Macbeth Tragic Hero Essay

Starting off the play with glorious achievements, Macbeth is a character beloved by his companions and superiors alike. This exists as a foundation for his position in the play, not as the noble and victorious protagonist, but rather as a tragic hero. While all unique in their own ways, Shakespeare’s famous tragedies have a few things in common, namely a hero whose one tragic flaw brings on their downfall. In his play ‘Macbeth’, Shakespear demonstrates how the protagonist’s excessive ambition has influenced not only himself, but the events of the play to the point where he had to be killed in order to regain peace.

The play starts highlighting Macbeth’s glory, his victory in a battle. It is shown how he is an outstanding Thane, loyal to his

In the early stages of the play, it is hidden behind his ideals, giving the illusion that Lady Macbeth is the ambitious one of the couple. It strikes out after Duncan’s murder, as the audience sees Macbeth, despite being affected by his deeds, accept the position of king over the rightful heirs, Malcolm and Donalbain. The taste of greater power fuels his ambitions, making it show itself to the audience and even to the other characters. After spilling blood, Macbeth sees it as necessary to spill more in order to keep his power, his second victim being Banquo. “Then, prophet-like, They hailed him father to a line of kings. Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown And put a barren scepter in my grip,”(i, 3, 64-67). The witches who had predicted Macbeth’s future had also predicted that Banquo’s sons would succeed him as kings, which enraged Macbeth. The audience is shown how his ambitions led him not to happiness, but to dissatisfaction, leaving him in a state of constant want. He had been able to fulfill his original goal and even still he wanted more. Despite not having any children to pass his power onto, Macbeth’s desire for it led him to killing his friend. It is at this point Macbeth is acting independently, the ambitions behind the murders shown as not influenced by or combined with anyone else’s but solely his

After the first act had ended, the play centered around how the other characters had reacted to Macbeth’s actions. With Lennox being suspicious of him, Macduff going against him, and others living in fear of him, Macbeth created an atmosphere at which the country was no longer thriving but at a decline. His ambitions led him to impose a tyrannical rule, one at which he killed people with little reason, an example of such being the attack on Macduff’s castle. When he had gone back to the three witches in order to learn more of his fate, he is reassured by the words of apparitions. This serves to further his pride and reassure his ambitions, as he would no longer have to fear his power being taken away from him. At the same time he resolves to kill Macduff, showing the irrationality of his thoughts. “Then live, Macduff; what need I fear of thee? But yet I’ll make assurance double sure And take a bond of fate. Thou shalt not live,”(iv, 1, 93-95). Macbeth himself admits that he had nothing to fear of Macduff, as he cannot be harmed until a forest moves up a hill and never by anyone born of a woman. Yet, just for the sake of feeling secure in his position, he resolves to kill Macduff, and when unable, he attacks his helpless family. At this point the