To What Extent Is Macbeth A Tragic Hero

A tragic hero according to csus.edu is “... a person of noble birth with heroic or potentially heroic qualities. This person is fated by the Gods or by some supernatural force to doom and destruction or at least to great suffering.” Tragic heroes also share some qualities such as regretting their actions, going through mental/physical pain, and getting sympathy or fear out of their audience. In Williams Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, it is often asked whether Macbeth is considered a tragic hero. In some ways it is easy to see how Macbeth falls under the category of tragic hero. In the beginning of the play, it would be extremely shocking for someone to guess that Macbeth would murder King Duncan due to his loyalty. In act 1, scene 1, a Captain of the war is seen talking to Duncan. The captain while talking about Macbeth recalls that “but all's too weak: For brave Macbeth--well he deserves that name--Disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd steel, which smoked with bloody execution...” The captain talks about Macbeth’s bravery throughout the battle and he is seen as a hero. The king makes a decision along with the help of the now thane of Cawdor who turned out to be a traitor, to make Macbeth the new thane. This privilege is …show more content…
He is still too power hungry and does not wish to give up his thrown. The witches reveal that none of women born shall hurt him, to keep an eye out for Macduff, and not to fear until “great Birnam wood to high duns inane hill shall come against him”. Macbeth thinking small realizes that Macduff is not to be feared because he is of woman born and a whole forest will never move. He returns back to his castle with nothing but belief in himself. Nothing will ever take his crown away. This seems arrogant and prideful which is another quality most tragic heroes have. They get too full of themselves and it ends up killing