Macbeth Tragic Hero Essay

A tragic hero is a literary character who makes judgement error that inevitably leads to his/her own destruction. Aristotle said “ a hero suffers more than he/she deserves”. He believed a very long time ago that to be a tragic hero, the character must meet five criterias. The character’s fate must be greater than deserved, excessive pride, the discovery or recognition that the reversal was brought about by the hero’s own actions, a reversal of fortune brought about because of the hero’s error in judgement, and flaw or error of judgement. In the play “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare, the writer’s uses characterization. Direct Characterization is when we can see the character change its personality with our own eyes. Indirect Characterization …show more content…
So in order to be considered a tragic hero, the hero has to have excessive pride. Harvey Dent and Macbeth are tragic heroes because their tragic flaw is excessive pride. Harvey shows excessive pride when he lies to the citizens of Gotham. He said he was “Batman” this whole time during a press conference. “Take the Batman into custody...I am the Batman.” Harvey Dent says this and everyone was confused and shocked. He was arrested but he lied for a reason. Similarly, Macbeth, shows excessive pride. He planned and hired three murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance. Macbeth says, “It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight, / If it find heaven, must find it out tonight.” (3.1.161-162). At this time, Macbeth was talking to himself but he has the pride that Banquo will die soon. He planned and hired 3 murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance. Macbeth wanted to kill Banquo and Fleance because he thinks that they have a suspicion on him that he killed King Duncan. So probably, he did not want Banquo and Fleance to tell everyone in Scotland. The murderers actually killed Banquo. Fleance, luckily was able to escape the