Macbeth Tragic Hero Essay

This statement "fate of the tragic hero is the result of both exterior forces and the hero's own character", is true because Macbeth has ambition to be King in his character and come in power. The exterior forces are the witches, and Lady Macbeth, who help him accomplish his desire. In one element of Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero is, “the hero's incidents arouses pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish the catharsis of such emotions”. This is seen in Macbeth when he is blinded in his destructive ambition. This essay will evaluate the statement, and apply Aristotle's definition to relate it to Macbeth. Macbeth is a soldier who fights for Scotland, and in the battle Macbeth defeats the rebels and is announced Thane of Cawdor (scene one, act four). As Macbeth is given a noble Scottish title, it is here that Macbeth rises in his career towards kingship. In addition, King Duncan announces his son Malcom, as prince of Cumberland in act one scene four. Malcom is now heir to the Throne, which means Macbeth is jealous of …show more content…
After Macbeth has murdered King Duncan, he hears a voice which tells him, Macbeth has killed sleep, Macbeth shall sleep no more. Nevertheless, this is the starting point of Macbeth’s fears. Later on in the play, Macbeth sends out people to murder Banquo, his friend, because Macbeth perhaps fears that Banquo knows that Macbeth committed the murder of King Duncan. In spite of this, in the beginning of the play, the witches prophesized that Banquo’s children will become kings in the future. It can be argued that Macbeth does not want Banquo alive because Banquo’s children can take over the throne. Moreover, to add to Macbeth’s fears, just before the big feast the men that killed Banquo inform Macbeth that he is dead. This creates him to hallucinate when he sees the ghost of Banquo in an empty seat, where the feast is taking