"The tragic hero must be neither villain nor a virtuous man but a character between these two extremes...a man who not eminently good and just, yet whose misfortune is brought about not by vice or depravity but by some error or human frailty."

The play follows Aristotle's five-act pattern. In Act I, the Act of Introduction, the setting, characters, and plot are introduced to the reader. The background and setting of the play are introduced in order for the reader to fully understand it. In Act II, the Act of Development, the plot develops, the conflict intensifies, and signs of character's flaws appear. Act III is the Act of Tragic Decision. Characters usually act under the influence of a tragic flaw, causing them to make a crucial decision. In Act IV, the Act of Falling

"They met me in the day of success; and I / have learned by the perfectest report, they have more in / them than mortal knowledge." (Act I, v. 1-3).

Macbeth's character displays strong signs of being a tragic hero, making him an ideal example. He is not a villain, and is far from a virtuous man. He is easily influenced by outside forces that indirectly control his actions. Macbeth makes a variety of bad decisions that begin in Act I and end in Act IV. He is inspired to become king by the three witches and their prophecies. His wife, Lady Macbeth manipulates his thoughts and actions while feeding his driving ambition. And finally, Macbeth is the victim of his own rash decisions and actions stemming from his pride and ambition.

Macbeth's own ambition is a major factor in contributing to his downfall. Once he becomes king, his ambition takes over, and his actions become increasingly desperate. In the first act, Macbeth himself is aware of his ambition and drive to become king. He says,

The witches' prophecy concerning Banquo's descendants and Macbeth's feeling of inferiority to Banquo lead Macbeth to arrange for the murder of Banquo and his son, Fleance. Banquo's presence around Macbeth is a constant reminder to him that it will be Banquos descendants and not his that will inherit the throne. He is aware that he has worked very hard to accomplish what he has, and does not want to lose it to Banquo. We see this in the following quote,

He believes the prophecy to be good news, and cannot think of a reason why he should not be king. We see his aspiring to become king even more in the following quote.

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Approximate Word count = 1370
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)