Macbeth Character Analysis

“Power is poison,” Henry Adams once said. One who is capable of too much power may be harmed like poison. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth, the Thane of Cawdor, instantaneously wants to become king after being confronted by three witches with a peek into his future. From this moment, Macbeth is poisoned by knowing just how much power he is capable of having. He cedes his wife, his friends, and most importantly his honor. Macbeth is expressed as a tragic hero through his tragic flaw of ambition. Both Macbeth and Mike Tyson, a strong and powerful boxer, can be seen as tragic heroes through their tragic flaws. Although both of these men were once looked upon as noble figures, they provoked both their power to come to a quick end by the indubitable traits that brought them

Raging with pressure to get what he wants, he will do anything to achieve his goal. Macbeth contemplates taking down the current king, King Duncan in order to receive his spot as king, “Stars, hide your fires, / let not light see my black and deep desires.” (1.3.50) During this time one of the worst crimes to commit was regicide. Macbeth is trying to shield his feelings from getting to him in order for his plan to follow through well in killing Duncan. This proves he would do anything to get to his power. Similarly, Tyson was a character whose great anger and rage made him a great fighter in the ring. His goal was to be the best and would not let anything or anyone stop him from getting to what his mind was set on. He gained power by having a constant driven desire of being invincible. Tyson was also a drug abuser to the various medications he was put on. His aloofness got in the way of anyone helping him end this problem. Macbeth’s second apparition acknowledges that he “Be bloody, bold, and resolute. Laugh to scorn / the power of man, for none of woman born / shall harm Macbeth.” (4.1.79) This satisfies him that