that he does not fear the Thane of Fife, Macbeth seals his own fate and ensures his death. Shortly after the death of his children and wife, Macduff returns to Scotland for revenge.
When the witches told Macbeth that no man born of a woman could harm him, he would not be defeated until the forest came to his castle, and that his only threat was Macduff, Macbeth felt very secure about his kingship. Little did Macbeth know, that all of these foretellings would bring about his demise. Macduff was born out of a dead woman, so he was the only one who could hurt Macbeth. When Malcolm's army attacked Macbeth's castle, they camouflaged themselves with trees, thus giving the appearance of the forest coming to the castle. Finally, Macduff was the only thing that Macbeth had to worry about, because he was not born of a woman, and could kill Macbeth. Macbeth completely disregarded the Witches' prophecies because he thought of them as rubbish. Had the three witches told Macbeth the real truth that they ticked him out of believing, Macbeth would not have gotten so cocky as a result of his security.
...evenge and engages Macbeth in swordplay. Macbeth is confident. However, it is quickly crushed when Macduff boldly states that he had been “untimely ripp’d” (5.8.20) from his mother’s womb. At this moment, Macbeth understands the full extent of the Witches’ deception. He is no longer living a charmed life of invincibility and must fight for his life. It is here that Macbeth’s courage returns when he refuses to surrender, “Yet I will try the last” (5.8.37).
Macbeth can be considered a Shakespearean tragic hero because he possesses the tragic flaw of ambition. He is thought of to be a very ambitious man by himself and other characters, like his wife, Lady Macbeth. “Thou wouldst be great:/Art not without ambition, but/ Without ...