...In The Tragedy of Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare, there are many different aspects of tragic heroes and downfalls. Overall, the protagonist Lord Macbeth displays the greatest characteristics of a tragic hero because of his large and prominent downfall. Macbeth showed all of the tragic hero characteristics which include: goodness, superiority, tragic flaw, and self realization. These characteristics help define who Macbeth is, and who he progresses into as the play advances. The prophecies of the Witches seemed to control Lord Macbeth in the worst way. They took over his decision making and rational thinking forcing him to make dense choices which would eventually result in his downfall. Goodness; the quality of being good, in particular. Some say Lord Macbeth lost of all his morality by the greed of ambition but I very much disagree. Macbeth may have made rash decisions and chose to do wrong but he did all of which with a stable, sane, and understanding mind. “I’ll go no more. I am afraid to think of what I have done. Look on’t again I dare not.” (II ii 65-68). This shows that Lord Macbeth is aware that what he just...
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...character? What is his tragic flaw? Is Macbeth aware of his flaw? Macbeth is not a villain. Although, he is very easily manipulated by his wife, Lady Macbeth, and the three witches from the woods, who do push him to commit some villainous crimes such as murder. This happens to Macbeth because he has very low self-esteem and these characters are very poor influences to Macbeth. Macbeth is very loyal to his friends, towns people and even the king. Although he does Murder the king, he did not want to, he could not say no to his wife and he was hungry for his power that...
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...Macbeth: The Tragic Hero By: Daniel Chekole 2012 Macbeth: The Tragic Hero By: Daniel. C "Any art worthy of its name should address 'life', 'man', 'nature', 'death' and 'tragedy'.” (Barnett Newman, BrainQuote) In a tragedy the main character rises to greatness showing characteristics above normality while repeatedly showing proof to the audience about his or her tragic flaw which later on leads to the character’s downfall. Macbeth created tragedy in the lives of his loved ones and peers as well as a monumental tragic fate onto himself during his reversion from being a decent and moral man to someone similar to a devil who had paranoia and couldn’t differentiate between good and evil. Furthermore, Macbeth became detached from the feelings and thoughts of the people around him as he became so engaged in himself as well as the three witches and their prophecies. When Shakespeare wrote this play he slowed down the process of the tragedy so that the audience would acknowledge and experience Macbeth’s success and happiness; slowing signs appeared with foreshadowing techniques leading to the climax of the play as Macbeth headed to his tragic flaw. In the process of the tragedy Macbeth starts as a brave respected warrior, then later is fooled by the witches with prophecies, and sadly becomes lifeless. In the beginning of the play as we first hear of Macbeth from a wounded captain who...
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...Macbeth: A Tragic Hero? William Shakespeare's tragedy, Macbeth, attains a protagonist that evidently portrays himself as a tragic hero. A tragic hero is a character that is not completely good or evil and has a tragic flaw that eventually leads to his downfall. Macbeth is the epitome of a tragic hero because he starts off as a noble man until his own actions, also influenced by others, bring him to his own death. The events that help take Macbeth to his end are the prophecies told to him by the three witches, Lady Macbeth's pressure that drives him into committing horrible actions, and his own ambition that takes over him and leaves him as nothing but a power and money hungry character. Macbeth starts off with Macbeth and Banquo being praised after battling bravely in a war against the Irish Invaders. “At the beginning of the play, he seems the epitome of a loyal subject, valiantly fighting the rebel forces to protect the king and preserve his power.” (Elaine Pilkington 1) King Duncan believed that Macbeth was tremendously heroic in the battle and decided to name him the new thane of Cawdor after executing the old one because of his betrayal. However, before hearing from the King, Macbeth and Banquo were on their way to the King's court when they were suddenly accompanied by three witches.The witches greet Macbeth as the thane of Glamis, which was his original and only title, and as the thane of Cawdor, which Macbeth was not yet informed of. The witches also tell Macbeth...
