The presence of a tragic hero is evident in most of Shakespeare’s literature. The character of Macbeth is a well known example of a Shakespearean tragic hero. Typically, a tragic hero is represented with great stature with an aristocratic background. A tragic hero is primarily noble in nature, but suffers a self-inflicted collapse due to flaws in his or her own actions. Therefore, a tragic hero has a dreadful downfall due to those fatal flaws. This character arrives at an important discovery that totally changes the quandary that he or she is in, often after being trapped in that position for awhile. A Shakespearean tragic hero will lose his or her life at the end of the play so a memo of what is valuable in the play can be reestablished. In
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It is obvious that Macbeth is being viewed with great importance because the second witch said to Macbeth, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!” (Shakespeare 355). Macbeth earned the title of Thane of Glamis and he is even prophesied by the three witches that he will soon become the Thane of Cawdor. These titles indicate that Macbeth is of great political status, and is moving up the hierarchy of Scottish superiority. In Act 1, Scene 2, Duncan calls Macbeth as “valiant cousin, worthy gentleman” and also as a “Worthy Thane”. The way in which the people of his country speak about Macbeth shows his respectable and venerable nature. Duncan speaks highly of Macbeth, but Duncan is unaware of the fate Macbeth will later put on …show more content…
With the villainous path he made for himself, his removal from power was inevitable. Macbeth’s horrible actions resulted with him having to fear for his own life, as many people wanted him dead. He demonstrates a third trait of a tragic hero which is that he discovers his fate by his own actions. Macbeth knew that people wanted him dead because of his evil deeds. However, he did not fully fear these people, as he first believed in the ambiguous words of the witches. The witches told Macbeth to be brave, that no man born of woman could defeat him, and that he will never be killed until Great Birnam Wood attacks Dunsinane. Macbeth knew everything that the Witches told him was futile, so he did not care to protect his castle. He was astonished when he was told the forest was actually attacking his castle; the forest was really Macduff’s army carrying branches as camouflage. While a vendetta was occurring between him and Macduff, Macbeth discovers that Macduff was not born of woman, but instead he was ripped from his mother’s womb. At this time Macbeth was informed about his accountability for this whole situation. Macduff then kills Macbeth and ensures that his own family did not die in vain. With his death, Macbeth makes himself a tragic hero.
There are three definite traits that best exemplifies Macbeth as a tragic hero throughout the whole play even though he
It is obvious that Macbeth is being viewed with great importance because the second witch said to Macbeth, “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!” (Shakespeare 355). Macbeth earned the title of Thane of Glamis and he is even prophesied by the three witches that he will soon become the Thane of Cawdor. These titles indicate that Macbeth is of great political status, and is moving up the hierarchy of Scottish superiority. In Act 1, Scene 2, Duncan calls Macbeth as “valiant cousin, worthy gentleman” and also as a “Worthy Thane”. The way in which the people of his country speak about Macbeth shows his respectable and venerable nature. Duncan speaks highly of Macbeth, but Duncan is unaware of the fate Macbeth will later put on …show more content…
With the villainous path he made for himself, his removal from power was inevitable. Macbeth’s horrible actions resulted with him having to fear for his own life, as many people wanted him dead. He demonstrates a third trait of a tragic hero which is that he discovers his fate by his own actions. Macbeth knew that people wanted him dead because of his evil deeds. However, he did not fully fear these people, as he first believed in the ambiguous words of the witches. The witches told Macbeth to be brave, that no man born of woman could defeat him, and that he will never be killed until Great Birnam Wood attacks Dunsinane. Macbeth knew everything that the Witches told him was futile, so he did not care to protect his castle. He was astonished when he was told the forest was actually attacking his castle; the forest was really Macduff’s army carrying branches as camouflage. While a vendetta was occurring between him and Macduff, Macbeth discovers that Macduff was not born of woman, but instead he was ripped from his mother’s womb. At this time Macbeth was informed about his accountability for this whole situation. Macduff then kills Macbeth and ensures that his own family did not die in vain. With his death, Macbeth makes himself a tragic hero.
There are three definite traits that best exemplifies Macbeth as a tragic hero throughout the whole play even though he