ipl-logo

Macbeth: A Tragic Hero In Shakespeare's Macbeth

982 Words4 Pages

MacBeth, the greedy, killing thane of Glamis, is a tragic hero throughout the play. MacBeth is soon realized to be an important person once Macdonwald is dead. The witches state, “All hail, MacBeth!...thane of Glamis...Cawdor...that shalt be king hereafter!”(48-50). Later, Duncan states, “... with his former title greet MacBeth”(66). The witches and the king of scotland all recognize MacBeth as an important person because Duncan believes that he has killed MacDonwald. The witches then fill his head with prophecies of who he will be in the near future. Secondly, a tragic hero has a death defying flaw buried within him. MacBeths flaws include greed and ambition. MacBeth states, “and it is done...bell invites me...Duncan... it is a knell...summons thee to heaven and hell”(19-22). Later on, while talking to his murders he says, “It is concluded. Banquo, thy soul’s flight, if it find heaven...tonight”(141-142). Furthermore, MacBeth decides to kill again, “...MacDuff I will surprise, seize upon fife...his wife, his babies…”(149-153). Throughout the first three acts, MacBeth is determined to keep the throne so, he kills whomever is needed, even if they are only suspected to be a threat. This flaw brings his life to end once everyone discovers who he really was. In scene five, MacDuff says, “Hail, King!...The usurper’s cursed head. The time is free…”(53-55). This indicates that he has beheaded MacBeth and his ruling has come to an end.

Question 2:
MacBeth, the

Show More
Related

  • Betrayal In Macbeth And Lord Of The Flies, By William Golding

    614 Words  | 3 Pages

    Thus, he murders his friend for his own selfish desires and his crimes verge upon him through his ultimate ruination. Additionally, Macbeth treats his people with cruelty by murdering the innocent to display his authority. Macbeth orders, “The castle of Macduff I will surprise, /seize upon Fife, give to th’edge o’th’sword/ His wife, his babies and all unfortunate souls/ That trace him in his line” (4.1.164-167). Macbeth demands the slaughter of Macduff’s family after learning that Macduff has fled to England.

    Read More

  • Lady Macbeth Corruption

    403 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the play, Macbeth is at last in charge of the choices and activities that prompt his destruction. Nonetheless, rather than this contention, we comprehend that Macbeth is not absolutely to accuse on the grounds that his demolition was in a few routes created by his shortcoming to be effortlessly affected by others. The deceptive predictions of the Witches and the influence of Lady Macbeth blurred Macbeth 's own particular judgment. Duncan 's homicide is likewise a variable to consider as it turned into a point where Macbeth trusted that there was no turning back in light of the fact that he had officially crushed the characteristic

    Read More

  • Who Is To Blame In Macbeth

    688 Words  | 3 Pages

    Macbeth is the story of a Thane, military nobleman, that hears a prophecy from three witches that he will not only become the Thane of Cawdor, the highest-ranking Thane, but also the king of the land. His good friend and comrade in arms, Banquo, also receives a prophecy, that his descendants will be the kings for ages thereafter. Soon after this Macbeth commits regicide but only because his wife pressures him into it, after he has second thoughts about committing the heinous crime. As soon as the King’s Sons wind of the assassination of their father they felle because most would suspect them of the crime.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Freewill In Macbeth

    759 Words  | 4 Pages

    As the first scenes unfold we immediately get the sense of courage, bravery and nobility from one of the main characters, Macbeth, because he has just taken part in a battle and won. Following the battle he and another character, Banquo, come across three witches that have prophecies for the both of them. Macbeth’s ultimately states he will become thane of Cawdor and Banquo’s states that although he won’t rule, his sons will. The two men are skeptical once they leave, that is until Macbeth’s first part of the prophecy comes true and he is in fact named thane of Cawdor. With this new information that he believes to be true and a sense of hope, we see how the once brave warrior’s actions set up the rest of this gruesome play and his own death.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Ambition And Greed In Macbeth

    569 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor, All hail Macbeth! Thou shalt be king hereafter” and to Banquo “… Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none” (Act 1, Scene 3). After Macbeth hears of his promotion to Thane of Cawdor, he quickly begins to believe the witches and prophecies

    Read More

  • Examples Of Mental Decay In Macbeth

    635 Words  | 3 Pages

    “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! / All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! / All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!”

