Is Macbeth a Tragic Hero?
Aristotle defined a tragic hero using a series of points, these points showed what characteristics or situations a tragic hero would define himself/herself by. The first point was ‘A Hero whose status means that his downfall will be significant, affecting many people’. We know that Macbeth’s downfall will affect the future of Scotland as he is a prominent person in Scotland’s society; the King. ‘Do we but find the tyrants power tonight, Let us be beaten, if we cannot fight?’ This shows the tyrant – Macbeth – holds so much power within his hands. Macbeth also has a good name, ‘This tyrant whose sole name blisters our tongues, was once thought honest; you have loved him well;’ His climb to power has affected many people as his position heightened. Now at this point, when Macbeth has reached the top of the ladder, he has the lives of many people and his downfall will being freedom to those close to him. ‘Those he commands move only in command, nothing in love.’ The people around Macbeth feel forced to bow to him; this is an example of this power and status over people.