A tragic hero is a character within a literary work that possesses a tragic flaw that will ultimately incur the downfall of the character, regardless of the character’s good intentions. Macbeth, from Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, is, without a doubt, one of the most prevalent tragic heroes throughout all works of literature. Macbeth is a tragic hero as he possesses noble stature, a tragic flaw, free choice, an increased awareness of his downfall, and a punishment that exceeds his crimes, all while producing a catharsis in the audience. Macbeth fits the role of a tragic hero in the fact that he has noble stature. Macbeth begins the story a very respectable man, having a title of nobility as the Thane of Glamis. He later becomes the Thane
…show more content…
Macbeth’s tragic flaw is his constant ambition for more. Three witches appear to Macbeth telling him that he will become the Thane of Cawdor followed by the king. This stirs Macbeth’s ambitions, increasing his desire for power. Macbeth then achieves the role of the Thane of Cawdor, but his ambition does not stop there as his desire for the kingship increases drastically. His ambition to become king is only enhanced by Lady Macbeth, who sets in motion a plan for Macbeth to take over Duncan’s throne (A1S7). His ambition continues to increase after the takeover of the throne, and will ultimately lead to his own …show more content…
Before Macbeth is slain by the brave Macduff, he ultimately realizes how the witches have tricked him into thinking he was perfectly guarded in his kingship, while he obviously was not. This is evident when Macbeth says, “And be these juggling fiends no more believed, that palter with us in a double sense, that keep the word of promise to our ear, and break it to our hope” (A5S8). Macbeth also has increased awareness of his downfall, saying, “I have lived long enough. My way of life is fall'n into the sere, the yellow leaf” (A5S3). Macbeth knows his life is coming to an end, just like a yellow leaf. Macbeth has been easily deceived throughout the entire play and he readily begins to become aware of these deceptions towards the end of his
Macbeth’s tragic flaw is his constant ambition for more. Three witches appear to Macbeth telling him that he will become the Thane of Cawdor followed by the king. This stirs Macbeth’s ambitions, increasing his desire for power. Macbeth then achieves the role of the Thane of Cawdor, but his ambition does not stop there as his desire for the kingship increases drastically. His ambition to become king is only enhanced by Lady Macbeth, who sets in motion a plan for Macbeth to take over Duncan’s throne (A1S7). His ambition continues to increase after the takeover of the throne, and will ultimately lead to his own …show more content…
Before Macbeth is slain by the brave Macduff, he ultimately realizes how the witches have tricked him into thinking he was perfectly guarded in his kingship, while he obviously was not. This is evident when Macbeth says, “And be these juggling fiends no more believed, that palter with us in a double sense, that keep the word of promise to our ear, and break it to our hope” (A5S8). Macbeth also has increased awareness of his downfall, saying, “I have lived long enough. My way of life is fall'n into the sere, the yellow leaf” (A5S3). Macbeth knows his life is coming to an end, just like a yellow leaf. Macbeth has been easily deceived throughout the entire play and he readily begins to become aware of these deceptions towards the end of his