Is Macbeth A Tragedy Hero? An Aristotelian hero; someone who falls under the category of “virtuous” but not “eminently good” or “A flawed individual that commits to something without evil intent.” In the play, Macbeth shows strong intentions of bravery but shows his flaws of falling under manipulation by Lady Macbeth. I believe that Macbeth shows multiple qualities of a tragedy hero. Not only does Macbeth show great characteristics like loyalty, responsibility and nobility, the only downside to this story is that Macbeth had been persuaded and chose to commit the sins he did because he was told to. Without being told Macbeth would not have killed the king. Continuing, Macbeth does not fall under the category of a predominately good person due to his flaws. Macbeth’s downfall was caused by poor judgement to try to fulfill the prophecy of becoming king. Most people do not believe that Macbeth falls under the category of a tragic hero, they believe that he was heroic for stepping up and taking on the role of the king, but they were unaware of the steps taken to rise to this power, the murder of Duncan. Later on throughout the story, his ambitions turn into obsession with maintaining the power he has …show more content…
Macbeth instantly felt guilty and regret of what he had just done when he committed the crime. “I am afraid to think what I have done.” (Act Scene ) Continuing to hide this massive secret behind his wife’s malevolent mindset, Macbeth’s pride leads to a snowball effect where his problems continue to accumulate over time. These problems all start with Lady Macbeth. She choose to influence her husband’s thoughts to make him feel remorse if he let this opportunity slip past him. These acts then lead Macbeth to paranoia and great stressors because he then believes people will find out what he has done and he believes everyone is out to get him including his friend
Macbeth was a tragic hero. Traditionally, a tragic hero is someone who is born as an example of greatness but somehow along the way they acquire a flaw in character that brings about his own downf...
After the slaughter of his former comrade, Macbeth explains to his wife, “Strange things I have in head that will to hand/Which must be acted ere they may be scanned” (3.4.137-140). This assertion from Macbeth paves the path for his future misdeeds. Lady Macbeth is concerned by her husband’s announcement and responds with, “You lack the season of all natures, sleep” (3.4.141). Lady Macbeth believes that her husband has lost his sanity. She no longer supports Macbeth’s murderous plans, and resents his new impulsivity. Following this conversation, Macbeth continues to kill harmless people, such as Macduff’s wife and children. He implies that he will no longer think about his actions before completing them, which is a deranged approach to life. The change in Macbeth’s behavior reshapes Lady Macbeth’s personality. She realizes that “what’s done cannot be undone” (5.1.57). Lady Macbeth now recognizes the lasting impact of the murders on herself and her husband. Initially Lady Macbeth approves Duncan’s murder, as it leads to her queenship. Her sadism and zeal for power declines after Macbeth’s killing spree. Lady Macbeth’s newfound heart is the outcome of her husband’s wicked
This together proves that Macbeth was not a tragic hero. Even saying that he did not have the two previously spoken of characteristics, he also never did a single thing for the good of his people. He immediately let the witches prophecy go to his head. His thirst for power got the best of him which ultimately led to his death. Therefor, Macbeth should have taken responsibility for his actions just as a mass murdered and not a tragic
Throughout the play Macbeth, Macbeth goes from a brave, honored soldier to a crazed tyrant. How does one make such a drastic change? Why did Macbeth come to accept his role as a murderer? Macbeth has come to be known as a tragic hero in today’s terms. A tragic hero is a main character who, throughout the story, realizes his flaw and accepts that he cannot control the outcome of his actions. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth has a lot of situations that ultimately lead to his demise and tragic conclusion.
Macbeth exhibits most, if not all, of the classic traits of a Shakespearean tragic hero almost flawlessly. From his rise to greatness to his ultimate destruction and death, he is most certainly a tragic hero.
