Analysing Macbeth The Tragic Hero English Literature Essay

William Shakespeare ‘s Macbeth, from the drama Macbeth is a authoritative illustration of a tragic hero. A character from an Elizabethan drama will normally hold to carry through certain features and realizations to go a tragic hero. First of all they must be good. Their character must ab initio be a hero. They must so be capable to an event, that brings forth their tragic defect ; which coupled with their ain picks and outside factors will do them deteriorate morally. They must be of a certain stature, so that their ill-conceived determinations and actions will consequence a scope of people. Following this they must recognize their tragic defect, excessively late to gain that it has finally lead to their ruin. While a character may carry through these demands they can non be a ‘tragic ‘ hero unless they are basically a good individual.

Macbeth being a good individual, loyal to his male monarch, holding many respectable strengths but besides being ambitious ( so that his aspiration could make tensenesss with his trueness ) means that he has the possible to go a tragic hero.

We Will Write a Custom Essay Specifically
For You For Only $13.90/page!


order now

Macbeth is so capable to an event which brings 4th his tragic defect. Macbeth and his close friend, Banquo, are waylaid by three enchantresss while on their manner to run into King Duncan. The three enchantresss address Macbeth as ‘Thane of Glamis ‘ , a rubric he holds already, so prophesize that he will go ‘thane of Cawdor, so King of Scotland. They besides prophesize that Banquo, while, he himself will non go male monarch, his posterities will. At this point, Macbeth becomes interested and demands, “ Stay you imperfect talkers, state me more ” . Macbeth ( Act I, Scene 3, Line 73 ) .

Macbeth is shortly after rewarded for being of such a great character and so loyal to the male monarch, by being awarded to title, ‘Thane of Cawdor ‘ . To this point, Macbeth had disregarded the enchantress ‘s prognostications, but now his aspiration comes into drama and he begins to entertain ideas of going male monarch.

A tragic hero is capable of actions both good and evil. A tragic hero is a character who is neither outright good nor straight-out immorality, they choose their way which leads them to demo more one than the other of these traits ; although their way chosen is greatly influenced by their tragic defect. When Macbeth was named Thane of Cawdor, he made an active moral determination to utilize this new power for immorality, and take the life of his male monarch ; instead than utilize his power for the greater good. “ I have no goad

to prick the sides of my purpose, but merely overreaching aspiration, which o’erleaps itself and falls on Thursday ‘ other. ”

Macbeth ( Act I, Scene 7, Lines 26-28 ) .

This shows that Macbeth made an active pick to follow through with his ambitious ways and take the life of his male monarch.

Macbeth ‘s tragic defect, aspiration, coupled with outside factors lead to his ruin.

Fate played a major function in the ruin of Macbeth ; Macbeth blindly believed in the destiny that the enchantresss had told him. When Macbeth met the enchantresss, for a 2nd clip, it was the prognostication of destiny that they foretold which influenced him in his evil determinations. Furthermore, one time Macbeth has overthrown Duncan, he believes he is wholly safe, and becomes chesty with a sense of indomitability because he thinks he knows what the hereafter holds. “ Then unrecorded, Macduff: what need I fear of three? ” Macbeth ( Act IV, Scene 1, Line 85 )

It was non merely Macbeth ‘s determinations that lead to his ruin, but besides the strong function of destiny, an outside factor.

A tragic hero must gain their tragic defect. Insight into their ain weaknesss is one of the cardinal factors in Shakespearean tragic heroes. “ I have no goad to prick the sides of my purpose, but merely overreaching aspiration, which o’erleaps itself and falls on Thursday ‘ other. ”

Macbeth ( Act I, Scene 7, Lines 26-28 ) .

This quotation mark from early in the drama, depicts how Macbeth, already, on some degree has resigned to his aspiration and accepts it as his ain personal defect.

A tragic hero must be, basically, a good individual. Macbeth is for the most portion, a good individual who possesses a tragic and ultimately fatal defect, he is excessively ambitious. While Macbeth did perpetrate awful offenses that were both ethically and morally incorrect, he besides questioned himself after each act. Macbeth ‘s scruples was present even though he chose to go on with his ambitious actions. Proof of Macbeth ‘s scruples still being present while he committed his unreliable Acts of the Apostless lies in the manifestations of his guilt ; such as the natation sticker taking him to Duncan or shade of Banquo, nowadays at the feast after his decease. Macbeth can be seen to a good individual who could non command his aspiration, which led him to perpetrate flagitious offenses ; for which he would experience so much guilt that it would attest in the signifier of hallucinations.

Macbeth is a authoritative illustration of an Elizabeth tragic hero. Macbeth fulfils all the features and realizations required to be a tragic hero ; he is foremost introduced as a hero, so he is capable to an event which brings Forth his tragic defect which is so coupled with destiny to assist convey his ruin, before which though, he recognises his defect and accepts it. Macbeth is besides, basically, a good individual who feels compunction at his actions and understands where he has gone incorrect.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *