Macbeth as Tragic Hero

A detailed Summary of Macbeth as Tragic Hero

Tragedy elucidated is dramatic composition of serious or sombre character, with an unhappy ending, any literary composition dealing with a dismal theme carried to a tragic conclusion relating to a lamentable, dreadful fatal event or affair, conceivably known as a disaster or calamity. Hero in literary stipulations is a man of distinguished courage or performance, admired for his noble personality, one who is invested with laudable qualities in the opinion of others. These two words are the fundamental core when accessing the character of Macbeth. The requisites of a tragic hero are fulfilled by Macbeth, he is a person born of noble birth, who undergoes a fall. Macbeth evokes our pity and consternation, he is neither thoroughly good nor thoroughly evil but a mixture of both. Considered a once moral character he suffers a change in fortune from happiness to misery, due to a mistaken deed, which he performs due to his hamartia -'error of judgement'. Pity is induced to this character, because he is not evil and his ill fortune is greater than he deserves. Invocation of our fear is eminent because we realize we are fallible and could make the same error. tragic hero?? Yes, because he ultimately ca

Here we see MacBeth as a hopeless and destroyed man who has come far down the twisted path of deceit and murder, to him life now means nothing. The castle is being attacked and the witch's prophecy foretold, he considers suicide, which the Romans considered the dignified thing to do under such circumstances. But he decides it would be more satisfying to take as many people with him as possible. When we see what has become of Macbeth we are affected and feel a great sense of pity towards him, we as the audience sympathize for a man who is not eminently good and just, yet whose mishap is brought about not by decadence or corruption, but threw this lethal fault, which is embedded within his persona.

"Tomorrow, tomorrow and tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day to the last syllable of recorded time. And all our yesterdays have but lighted fools the way to dusty death. Out, out brief candle! Life is but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an idiot; full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

Macbeth is initially inaugurated as a heroic man of virtuous doings, but his whole approach completely changes because of the murders he commits. His major character flaws show traces of fear and insecurity, combined with his disproportionate over ambition. All of this is then motivated by his ludicrous wife, who foolishly administers not only to Macbeth's demise, but also her own. Superstition and prophecy are the elements, which bestow the misfortune, these convincing contentions make Macbeth a classic example of a tragic hero. Ironically despite all this, the name "Macbeth" means "son of life" it is not a patronymic hence the "b" is lower case.

Macbeth's defect would attest to be terminal, this flaw in his character would ascertain to impair him considerably, as the witches prey upon it. The revelation of his potential Kingship serves to fuel Macbeth's aspiration for ambition as he endeavours to attain this goal as soon as possible. Macbeth's preliminary thought is to slay Duncan. However, as he thinks this out plausibly, he realizes that "If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me" (Act I, Sc. III, Line 157). Macbeth perceives to have control over his own ambition. This is, pending until Duncan'

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Approximate Word count = 1568
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English