Macbeth displays all the qualities need to be a tragic hero, which includes his exceptionality. He is an exceptional man because of both his social status and personality. To start off Macbeth is a noble, high ranking man, whom is appreciated by king Duncan greatly. When a wounded
His struggle between morality and ambition leaves him in a quandary. He knows the act of killing Duncan is morally sinful, and yet he promises he would fulfill his words. Macbeth represents a figure who devotes to evil, but yet his soliloquies of struggle are eloquent with pathos that arouse empathy. Thus at the heart of the play lies a tangle of uncertainty("The Witches of Macbeth: Fate, Free Will, and the Influence of Evil."). As the king 's "kinsman" and " host"with "double trust", Macbeth "should against [the king 's] [murderer] with protection" rather than "bear the knife [himself]"(I. vii. 12-16). But as a man who"dares [to] do all", the expansive power could not be given up. In addition, Macbeth acts irresolute due to his halting attitude towards his destiny. While being afraid that the throne might be "stolen" by Malcolm, Macbeth is puzzled by his remaining faith. He even considers himself "[would] proceed no further in [murder] business" since "[the king] [has] [honored] [him]" for his loyalty (I. vii. 31-35). Even Macbeth reveals strong desire to reach the more noble pride and honor, his anxiety of losing the "golden opinion" and betraying the virtuous King Duncan holds him back from his vicious conspiracy. With the great struggle of emotion and values, Macbeth eventually goes insane and start to see illusions such as the ghost of King Ducan and the phantom of Banquo. Under
When looking at a hero, some instantly think the stereotypical character that saves the day, is inhumanly perfect, and gets rid of or ultimately defeats the antagonist, but never think of the opposite, a tragic hero. A tragic hero is defined as the character that fails due to his or her own weakness or human error, so when thinking about the Shakespearean character of Macbeth one does not instantly think to use the word hero to describe him, but he is actually an excellent example of a tragic hero. Macbeth shows many tragic hero characteristics such as Noble Stature, Tragic Flaw, and Increased Awareness which eventually leads to his failing fate.
In many respects Macbeth, of Shakespeare’s play Macbeth is the least admirable tragic hero of literature. Typical tragic heroes have at least a few admirable character traits. One may, or may not like the hero, but there is something in their characters or their situation on which one can hang some sympathy, even if there is not enough for us to rationalize away their actions. But Macbeth is a mass murderer, who does away with friends, colleagues, women and children, often for no apparent reason other than his own desires. Why should Macbeth be considered a tragic hero?
A tragic hero is a person is the good and noble type of person but suffers a falling out due to flaws in their own personality. Macbeth is a perfect example of a tragic hero because of his major flaw which is pride. Pride can be good, however, when you have too much pride it eventually leads to ambition. Macbeth reaches that critical moment near the end of the story that alters the state of mind he is in, which consequently adds to his downfall in the end. There is a multitude of factors that contribute to Macbeth being labeled as a tragic hero.
We start to see Lady Macbeth’s actions have a huge impact on Macbeth’s character as he transforms from a decent being to an overly bitter creature. The cause of his alteration is due to the fact that Lady Macbeth is constantly excreting heartless information into his mind. "Art thou afeard to be the same in thine own act and valour as thou art in desire?" (I;vii;39-41) "And, to be more than what you were, you would be so much more the man." (I;vii;50-51) Lady Macbeth uses these quotes to push her husband beyond limits and is therefore responsible for his dramatic change in attitude. She is constantly feeding his thoughts with negative comments and later on Macbeth realizes that he has another side to him. As he moves along to discover the concealed side of him, Macbeth falls in love with himself and begins to be drawn towards his evil desires. Because Lady Macbeth was the main cause of his new hidden discovery, she is fully responsible for opening up the door and letting the darkness in. This results in Macbeth committing both murders.
In Shakespeares “Macbeth”, Macbeth is an anti hero. He is very ambitious and courageous. However, he is also a moral coward, this is Macbeths fatal flaw, which in the end leads to his doom. Shakespeare defines Macbeth as a hero very clearly. His valor in defense of Scotland is significant in the opening scene. However, he is very ambitious to be king. At the beginning of the play, he was loyal to the king. While he did imagine the murder his mind rejects it and said, "Why, if chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me," (1.3.12-13). Yet his ambition increasingly defeated his good nature.
Throughout history greed for power and wealth has caused people to completely alter their natural ruling method. Shakespeare portrays Macbeth as a tragic hero in his quest to be king of Scotland. The reason why I say that is, because for example Macbeth is an admirable, powerful, and well appreciated member of his society in Scotland, a society in which he employs a high position. In the play Macbeth, he is advertised as a tragic hero, and I do sense as if he is a good individual. but keep in mind that may have had to be a villain at once to become a hero. Most villains were once heroes at some point.
Macbeth is not a tragic hero because a man is responsible for his own actions and this is the case with Macbeth. By deceiving and murdering his friends, he proves he is not a hero. He lets himself be corrupted by the prophecies of the witches. This weakness demonstrates that he lacks the qualities to be a hero (Johnson 1).
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.