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How Does Macbeth Fit Aristotle's Idea Of A Tragic Hero

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Journal Response: Tragic Hero
I think Macbeth fits Aristotle's idea of a tragic hero really well. First of all, he makes a false judgment as he kills Duncan to become king, even though according to the prophecies told by the witches he is going to become king eventually, so it is not necessary for Macbeth to kill Duncan. Macbeth is too impatient and overtaken by ambition which causes him to make this mistake and set the beginning of his downfall.
Secondly, Macbeth starts out as an honored, respected, loyal kingsman that’s beloved by the king, but after the mistake, everything that he earns all disappeared and replaced by what people see as cruel and wicked. Macbeth falls from someone that everyone praised upon to what people look down upon. Macbeth loses the person who trusted him the most, Duncan which he kills and Lady Macbeth who suicides as she is taunted by all the evil things that she did which prevented her from sleep. Through the things that he keeps doing onwards he loses everyone around him. He loses all his friends that …show more content…

Macbeth first starts regretting his mistake after he killed Duncan as he says, Wake Duncan with thy knocking! I would thou couldst” (II.II.93). During the fight with Macduff, he also expresses the guilt of killing his family as he says, “My soul is too much charged\With blood of thine already” （V.VIII.6-7). At the end, Macbeth knows that the prophecies told by the witches have become true once again as Birnam Wood came to Dunsinane and he is fighting Macduff who is not women born. These all mean his life is coming to an end as what he is told all became reality. Then last words that Macbeth says is, “Though Birnam Wood be come to Dunsinane,\And thou opposed, being of no woman born,\Yet I will try the last” (V.VIII.35-37). Macbeth suspects that he will be killed by Macduff so he rather tries his best to fight and die with honor than suiciding and die as a

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For instance, he commits multiple murders after he gets the title of King. The murder of his own friend Banquo, the attempted murder of Banquo's son Fleance, and the murder of Macduff's family all were committed to fueling his growing obsession with maintaining his status and power. Nearing the end of the play, his determination completely takes over him and leads to his downfall. The witches give Macbeth more insight near the end of the play, communicated through visions and apparitions. The apparitions tell macbeth: “Macbeth, Macbeth, Macbeth, beware Macduff; / Beware the Thane of Fife.

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1. What traits of a tragic hero does Macbeth possess (if any) in Act I? Explain how Macbeth fits those traits. Macbeth is the great example for Shakespeare’s tragic hero who is the person with high stature background, and good characteristics; but he had an crucial downfall through an significant factors in the story, such as his hamartia, or his close relationships.

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The bodies begin to pile up, first the king, then the guards, next Banquo, and after that, he orders Lennox to go to the castle of Macduff and “Seize upon Fife, give to th’ edge o’ th’ sword / His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls” (4.1.151-152). In the soliloquy, we see the consequences of this ambition. He is consumed by remorse only because he did not attain his goal, and it causes him to reflect on the futility of his efforts and the emptiness of his achievements. The anguish and hopelessness Macbeth feels are well deserved as he lied, plotted and went from hailed hero to a villainous killer who ruled with

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Macbeth's desire to "make assurance double sure" by having Macduff killed reveals his paranoia and his willingness to use violence to maintain his power. Macbeth believes that by eliminating all possible threats to his reign, he will be able to sleep peacefully and without fear. However, this ultimately leads to his downfall, as his violent actions bring about his own demise. Additionally, as declared in Document E, "I bear a charmed life, which must not yield to one of woman born. " This augments Macbeth's character flaw of overconfidence because despite the many warnings and signs that his reign is coming to an end, Macbeth remains overconfident and complacent.

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This also shows how overly confident he got that he felt safe enough to kill Macduff’s family and not hire people like he did for Banquo’s death. Macbeth also states “ill raid Macduff's castle, seize the town of Fife, and kill his wife, his children, and anyone else unfortunate enough to stand in line for his inheritance”. Act 4, Scene 1). This shows how Macbeth will get rid of anyone who stands in his way and how he's tired of something waiting to happen. This also shows how he was corrupted by power and that he was willing to sacrifice anyone to get what he wanted.

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