    Read More

  • Macbeth Greed Quotes

    631 Words  | 3 Pages

    The tragedy of Macbeth is a story of a man reaping the consequences of selfishness, pride, lust, and, ultimately, greed. Macbeth is greatly honoured in the eyes of King Duncan. He allows the opinions of others and the evil prophecies of sorcery to dictate his attitude and actions. Macbeth commits a series of gruesome deeds, convinced that he will have complete happiness as king. He gets everything he desires, yet is still overwhelmed by the power of paranoia and guilt from his actions.

    Read More

  • Macbeth Tragic Hero Research Paper

    812 Words  | 4 Pages

    He continues to climb the ranks through his hamartia and soon reaches king status. Macbeth was already on a higher level than his peers, but soon became head and shoulders above the rest when he becomes king. Finally, the last reason for why Macbeth is the most tragic hero is because at first he is pretty content with himself and his role. However, he soon becomes too ambitious

    Read More

  • How Does Power Change In Macbeth

    967 Words  | 4 Pages

    His huge desire of power and many wrongdoings lead him to his downfall and death. As the play begins, Macbeth’s main traits of being

    Read More

  • Theme Of Death In Macbeth

    743 Words  | 3 Pages

    With every death, Macbeth has become more and more ruthless, he hasn’t even let it set in that he just ordered the murder of another of his friends. After this, Macbeth goes to see the witches demanding information, where he decides to murder Macduff until learning that he has fled to England. The second apparition tells Macbeth that no one borne of a woman can harm him, and Macbeths courage is spiked again, before he decides to murder Macduff's entire family. This is where Macbeth is officially at his worst, killing Macduff's entire family just because he

    Read More

  • Macbeth's Strengths And Weaknesses

    824 Words  | 4 Pages

    At the beginning of William Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ the protagonist Macbeth is described as ‘brave’, ‘noble’ and ‘honourable’, however Lady Macbeth’s and Macbeths desire for power consumes them. Macbeth’s ambition overrides his conscience and transformed his greatest strength into his greatest weakness. Macbeth’s inability to resist temptations that led him to be greedy for power, Macbeth’s easily manipulative nature which allowed his mind to be swayed, Macbeth having no self control and his excessive pride was what allowed him to renew his previously honourable and celebrated title into one of an evil ‘tyrant’. Macbeth is led by the prophecies of the witches after they foretell he will become the Thane of Cawdor. Not only the witches, but also his wife easily manipulate Macbeth as she attacks his manhood in order to provoke him to act on his desires.

    Read More

  • Power Of Words In Macbeth

    2529 Words  | 11 Pages

    Literature Essay (Stuart Judge): In the literary works that we studied this year: The Book Thief, Purple Hibiscus, Macbeth, Sonnet 101,Sonnet 154 , Kevin Pietersen The Autobiography and Dead Poets Society- all the works have the same central theme :”Words have had the power to transform, for better or worse”. The character’s lives have all been affected and transformed by the power of words that has a great effect on their development rather than other external factors that the characters face in their daily lives. This will be shown by analysing how words lead these characters to achieve success and as well as to their demise.

    Read More

  • Shakespeare's Macbeth As A Tragic Hero

    803 Words  | 4 Pages

    Macbeth follows these characteristics as for he is Thane of Glamis and Cawdor. Macbeth knows that what the witches portrayed did come to life and now knows he must do what needs done to hold even higher position. Macbeth says, “The prince of Cumberland!

    Read More

  • Macbeth As A Villain

    721 Words  | 3 Pages

    Villain, a character whose evil actions or motives are important to the plot. Just like the definition of villain states, they show traits just like macbeth. In Shakespeare 's “ The Tragedy of Macbeth”, the character Macbeth is displayed as the villain throughout the play. Macbeth shows the readers that his amiton gets in the way and makes him do things that are considered “evil” until the end of the play. Macbeth is thinking to himself that it is not fair that Duncan 's kids will become king so he kills Duncan and has his sons flee.

    Read More

  • Macbeth: An Aristotelian Tragic Hero

    703 Words  | 3 Pages

    That tragic flaw is his ambition to be king. He wants to be king so badly that he will murder if that is what it takes. Macbeth allows Lady Macbeth to manipulate him into killing Duncan and his desires are so strong that he acts on them. He gets extremely guilty and starts to hallucinate voices, people and objects. “I 'll go no more.

    Read More

More about Macbeth: A Tragic Hero In Shakespeare's Macbeth

Open Document