How Is Macbeth A Tragic Hero

Starting off as a well respected man of pride, courage, and a very noble man, Macbeth was a true hero protecting and fighting for King Duncan. “Macbeth's fate describes a very direct but an unexpected path to tyranny, that of the patriot, or lover of honor”(Mary Ann McGrail).He was a hero that was good minded, and someone who everybody could look up to and depend on. He was a gentleman on whom I built, an absolute trust”( Shakespeare, 332). A hero who stuck loyal to his king and country, and fighting all that was bad. He was awarded for such tremendous actions, that he showed all of society.”Macbeth has won the title "king" by default, he has succeeded in usurping the legitimate heir”( Paul A. Cantor). He put so much into being a hero that
Macbeth encounters the three witches, that prophesies his success of being king. He wanted more than just being a hero of his king and country, but perhaps someone with greater power than what he already had to begin with. “Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more, By Sinel’s death I know I am thane of Cawdor lives, a prosperous gentleman; and to be king, stands not within the prospect of belief, no more than to be a Cawdor, say from whence, you owe this strange intelligence?” (Shakespeare, 328). He was hungry for what the witches had prophesied before him. He heard the thought of being king, which would lead him away from doing the good minded hero role, and to do anything it took so he could rule the country. He had forgotten his way of his hero’s journey, and instead of a tragic hero’s side of ideas.“Macbeth was overthrown from the goodness he had within, when he was told of a great prophecy, that he gained greater interest”(David L. Kranz). This point of his journey, would push him away from what he really was. Macbeth was a good blooded man, a man who had the light and the conscience of a hero. But with the evil starting to gain control of his actions, he has a new set of priorities. “Stars, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires”(Shakespeare, 330). He was going to fight for power and
When Macbeth was told of the prophecies he had laying ahead of him,” I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on the other”(Shakespeare, 345). This show Macbeth’s greed, he doesn’t even have a good reason for killing the king, it’s only desire for power control he knows King Duncan is a ruler but just wants it all for himself. Macbeth's fatal flaw in the play is unchecked ambition, that is a desire for power and position, namely to be king, which is more important to him than anything else in life. He is willing to give up everything that he has in his life in order to possess the crown to sit on the throne. And as told by the three witches, he is doubtful, that is until the first prophecy was fulfilled. Macbeth is named king of Cawdor" Is this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee” (Shakespeare, 348). He begins the downfall when he murders King Duncan, and starts to feel a guilty conscience. He knew that what he had done was completely wrong.”Thane of Cawdor causes him to throw it all away and become the bloody tyrant and most conniving villain, leaving us to wonder how a man so '"full o' the milk of human kindness became a man whose hands were so covered in blood they could never be wiped clean"(Edward Zipperer). Macbeth would have done almost anything, to be a