Macbeth Tragic Hero Research Paper
Lucy Snyder 10.22.10
E5-17 Period 6 Homework
Macbeth: the Ultimate Tragic Hero
The story of Shakespeare’s Macbeth is extremely well known and has been read and told for many years. Macbeth’s characteristics are very distinct, although they change throughout the course of the play. It is Macbeth who makes the story compelling and interesting. He is the protagonist in the play, but along with this, he also has a huge flaw, which results in the turn of events in the story. Macbeth is a tragic hero; a character that suffers from a terrible imperfection and ends up defeated. According to Aristotle, a tragic hero must have four specific characteristics: goodness, superiority, a tragic flaw, and the eventual realization that
his actions have caused his downfall. Macbeth’s goodness was evident when he was introduced to us in the first scene. Through Shakespeare’s exposition, Macbeth was portrayed as a noble and patriotic hero, fighting for his country and King Duncan. Even after greedy thoughts pass through his head, he feels guilt. Macbeth is a superior character because of his promotion to Thane of Cawdor by King Duncan. His tragic flaw is his paranoia, expressed immediately after his first meeting with the witches. He doubts their sureness and wants to create the future that is laid out for him himself. Macbeth’s life turns into him murdering anyone who might threaten or harm his future in any way. Eventually, Macbeth came to the realization that he is in deep water. However, he decided to move forward and continue his ineffective and troubling way of life. This leads to Macbeth’s death. He finally has to face his fear and stand up to fight his enemy. In Act V, Scene 8, some of Macbeth’s final words are, “… Yet I will try the last. Before my body I throw my warlike shield.” The main component of a tragic hero is his flaw or hamartia. Macbeth was an overly paranoid character, which caused him to act irrationally. At one point, he looks back and sees what he has done. However, his choice is to continue feeling guiltless and power-hungry, actions produced by Macbeth’s flaw. He says, “I am in blood/Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more,/Returning were as tedious as go o’er.” Continuing with these actions, Macbeth’s negative characteristics became more prominent and evident. Once he looked back, it was too late to turn around. He kept moving forward (although not progressing) until he was forced to face his problem literally face to face. Macbeth was truly cowardly and weak to keep himself safe any longer and so this led to his main downfall, his death. Overall, Macbeth’s dependence on the witches’ prophecies led to his paranoia and frustration in ensuring his perfect future. Along with his huge ambition, this contributed greatly to his constant degradation in character and final collapse. Macbeth’s actions and emotions make it clear to the reader that he is a tragic hero.
E5-17 Period 6 Homework
Macbeth: the Ultimate Tragic Hero
The story of Shakespeare’s Macbeth is extremely well known and has been read and told for many years. Macbeth’s characteristics are very distinct, although they change throughout the course of the play. It is Macbeth who makes the story compelling and interesting. He is the protagonist in the play, but along with this, he also has a huge flaw, which results in the turn of events in the story. Macbeth is a tragic hero; a character that suffers from a terrible imperfection and ends up defeated. According to Aristotle, a tragic hero must have four specific characteristics: goodness, superiority, a tragic flaw, and the eventual realization that
his actions have caused his downfall. Macbeth’s goodness was evident when he was introduced to us in the first scene. Through Shakespeare’s exposition, Macbeth was portrayed as a noble and patriotic hero, fighting for his country and King Duncan. Even after greedy thoughts pass through his head, he feels guilt. Macbeth is a superior character because of his promotion to Thane of Cawdor by King Duncan. His tragic flaw is his paranoia, expressed immediately after his first meeting with the witches. He doubts their sureness and wants to create the future that is laid out for him himself. Macbeth’s life turns into him murdering anyone who might threaten or harm his future in any way. Eventually, Macbeth came to the realization that he is in deep water. However, he decided to move forward and continue his ineffective and troubling way of life. This leads to Macbeth’s death. He finally has to face his fear and stand up to fight his enemy. In Act V, Scene 8, some of Macbeth’s final words are, “… Yet I will try the last. Before my body I throw my warlike shield.” The main component of a tragic hero is his flaw or hamartia. Macbeth was an overly paranoid character, which caused him to act irrationally. At one point, he looks back and sees what he has done. However, his choice is to continue feeling guiltless and power-hungry, actions produced by Macbeth’s flaw. He says, “I am in blood/Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more,/Returning were as tedious as go o’er.” Continuing with these actions, Macbeth’s negative characteristics became more prominent and evident. Once he looked back, it was too late to turn around. He kept moving forward (although not progressing) until he was forced to face his problem literally face to face. Macbeth was truly cowardly and weak to keep himself safe any longer and so this led to his main downfall, his death. Overall, Macbeth’s dependence on the witches’ prophecies led to his paranoia and frustration in ensuring his perfect future. Along with his huge ambition, this contributed greatly to his constant degradation in character and final collapse. Macbeth’s actions and emotions make it clear to the reader that he is a tragic hero.