Macbeth Tragic Hero Essay

A deep dive into the research of the novel Macbeth In the novel Macbeth by William Shakespeare Macbeth is the tragic hero. Macbeth has many characteristics from aristotle's definition of a tragic hero. One of the characteristics is that the tragic hero is of high social and moral structure. In the beginning of the novel, Macbeth is of high social and moral structure. Macbeth was a Thane of Glamis, Cawdor and a general in the King's army. Duncan trusted Macbeth and all of his loyal men (“Duncan Profile | Shakespeare’s Globe”). But his desire for power and his ambition led him away from these roles and led to his downfall.

The second characteristic is that the tragic hero´s society suffers repercussions from the fall. Macbeth's spiraling downfall led to

Macbeth's ambition and his hunger for power lead him to commit horrible acts to gain power. Upon hearing the three witches’ prophecy that he would become King of Scotland, he becomes tyrannical (Shakespeare Birthplace Trust).

His critical weakness is his ambition and hunger for power. The fourth characteristic is that the tragic hero comes to a point of epiphany regarding the error of his ways. In act 3 scene 4 lines 168-170,¨I am in blood stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, returning were as tendious as go o´er.¨( Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. 1623. New Folger, Washington Square press, 1992), Macbeth realized that he had gone too far to come back and he had an epiphany and regretted some of his actions. He has killed too many people and has made too many enemies to live a normal life The Fifth characteristic of a Tragic Hero is that the fall of the Tragic Hero arouses feelings of pity and fear in the audience. The audience sympathizes Macbeth's death because he was manipulated and influenced by the Witches and he died alone in a very confused