Hamartia's Ambition In Macbeth

Since the time of the Ancient Greeks, Aristotle’s model of the Tragic Hero has been adapted to remind people of the imperfection of humans. The Tragic Hero is originally portrayed as a noble and god-like person. However, through his own actions and imperfections, the Tragic Hero falls from his once noble stature. In Shakespeare’s Scottish tragedy, Macbeth, the audience witnesses the central character’s great suffering caused by his own doing, as Macbeth, once a brave, loyal hero in Scotland, falls prey to his own greed and ambition thus causing his own fall from grace.
Every tragic hero is originally of noble stature, whether by birthright or through his deeds. Macbeth proves to be noble though his deed, serving his country and his king. Alongside
Consequently, this means that he is imperfect, and prone to making mistakes, or errors in judgement, which are caused by the Hero’s tragic flaws. This stage is know as the Hamartia. Macbeth’s hamartia is his ambition and curiosity, which first appears when he meets the three witches. They greet him with a prophecy, proclaiming him to be Thane of Cawdor, and later the King of Scotland. His curiosity outweighs him better judgement, causing him to demand them to “Stay you imperfect speakers, tell me more” (1. 3. 72). Despite these witches clearly being instruments of darkness, Macbeth’s ambition and curiosity compels him to seek out more information. This implies that Macbeth does believe, to an extent, what the witches are telling him. His ambition for more power outweighs both his better judgement and his loyalty to Duncan. Later, after Duncan has given Macbeth the title of Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth says, “Stars hide your fire! Let not light see my black and deep desires” (1. 4. 58-59). This further reinforces Macbeth’s ambition for power, despite understanding that his ambitions are both traitorous and
Macbeth realizes that he has lost everything, particularly the love and respect of his peers, due to his actions. He laments to himself,
I am sick at heart,
When I behold [...] This push
Will cheer me ever or disseat me now.
I have lived long enough. My way of life
Is fallen in the sere, the yellow leaf,
And that which should accompany old age, As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends,
I must not look to have. But in their