Can Macbeth Be Described As a Shakespearean Tragic Hero?

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CAN MACBETH BE DESCRIBED AS A SHAKESPEAREAN TRAGIC HERO?

                                                                                                                    Vicky Bishop

A Shakespearean tragic hero is described as a man who has many good qualities, shows regret for his crimes and is of high birth and position.  At the start of the play Macbeth has all the qualities of a tragic hero as he fights for King Duncan and kills their enemy Macdonwald.  In Act 1 Scene 2 Duncan says, “Nobel Macbeth hath won” recognizing Macbeth’s heroism he is titled Thane of Cawdor.  

At the end of the play Macbeth is described as a devil, he is overcome by ambition and determined to succeed.  This has a disastrous effect on him and this one flaw in his character brings his downfall.  All the people that surround can see that he has changed.  He is no longer a hero but an evil villain and this is the way that people think of him.  In Act 1 Scene 3 Malcolm describes Macbeth as “black Macbeth” and in Act 5 Scene 8 Macduff calls him “a hell-hound”.  Both these quotes show that people who once thought of Macbeth as a hero now think of him as corrupt and malicious.

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Macbeth’s ambition is to be a leader and respected man but when the witches prophesize that he become king he sees power greater than he had ever imagined possible and nothing will stand in his way, even if it means killing his best friend.  Macbeth’s ambition is his downfall.

Before the murder of Duncan he shows reluctance to kill the king, “We will proceed no further in this business”.  However, Lady Macbeth convinces him that he should proceed with the murder of Duncan.  Macbeth is then full of remorse for what he has done and feels shame and ...

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