In tragedy, more specifically; in the creation of a tragic hero, there are certain standards and structural guidelines by which a playwright or an author is to follow. One such standard is the Aristotelian definition of a tragic hero. This definition paves the way for a dynamic character who can portray and extremely tragic situation. William Shakespeare may have utilized this structural formula to create Macbeth, the hero in The Tragedy of Macbeth. The intention of this discussion is to prove by breaking down the structure of Aristotle"s tragic hero, and comparing it with the structure of Macbeth"s attributes in William Shakespeare"s The Tragedy of Macbeth, that the protagonist"s life parallels that of an Aristotelian tragic hero.

             In his book, "Poetics", Aristotle devises a set of requirements which he feels all tragic heroes should achieve. The first quality of an Aristotelian tragic hero is that "the hero must be good but not perfect, he must be like us in order to gain out sympathy" (House 481). The hero is a person of higher social standing, in essence, better than average people, yet he still possesses only human characteristics. The hero makes a fatal error in judgement that is caused by his fatal flaw, or hamartia (House 83-97). Then "a reversal of ignorance" (Else 438) takes place in which he experiences a "realization and recognition of the events that conspired" (Barnet 111-112). The play is almost always ended at the complete destruction of the hero, either by death or total emotional devastation (House 96-97). This allows for the purging of emotions which lies in Aristotle"s corresponding definition of the tragedy itself. The tragedy, as Aristotle defines it, consists of the following elements: A hero of high importance, usually someone of nobility, and this hero has a hamartia or a fatal flaw. There is then a .

             reversal of fate for the protagonist and a catharsis, or purging of tension.