Macbeth by Shakespeare is a play that deals with human nature in all it’s aspects. It is about Macbeth who is hailed by three witches as the thane of Cawdor and as King after winning a great battle for his king. The king names him the thane of Cawdor in reward for his courage. He tells his wife of the witches proclamation and with some prompting from his wife kills the king. He then hires people to kill his friend Banquo who the witches said would be the father of kings. After going mad when Banquo’s ghost appears to him he finds the witches again. They tell him that he should fear Macduff, will never be harmed by any man born of women, and that he won’t be defeated until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane Hill. As Malcolm, the kings son, and Macduff plot in England Lady Macbeth goes insane. Malcolm and his army approach under the cover of branches they have cut from Birnam Wood and Macbeth is told that his wife has killed herself. The battle begins and after learning that Macduff was not “born” of women, born by C-section, Macbeth is killed by Macduff.
Macbeth, the “hero” of this story, has a great belief in his own freedom, protests vigorously, and a powerful sense of commitment. All of these characteristics are clearly evident in the play and make Macbeth fit the description of a tragic hero. “A Tragic Hero is a character who falls from a great height because of a character flaw.”
Macbeth believes in his own freedom. This belief can be seen when he says after killing Duncan, the king,
Vigorous protest is also seen from Macbeth several times over the course of the play. The most notable point being when Banquo’s ghost appear at a feast Macbeth is holding and only Macbeth can see him. At his appearance Macbeth tells him “Thou canst not say I did it: never shake/ Thy gory locks at me.” (III,iv,63-64). Macbeth is saying that Banquo can’t blame his death on Macbeth as he did not kill Banquo himself. This is how he tries to reason himself out of the situation. Later in the same scene Macbeth exclaims that “Blood hath been shed ere now, i’ the olden time, (...) Than such a murder is.” He is wondering why even though men have been murdered countless times before none of the murderers except for himself has seen the ghost of someone he has killed.
Commitment is often used as a positive attribute, but for Macbeth it is what drives him to keep killing. Before going to kill Duncan Macbeth has these lines:
In the play Macbeth the main character, Macbeth, is a tragic hero because of how much he believes in his freedom to choose, his protest when things go wrong, and his commitment to his choices. Of which there are numerous examples of within the play.
Macbeth, the “hero” of this story, has a great belief in his own freedom, protests vigorously, and a powerful sense of commitment. All of these characteristics are clearly evident in the play and make Macbeth fit the description of a tragic hero. “A Tragic Hero is a character who falls from a great height because of a character flaw.”
Macbeth believes in his own freedom. This belief can be seen when he says after killing Duncan, the king,
Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood
Clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making the green one red.
(II,ii,77-80)
In this quote Macbeth expresses not the need to wash the blood from his hands, as would be expect if he regretted his choice, but the desire to make all the seas red with the blood on his hands. This shows that he not only has the faith and courage to accept the outcomes of his choices, he even revels in his choice and the outcome of it. Vigorous protest is also seen from Macbeth several times over the course of the play. The most notable point being when Banquo’s ghost appear at a feast Macbeth is holding and only Macbeth can see him. At his appearance Macbeth tells him “Thou canst not say I did it: never shake/ Thy gory locks at me.” (III,iv,63-64). Macbeth is saying that Banquo can’t blame his death on Macbeth as he did not kill Banquo himself. This is how he tries to reason himself out of the situation. Later in the same scene Macbeth exclaims that “Blood hath been shed ere now, i’ the olden time, (...) Than such a murder is.” He is wondering why even though men have been murdered countless times before none of the murderers except for himself has seen the ghost of someone he has killed.
Commitment is often used as a positive attribute, but for Macbeth it is what drives him to keep killing. Before going to kill Duncan Macbeth has these lines:
I go, and it is done; the bell invites me.
Here it not, Duncan, for it is a knell
That summons thee to heaven, or to hell.
(II,i,69-71)
With this phrase Macbeth show not only his intent to kill Duncan, but also his commitment to this act. He is saying not only that Duncan will die, but that he does not care if he is sent to hell for killing him because he has decided what he wants.In the play Macbeth the main character, Macbeth, is a tragic hero because of how much he believes in his freedom to choose, his protest when things go wrong, and his commitment to his choices. Of which there are numerous examples of within the play.