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...Macbeth is a classic example of a tragic hero by Aristotle’s standards, in that all five of the established tragic traits are applicable to Macbeth’s character (a noble birth, Hamartia, Peripeteia, Anagnorisis, and Catharsis). The narrative of Macbeth follows the timeless trajectory of a tragedy; Macbeth comes from a place of serendipity, and over the course of events, finds himself plummeting into defeat as a character. Through critical analysis of Macbeth’s core traits compared to the core traits of a tragedy, it becomes apparent Macbeth is ultimately responsible for his tragedy and his downfall as an individual, because it was his own hubris which drove him to bring about the prophecy he heard. To acknowledge this fully, one must first simply observe both the actions of Macbeth and the core elements crucial to a tragic hero, as according to Aristotle for the sake of consistency in a historical theme of narrative. Aristotle’s traits of a tragic hero are as follows: a noble birth, Hamartia, Peripeteia, Anagnorisis, and Catharsis. To begin with, the first element of a tragedy we are faced with in Macbeth is of being of a noble...
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...Macbeth can be considered a tragic hero because he exhibits most of the defining literary characteristics of a traditional tragic hero. Tragic heroes are typically members of the power class, and Macbeth is no different. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is already the Thane of Glamis (presumably as a reward for earlier performance in combat), and throughout the course of the story he earns the title of Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland. Not only do tragic hero's have a high social standing, but they also tend to show extraordinary personal abilities. In Macbeth's case, this ability is an exceptional prowess in battle, as we learn from a wounded Scottish Captain in Act 1. He and Banquo alledgedly defeated Macdonwald and his Irish army...
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...If it was not for the three witches, Macbeth could possibly be a tragic hero. If the witches did not tell Macbeth his future, he would not have gone insane and he would not have killed. I feel Macbeth was not a tragic hero because he killed a king and his best friend, he did not do much work, his wife did the most part, and he did not learn from his mistakes. Macbeth’s wife called him a coward then proceeded to tell him what to do. Macbeth should have learned from his mistake by killing Duncan, the king, but he did not because he then killed Banquo, his best friend. First, Macbeth is not a tragic hero because he killed Duncan, the king. If the witches did not mention anything about Macbeth becoming king, Duncan would still be alive. Macbeth...
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...Macbeth was a true example of a tragic hero. Macbeth had strong individualism, greed, and he accepted death when it came time for him to pass. Macbeth was loved by all. He was a tragic hero that let his fate get ahead of him and let greed overpower him. First, Macbeth shows strong individualism and extremism in the book. “I have done the deed” (Macbeth 2.2.19). Wanting to see himself at the top, Macbeth killed his cousin, and would have to kill more before he succeeds at becoming king. Macbeth’s greed and desires have only just begun to overtake him. Secondly, Macbeth is ambitious and bold. He chases the fate that the witches tell him; “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter” (Third Witch 1.3.53). This ambition turns to greed...
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...Macbeth, A Tragic Hero (Final) Each one of Macbeth’s decisions in life applies to one or all of Aristotle’s characteristics of the theory of a tragic hero in The Tragedy of Macbeth, William Shakespeare’s play. Each one of his characteristics identifies him as a true tragic hero. Macbeth is a tragic hero because not only does he do wrong throughout his life, but he does it for his own benefits. Hubris, one of the characteristics, is Macbeth’s excessive pride, giving others the sense of him being too cocky. With overconfidence Macbeth states, “And mingle with the English epicures./The mind I sway by and the heart I bear/Shall never sag with doubt nor shake with fear" (5.3.9-11). He undergoes hubris when they open up his future, leading him...
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...Tragic Hero Macbeth may seem like a tragic hero but in definition of to be, you must completely be that thing. Macbeth follows some of the guidelines for a tragic hero but not all of them. Macbeth is a man that was making unintelligent mistakes that he thought would bring him to his foretold future. Even after he was told who the only people who could kill him, he still failed from a small misstatement. A tragic hero is someone who is doomed to fail, but it’s entirely dependent on fate and they cannot do anything otherwise. Macbeth is not a tragic hero because he had evil intentions, had free will, and he could have been destined for greatness. Macbeth was an evil man in reality. When receiving the information from the witches that he would...
