Macbeth Tragic Hero Essay

In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the protagonist Macbeth is a prime example of a ‘tragic hero’ because he possesses both positive traits and a tragic flaw that leads to catastrophic events, consequently evoking pity in the audience. Macbeth is a man of high status, as he is both the thane of Glamis and thane of Cawdor. He is a predominately good person, others admiring him for his courage, bravery, and strength, and even king Duncan calling him a “worthy gentleman” (1.2.24). However, he changes once three witches predict him becoming king of Scotland in his future. His ambition is fueled, and he contemplates “My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, / Shakes so my single state of man” (1.3.139-40). Although the witches mentioned nothing

However, he acknowledges how his ambition might cause himself trouble, when he states how “Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself / And falls on th' other” (1.7.27-28). He still retains some sense and is not completely a villain, although planning King Duncan’s murder. Moreover, Macbeth is reluctant to go through with the murder, his wife declaring how he is “not without ambition, but without / The illness should attend it” (1.5.20-21). Though Macbeth has ambition, he is not an evil man who is capable of murder all on his own, and it is his wife’s manipulation that pushes him to commit the crime—his cowardliness being another flaw. After Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to kill Duncan and the deed is done, Macbeth immediately feels extreme guilt. He regrets the crime and is “afraid to think what [he has] done; / Look on ’t again [he] dare[s] not” (2.2.50-51). Furthermore, when he hears knocking at the door, Macbeth says “Wake Duncan with thy knocking. I would thou / couldst”

He then experiences extreme mental anguish from his guilt, and he envisions the ghost of Banquo. His guilt from the crimes he committed torment him, arousing pity from the audience. His ambition had led Macbeth into becoming a greedy, violent, and power-hungry king, and he had done whatever it took to keep his position as king of Scotland. After taking his role as a murderous tyrant, he acknowledges how he is loathed by his subjects, and laments how “that which should accompany old age,/ As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends, / [he] must not look to have, but, in their stead, / Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honor, breath / Which the poor heart would fain deny and dare not” (5.3.24-28). He grieves how he will never be able to have honor, love, or friends because of his misdeeds, and even wishes death upon himself because of his deep remorse. Furthermore, he momentarily refuses to fight Macduff, whose family he had murdered. Although eventually fighting Macduff until death during battle, the moment further exemplifies the regret Macbeth feels after realizing his wrongdoings. Although it is too late, Macbeth ultimately recognizes his flaws during his