Macbeth Tragic Hero Characteristics

A Shakespearean tragic hero is defined as a person of noble birth heroic qualities who possesses a tragic flaw in character that brings about his downfall. The character of Macbeth is one of a classic example of Shakespearean tragic hero. There are three main characteristics that titled Macbeth as a “Tragic Hero”. Firstly, Macbeth is a figure of high stature in form of nobility and wisdom. Secondly, Macbeth is essentially a good-hearted and noble man, but suffers in tremendous downfall due to his personal flaws. Finally, Macbeth’s growing character degenerates to a violent individual that leads to his tragic death in the end of the play. The character of Macbeth by William Shakespeare demonstrates many qualities that believed a tragic …show more content…
He has multiple flaws in character, the most prominent being his ambition. Macbeth’s murderous ambition, along with the prophecies told by the witches, and Lady’s influences leads Macbeth to his degeneration. The witches prophecies are the driving force of Macbeth’s desire for power and prestige. In Act 1 scene 3, the three witches hail Macbeth: “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!” (1.2.49-53) These predictions arouses Macbeth’s curiosity and ambition. As the play goes, Macbeth gradually relies on the witches’ prophecies completely. Lady Macbeth also take a huge part in driving Macbeth’s desire to be king. When Macbeth hesitates to murder King Duncan, Lady Macbeth spurs Macbeth: “And wakes it now, to look so green and pale/ At what it did so freely? From this time/ Such I account thy love. Art thou afeard/ To be the same in thine own act and valor/ As thou art in desire?” (1.7.40-44). Lady Macbeth has bloodthirsty lust for power and her ambition is strong enough to drive her husband on committing crimes. She questions Macbeth’s manhood as he struggles against ambition. Macbeth then replies: “I am settled, and bend up/ Each corporal agent to this terrible feat.” (1.7. 89-90) Macbeth impressionable nature is easily influenced by …show more content…
After Macbeth become the King, he consist a series of murder to secure his throne. Macbeth murders his closest friend, Banquo, because of the witches’ prophecies, which Banquo “shalt get kings, though thou be none” (1.3.69) Macbeth fears that the witches prediction of Banquo’s own descendants to become the kings of Scotland we eventually come true. In Act 3 scene 1, Macbeth is suspicious about Banquo, “Our fears in Banquo/ Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature/ Reigns that which would be feared" (3.1.47-49) Macbeth believes that Banquo knows intuitively that Macbeth’s intention to kill Duncan in order to seize the throne. Macbeth’s blind ambition drives him to thinks that he can cheat fate by killing Banquo and Fleance in order to protect his kingship. The second time Macbeth’s ambition gets the best of him occurs when her orders the execution of Macduff’s family. “The castle of Macduff I will surprise, / Seize upon Fife, give to th' edge o' th' sword / His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls / That trace him in his line.” (4.1. 166-169) Macbeth sees Macduff as a threat when he flees, because Macduff is the only loyal subject to the King. The murder of Macduff’s defenceless family proved that Macbeth is a violent tyrant who drag innocent people to death. By the end of the play, four deaths are attributed to Macbeth’s name, all murdered in