Macbeth: The Tragic Hero

The Tragic Hero

The most modern meaning of the word ‘Tragic Hero’ as defined by Dictionary.com is, "A great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat." Several key characters in the play were also affected by tragedy for a number of reasons, but without doubt, Macbeth and his reverse of fortunes are because of his own actions, and the rest of the characters are merely victims of his foul luck. From the start of the play this tragedy of his was illustrated through forces beyond human. These forces were that of the witches. The next major influence in determining his fate were his own decisions and actions. Lady Macbeth is the third reason for Macbeth's tragedy; without her support in aiding his decisions, Macbeth would have never had the strength or courage to lie, scheme, and destroy to such extremes. The last, and most destructive factor to Macbeth, was his crippled subconscious which made him act out of selfishness and lust. The sequence of these factors were most definitely provoked by the turpitude and twisted nature of the witches and the gullibility of Macbeth, for if it weren't for their influence, …show more content…
She's now the second persuasive factor which aids Macbeth into the tragic fate which is soon to step upon. Now it is up to Macbeth to analyze his thoughts and decide his fate. He great "Hero of Noble Stature", Macbeth, chose the wrong path for himself; he chose to follow his greed as well as the depraved influences around him. These components lead to his killing the king, killing innocent people, women and children, which is cruel in itself, the loss of his morals, sanity, the loss of love for his wife, and at the end of the day, the loss of his very life. All that he worked for was "reversed as a result of his weakness", as defined by the word tragic hero. His conversion from bad to good ultimately affected his entire