Macbeth as a Tragic Hero
Throughout history, humanity has consistently risen to great heights, but due to our flawed nature, met failure and loss. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, it is conveyed through Macbeth which eventually drove Macbeth mad and made him a tragic hero. Due to Macbeths actions, ambition and arrogance he makes many disastrous choices during the play. These decisions leave people very hurt and he affects all of Inverness, Scotland with his immoral outcomes. Macbeth has so much desire for what the three witches told him, he cannot deviate from the thoughts of the golden crown. An examination of Macbeths elevated social status, reversal of fortune, and finally, catastrophic conclusion will reveal him to be an iconic tragic …show more content…
Before Macbeth encounters the three witches, his rank increased as a result of his bravery on the battlefield as the Thane of Cawdor and is King Duncan’s favorite solider. Macbeth’s ambition rises when he meets the three witches and it is confirmed to him that he is a Thane of Cawdor: “All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis, all hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor. All hail Macbeth. That shalt be king hereafter.” (I.III. II 47-49) in this quote, we see that the three witches are telling Macbeth his destiny and he believes them and starts to gain a goal to become all of that, especially king, this is what starts Macbeth’s drive to murder King Duncan so he can take the crown himself and fulfill the witches prophecies. Next, this aside quote of Macbeth’s shows his tragic flaw: “stars, hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires.” (I.V. II 50-51) the soliloquy conveys Macbeth’s wish to keep his desires a secret because he realizes that they are evil. He says this aside after he learns that Malcom is the prince of Cumberland, which makes him the heir to the Throne after Duncan and Macbeth’s desire to become king becomes more crucial. As a result of Macbeths awakened ambition he is destined to lose the increased social status rewarded to him as a result of his loyal and brave performance on the battlefield. This destines him to be considered an iconic tragic …show more content…
Macbeth’s life before being king was undisturbed since he was not ruining the great chain of being. After he was anointed was king, all of Inverness went into chaos. Macbeth was once a man who is favored by the king and admired by all, but then becomes feared and hates when he is king: “Thither Macduff is gone to pray the holy king upon his aid to wake North Umberland and warlike Siward…” (I.VI. ll 29-31) within this quote, the Lord is speaking to Lennox and discussing how MacDuff and his army should attack Macbeth’s castle. This illustrates reversal of fortune by starting as such a beloved man to his fellow citizens, to his people going against him and wanting to murder him and his fascist ways. Additionally, many innocent people experienced misery from Macbeth’s treacherous ways: “To Ireland, I. Our separated fortune shall keep us both the safer. Where we are, there daggers in the men’s smiles. The nea’er the blood the nearer bloody.” (II.III. II 119-122) Donalbain’s reaction towards his father’s death was for him and his brother Malcolm to move throughout the United Kingdom so they will become safer, even though they have not encountered danger they want to avoid it entirely. These are just 2 out of the many that tragically suffer as a result of Macbeth’s behavior and actions. Therefore, Macbeth’s arrogance has grown stronger and he has started to acquire selfishness
Throughout history, humanity has consistently risen to great heights, but due to our flawed nature, met failure and loss. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, it is conveyed through Macbeth which eventually drove Macbeth mad and made him a tragic hero. Due to Macbeths actions, ambition and arrogance he makes many disastrous choices during the play. These decisions leave people very hurt and he affects all of Inverness, Scotland with his immoral outcomes. Macbeth has so much desire for what the three witches told him, he cannot deviate from the thoughts of the golden crown. An examination of Macbeths elevated social status, reversal of fortune, and finally, catastrophic conclusion will reveal him to be an iconic tragic …show more content…
Before Macbeth encounters the three witches, his rank increased as a result of his bravery on the battlefield as the Thane of Cawdor and is King Duncan’s favorite solider. Macbeth’s ambition rises when he meets the three witches and it is confirmed to him that he is a Thane of Cawdor: “All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis, all hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor. All hail Macbeth. That shalt be king hereafter.” (I.III. II 47-49) in this quote, we see that the three witches are telling Macbeth his destiny and he believes them and starts to gain a goal to become all of that, especially king, this is what starts Macbeth’s drive to murder King Duncan so he can take the crown himself and fulfill the witches prophecies. Next, this aside quote of Macbeth’s shows his tragic flaw: “stars, hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires.” (I.V. II 50-51) the soliloquy conveys Macbeth’s wish to keep his desires a secret because he realizes that they are evil. He says this aside after he learns that Malcom is the prince of Cumberland, which makes him the heir to the Throne after Duncan and Macbeth’s desire to become king becomes more crucial. As a result of Macbeths awakened ambition he is destined to lose the increased social status rewarded to him as a result of his loyal and brave performance on the battlefield. This destines him to be considered an iconic tragic …show more content…
Macbeth’s life before being king was undisturbed since he was not ruining the great chain of being. After he was anointed was king, all of Inverness went into chaos. Macbeth was once a man who is favored by the king and admired by all, but then becomes feared and hates when he is king: “Thither Macduff is gone to pray the holy king upon his aid to wake North Umberland and warlike Siward…” (I.VI. ll 29-31) within this quote, the Lord is speaking to Lennox and discussing how MacDuff and his army should attack Macbeth’s castle. This illustrates reversal of fortune by starting as such a beloved man to his fellow citizens, to his people going against him and wanting to murder him and his fascist ways. Additionally, many innocent people experienced misery from Macbeth’s treacherous ways: “To Ireland, I. Our separated fortune shall keep us both the safer. Where we are, there daggers in the men’s smiles. The nea’er the blood the nearer bloody.” (II.III. II 119-122) Donalbain’s reaction towards his father’s death was for him and his brother Malcolm to move throughout the United Kingdom so they will become safer, even though they have not encountered danger they want to avoid it entirely. These are just 2 out of the many that tragically suffer as a result of Macbeth’s behavior and actions. Therefore, Macbeth’s arrogance has grown stronger and he has started to acquire selfishness