Macbeth, one of the characters in William Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth, is a nobleman of Scotland. Macbeth is visited by three witches with prophecies of his future. As a result of these prophecies his ambition takes over his actions in trying to make sure that the witch’s prophecies come true for him. Before his death, he realizes that life has no meaning and everyone will die and be forgotten. Shakespeare shows him as the tragic hero through his tragic flaw, his actions that cause his downfall, and his recognition of his errors.
Macbeth’s has a tragic flaw of being ambitious, which becomes a problem after the three witches visit Macbeth and Banquo with prophecies of their future; “All hail. Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!/ …show more content…
One event is the killing of King Duncan. The only reason Macbeth could come up with to rationalize the killing of the king is simply because of his tragic flaw, ambition. Once King Duncan is dead he doesn’t stop there. He then decides to hire murderers to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance in order to prevent Banquo’s prophecies from coming true. The murderers come back with news that they have killed Banquo but Fleance has escaped and Macbeth isn’t pleased, “Thanks for that. / There the grown serpent lies. The worm that’d fled…” (III.4.28-29). In this quote Macbeth refers to Banquo as the serpent and Fleance as the worm. Since the main goal was to kill Fleance, Macbeth killed Banquo for no reason. The next event that leads to the downfall of Macbeth is when he pays a visit to the witches once again. The witches give him apparition this time, which instills a fake sense of confidence in Macbeth. The apparitions cause him to feel fearless against others. The first apparition told Macbeth to beware of Macduff. The second told him to not be afraid of any man born of woman. Finally the third said that he will never be defeated until Birnam Wood marched to Dunsinane Hill (IV.1.73-100). This is the event that symbolizes the beginning of the end for
Macbeth’s has a tragic flaw of being ambitious, which becomes a problem after the three witches visit Macbeth and Banquo with prophecies of their future; “All hail. Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!/ …show more content…
One event is the killing of King Duncan. The only reason Macbeth could come up with to rationalize the killing of the king is simply because of his tragic flaw, ambition. Once King Duncan is dead he doesn’t stop there. He then decides to hire murderers to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance in order to prevent Banquo’s prophecies from coming true. The murderers come back with news that they have killed Banquo but Fleance has escaped and Macbeth isn’t pleased, “Thanks for that. / There the grown serpent lies. The worm that’d fled…” (III.4.28-29). In this quote Macbeth refers to Banquo as the serpent and Fleance as the worm. Since the main goal was to kill Fleance, Macbeth killed Banquo for no reason. The next event that leads to the downfall of Macbeth is when he pays a visit to the witches once again. The witches give him apparition this time, which instills a fake sense of confidence in Macbeth. The apparitions cause him to feel fearless against others. The first apparition told Macbeth to beware of Macduff. The second told him to not be afraid of any man born of woman. Finally the third said that he will never be defeated until Birnam Wood marched to Dunsinane Hill (IV.1.73-100). This is the event that symbolizes the beginning of the end for