Macbeth - Character flaws.

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Hamartia                                                                            Jessica Sarai        

                                                                                       March 2005

        Modern day society defines tragedy as life’s bitterness and defeat. In the time of Macbeth, tragedy involves a great man from fortunate success falling to utter defeat, a state of chaos, and eventual death. The horrific tragedy of Macbeth captures the audience as they feel pity, sympathy, horror and fear. The supernatural is showcased and deaths are shown throughout the play. Macbeth is a man with one goal; to become king. His evil nature is shown to the audience and the tension increases. This tension is used to gain sympathy from the audience. His bloody downfall not only relieves the audience of its tension, but the tragic hero from his burden. However, who was responsible for Macbeth’s death? Could his power hungry wife have pushed him to his demise? Macbeths’ downfall was a direct result his character flaws. These hamartias are his greed for power, his ambition and his thirst for killing.

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        Macbeths need to be all powerful was a direct cause of his death. At the beginning of the play, the third witch says ‘All hail, Macbeth! that shalt be king hereafter’ (Act I. Scene iii line 49). This had intrigued Macbeth. At this part in the play, he has reached a great point in his life as the Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth is now in touch with both the supernatural and the evil, and though still skeptical, he wants to become king at all costs. Though dressed ‘In borrow’d robes’ (Macbeth, Act I. Scene iii line 108) he easily adjusted ...

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