In both literature and film, there are a variety of heroes, many of which start off as strong and righteous individuals that continue to stay strong and righteous until the very end such as Captain America and the Flash. However, in the case of Sophocles and Shakespeare, authors separated by a period of over two-thousand years, create the stories of two tragic heroes, Oedipus and Macbeth. The dramatic plays both contain tragic heroes who initially begin as honored and respected leaders that gradually become blinded by the prophecies of their fate. In comparison between the two heroes, Macbeth tries to obtain the power that is told by his prophecy, while Oedipus tries to run from his predestined fate. Ultimately, both tragic heroes are blinded by their fate and devolve into unrighteous, dishonorable men. …show more content…
In the beginning of the play, Act I, Macbeth is a dignified general that is greatly respected by the king and his comrades. He also described as the “worthy Cawdor” by King Duncan (I.iv.48). Nevertheless, the men that trusts and glorifies Macbeth does not know of the blinding ambition caged within his heart. That ambition was finally set free when the three witches tell Macbeth that he would one day become king. Inevitably, the idea of gaining power captivates the ambition within him, forcing him to trust the deceitful witches even though he himself is aware of the consequential forthcomings that may occur. It is at this moment that Macbeth’s tragic flaw would begin to manifest. Consumed by the idea of his foreseen power, Macbeth becomes frustrated when King Duncan tells his noble friends that Malcolm is to inherit the throne. Moments later, Macbeth hesitates to kill the king, but with a push of his taunting wife, he manages to kill every threat to his power. In the end, his ambition for power blinds him, and turns him from a respectable, “worthy Cawdor” to a horrific monster