In the play of Macbeth written by William Shakespeare in the 19th century, there are numerous situations and scenarios throughout the story that lead to classifying Macbeth as a tragic hero. A tragic hero is defined as having certain specific characteristics. Throughout the events and happening within the story and through much research, Macbeth seems to be fitting of all the characteristics that defines a tragic hero. Not only is this identification of being a tragic hero only seen in the plays of the 19th century, but is seen today in our modern society. In the play of Macbeth, the main character demonstrates numerous qualities of a tragic hero, shows that his downfall is beyond his control, and relates to some tragic heroes today in our
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In the case of Macbeth his great virtue that is so valued by others, turns into vaulting ambition in which he cannot stop and goes too far to cause his downfall. At the beginning, Macbeth originally put in his ambition to the royalty for Duncan. As stated earlier, Macbeth shows his ambition to serve the throne as he talks to Duncan declaring that “Are to your throne and state children and servants,’ which do but what they should by doing everything/ safe toward your love and honor” (Shakespeare 1.4.29-30). This shows that Macbeth’s ambition is paid towards serving the royalty of Scotland. However, once the witches deliver Macbeth’s prediction that he one day shall be king, Macbeth’s great virtue of ambition is placed towards becoming the king himself and shifts from ambition to vaulting ambition. Within the play Macbeth even comes to terms and admits his flaw as he states, “That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur/ To prick the sides of my intent, but only/ Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself/ and falls on th’other-”(Shakespeare.1.7.25-28 ). In this part of the play Macbeth is describing how the vaulting ambition had caused him to go over or “o’erleap” his goal and go too far beyond what he had intended. This vaulting ambition has caused Macbeth to take what he wants, the throne, and to find a way to get to it no matter what and even go beyond getting it in a horrible way. In this case Macbeth goes too far in obtaining his goal by going so far as to kill the king himself to obtain his kingship that he is putting his ambition towards. As Macbeth attains the tragic flaw of vaulting ambition, it shows how he is truly a tragic
In the case of Macbeth his great virtue that is so valued by others, turns into vaulting ambition in which he cannot stop and goes too far to cause his downfall. At the beginning, Macbeth originally put in his ambition to the royalty for Duncan. As stated earlier, Macbeth shows his ambition to serve the throne as he talks to Duncan declaring that “Are to your throne and state children and servants,’ which do but what they should by doing everything/ safe toward your love and honor” (Shakespeare 1.4.29-30). This shows that Macbeth’s ambition is paid towards serving the royalty of Scotland. However, once the witches deliver Macbeth’s prediction that he one day shall be king, Macbeth’s great virtue of ambition is placed towards becoming the king himself and shifts from ambition to vaulting ambition. Within the play Macbeth even comes to terms and admits his flaw as he states, “That tears shall drown the wind. I have no spur/ To prick the sides of my intent, but only/ Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself/ and falls on th’other-”(Shakespeare.1.7.25-28 ). In this part of the play Macbeth is describing how the vaulting ambition had caused him to go over or “o’erleap” his goal and go too far beyond what he had intended. This vaulting ambition has caused Macbeth to take what he wants, the throne, and to find a way to get to it no matter what and even go beyond getting it in a horrible way. In this case Macbeth goes too far in obtaining his goal by going so far as to kill the king himself to obtain his kingship that he is putting his ambition towards. As Macbeth attains the tragic flaw of vaulting ambition, it shows how he is truly a tragic