Why Is Macbeth A Tragic Hero
“A tragic hero is a literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to his/her own destruction” as said by Aristotle, a Greek philosopher and a scientist who came up with the characteristics of tragic hero. William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a play about a tragic hero named Macbeth who was told about his prophecy by three witches and one of them was him being king, in which he succeeds by killing all in his way. The term tragic hero applies to Macbeth. Through three witch’s predications, Lady Macbeth’s encouragements, and the fact that he is a courageous man.
The first reason why Macbeth is a tragic hero is related to the three witch’s predictions. As Macbeth and Banquo return from one of their fights they encounter three …show more content…
Once Macbeth had learned about the prophecies coming true he had sent a letter to his wife Lady Macbeth, reading this Lady Macbeth had her own plans of becoming the queen, she had encouraged Macbeth to commit evil deeds such as killing King Duncan, the current king of Scotland who had come to visit Macbeth in his castle. She had used tactics such as questioning his courage as a man, you can see this when she states “What beast was't then That made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man (I, IV, 47)”. Lady Macbeth In this quote is basically saying Macbeth is chickening out. This is another important reason because Macbeth had to make a very important decision which is one of the common traits of a tragic hero. Additionally, if it wasn’t for Lady Macbeth telling him to assassinate King Duncan his ambition to be king wouldn’t be as bad, you can tell this because he greatly regretted killing the king, his guilt is shown when he says “One cried, “God bless us!” and “Amen” the other, As they had seen me with these hangman’s hand. List’ning their fear I could not say “Amen,” When they did say “God bless us! (II, ii, 29-32)”. All in all, the influence of Lady Macbeth was another factor to Macbeth being a tragic
The first reason why Macbeth is a tragic hero is related to the three witch’s predictions. As Macbeth and Banquo return from one of their fights they encounter three …show more content…
Once Macbeth had learned about the prophecies coming true he had sent a letter to his wife Lady Macbeth, reading this Lady Macbeth had her own plans of becoming the queen, she had encouraged Macbeth to commit evil deeds such as killing King Duncan, the current king of Scotland who had come to visit Macbeth in his castle. She had used tactics such as questioning his courage as a man, you can see this when she states “What beast was't then That made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man (I, IV, 47)”. Lady Macbeth In this quote is basically saying Macbeth is chickening out. This is another important reason because Macbeth had to make a very important decision which is one of the common traits of a tragic hero. Additionally, if it wasn’t for Lady Macbeth telling him to assassinate King Duncan his ambition to be king wouldn’t be as bad, you can tell this because he greatly regretted killing the king, his guilt is shown when he says “One cried, “God bless us!” and “Amen” the other, As they had seen me with these hangman’s hand. List’ning their fear I could not say “Amen,” When they did say “God bless us! (II, ii, 29-32)”. All in all, the influence of Lady Macbeth was another factor to Macbeth being a tragic