Shakespeares Macbeth - A Tragic Hero :: Macbeth essays

Macbeth A Tragic Hero The Macbeth character in Macbeth by William Shakespeare can beplayed many ways. Macbeths relationship with other characters in the playand Aristotles theory of a tragedy are ways in which Macbeth is shown as a sad hero. At the very beginning of the play, Macbeth and Banquo are returningto Scotland from a fierce battle between the Norwegians and the Scottish.They have just won the war for Duncan. This shows a solemn virtue ofMacbeth, a requirement of a tragic hero according to Aristotle. It showsthat Macbeth is a loyal person to the mightiness and that he is a great warrior.As they are returning to Scotland, three witches appear and make propheciesabout Macbeth and Banquo. The three witches say All hail, Macbeth hailto thee, thane of Glamis All hail, Macbeth hail to thee, thane ofCawdor All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter (A 1, S 3, 48).Here, Macbeth is interested in what the witches have to say, but he doesnot really believe them. A few minutes lat er, Ross enters. He tellsMacbeth that the thane of Cawdor is in line for death and that Duncan hasnamed Macbeth the new thane of Cawdor. Now, Macbeth is absolutely shocked.The witches prophecy has come true He can not believe it But nowMacbeth has a lot more on his mind the third prophecy about becoming theKing. Macbeth knows that if something were to happen to Duncan, Malcolmand Donalbain, Duncans sons, would be the rightful heirs to the throne.How can Macbeth be King when he is nowhere near the next in line to thethrone? Another requirement for a tragic hero is that he must have atragic flaw. Macbeths tragic flaw is that of ambition Macbeths ambitionwill cause him to decline. At this point, Lady Macbeth knows all about the witches prophecies.She really wants to be Queen of Scotland so she encourages Macbeth to dowhat he has to do to get rid of Duncan. Lady Macbeth is putting anenormous amount of influence on Macbeth. He thinks that Duncan is a greatKing and he considers Duncan to be a good friend. Finally Macbeth gives into Lady Macbeth and decides that he will kill Duncan while he is visitingMacbeths castle that comparable night. That night, Macbeth kills Duncan.However, afterwards, Macbeth is feeling very sorry for himself. He can notbelieve what he has just done. His ambition has caused him to kill a goodfriend and up to now worse, the King Here, Macbeth is going crazy.