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...Have you ever held back your opinions because of someone? Based on research, some people believe that women are mind controlling over men. Therefore I strongly believe that Macbeth is a tragic hero because he listens to the prophecies of the witches, but also let’s Lady Macbeth’s plan influence him and his blind ambition. A way Macbeth is a tragic hero is that he listens to the prophecies of the witches. The witches have an extreme effect towards Macbeth. They credit his accomplishments which then stimulates his ambitions. Before Macbeth commits these actions the witches they stated a forged statement that left Macbeth convinced. As a result, the witches were the ones who brainwashed him on killing King Duncan to become king. Not only did...
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...The character Macbeth is a classic example of a tragic hero. There are many ways he comes to this descent of power throughout his journey of madness. The first being the prophecy that was told to him by the witches.Also How lady macbeth influenced and directed him down the path he took. Macbeth let the witches twist and turn his mind into thinking things that might not be true. This results in him taking action to try to stop something from happening or to make something happen. This is his ultimate mistake because he cannot prevent the inevitable it only upsets the universe you must let destiny run its course. You see this in the play when society is disturbed Macbeth let the witches get to his head and in the end this was one of the biggest...
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...For a story to be considered a tragedy, the protagonist has to experience a big loss, or in other words a downfall. William Shakespeare, who masters in writing tragedies, portrays the tragedy of a hero in the play Macbeth written in 1606. It is set in Scotland during its medieval times, where the main protagonist Macbeth is a person of nobility being known to be: Scotland’s greatest warrior, the Thane of Glamis, as well as the first cousin to King Duncan. His impending tragedy starts from the moment he is given prophecies by the three witches. Lady Macbeth who is Macbeth’s wife gives the push that drives him into killing King Duncan for the throne. Unknowingly lady Macbeth guides Macbeth towards his downfall, as the action of murdering Duncan...
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...Macbeth’s Tragic Flaw The term tragic hero refers to a central character who has an authoritative status in the drama, but through a flaw in his character, brings about his demise.(Tragic Hero as Defined by Aristotle). Macbeth had many noble qualities as well as several tragic flaws. Macbeth's degeneration was caused by the prophecy of the witches, lady Macbeth's influence, and his own long time desire to be king. Macbeth's tragic flaws were his ambition and the way he was easily manipulated. The prophecies of the witches bring out Macbeth's ambitious nature. Macbeth was first established as being of great stature, the captain says “For brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name-/Disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel”( I.ii. lines16-17). However, after hearing of the prophecy his honorable nature fades. The witches prophecies give Macbeth a sense of security and confidence but prove to be harmful for Macbeth and his interpretation of the truths. In the article “Shakespeare's Macbeth” by Mitchell Kalpakgian she states, “the witches on the heath foretell what Macbeth will gain but never disclose what he will lose or the price he will pay for acting on the insinuations of the witches who only speak half truths.”(Kalpakgian, 2013). Although it is true that Macbeth will become king it is never explained how he will obtain kingship and what kind of life he will lead as King. The witches plant the seed of murdering Duncan in Macbeth's head, but if it were only the witches...
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...Macbeth, a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in the 17th century, expresses clearly the strong pull that desire for power can have over a man. Macbeth, the title character of the play, is often expressed as being the villain of the tragedy. However, through studying the play closely it is clear to see that, rather than being an innately evil character, Macbeth is in fact a tragic hero, doomed by fate from the start to descend into the madness which he did. Had it not been for his hamartia and his interaction with the witches and his wife then the play would have had a very different ending. Like every tragic hero in literature Macbeth suffered from a tragic flaw, or a hamartia. In his case, his flaw was his vaulting ambition, combined with a lust for power. Macbeth himself recognises this ambition in act I, scene 7 where he states in a soliloquy “I have no spur to ***** the sides of my intent but only vaulting ambition”. This comment suggests that he knows that the only thing that prompts his actions is his ambition. While ambition alone is not in fact a bad trait, when added with a lust for power, this ambition can become dangerous. Did having these qualities mean that Macbeth was indisputably corrupt? No, they simply meant that he, like all human beings, had a flaw and a weakness. Indeed, at the start of the play, Macbeth was seen as the hero, being described as “brave Macbeth” in act I, scene II, and shown as a loyal and brave solider on the battle field. He is also...
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