Macbeth: A Tragic Hero In The Tragedy Of Macbeth

A tragic hero is defined as a person of noble status who has a tragic flaw in his or her personality and suffers a fall from grace due to that tragic flaw, only to redeem a small measure of that lost nobility through self-awareness. In The Tragedy of Macbeth, a play written by William Shakespeare, the character known as Macbeth has a variety of qualities similar to those belonging to a tragic hero. Despite the significant role that Macbeth already plays within society, he seeks out greater power that he attempts to acquire through unrepentable acts which leads to the death of many. His position in society, his ambition, and the actions he takes to gain more power as well as their consequences, qualify him as a tragic hero. In the beginning

Macbeth’s ambition, which is his tragic flaw, is the main contributor to his downfall. Early in the play, Macbeth himself states his ambitions and his desire for power. “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’ other…” (I, vii, 25-29). By saying this, Macbeth is expressing that his only motive for desiring the king’s role is his ambition and that this desire trumps any other emotion he may have. This concept comes into play when Macbeth is going to kill Duncan, who is the current King of Scotland. Before committing such a crime, Macbeth did express some hesitation when questioning the success of their plan and when he says he does not wish to go through with it “We will proceed no further in this business. He hath honored me of late, and I have bought golden opinions from all sorts of people…” (I, vi, 34-36). Here, Macbeth is saying that he does not wish to continue with the cruel plan to end Duncan’s life, but Lady Macbeth soon challenges his manhood and convinces him to follow through with the act. Though they were friends, Macbeth’s ambition for the throne was thought to be more important than their friendship and more important than Duncan’s