macbeth is a tragic hero thesis statement

Shakespearean Macbeth as a Tragic Hero Essay

Greek mythology gave birth to the idea of the tragic hero, in which the concepts of the hero play a tremendous role. Aristotelian thought indicates “the tragic effect will be stronger if the hero is ‘better than we are’, in that he is of higher than ordinary moral worth. Such a man is shown as suffering a change in fortune from happiness to misery because of a mistaken act, to which he is led by his hamartia (his ‘effort of judgment’) or, as it is often literally translated, his tragic flaw” (Zarro, 2001).

There are two types of tragic heroes, those that are born into nobility with a tragic flaw inherent in their character who are therefore responsible for their own fate and doomed to make a serious error in judgment and those who have achieved great heights or esteem through hard work who eventually realize they have made a huge mistake causing them to face and accept their tragic death with honor (Zarro, 2001).

Greek tragedy abounds with examples of tragic heroes, as does much of Shakespearean tragedy. “Shakespeare wished to exhibit a more sublime picture – an ambitious but noble hero, yielding to a deep-laid hellish temptation, and in whom all the crimes to which, in order to secure the fruits of his first crime, he is impelled by necessity, cannot altogether eradicate the stamp of native heroism” (Bates, 1906: 36). In many ways, it can be argued that Macbeth of Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, was a tragic hero.

As the play opens, Macbeth’s nobility of spirit is revealed as reports come in to King Duncan regarding his exploits on the battlefield. The first two acts don’t even see Macbeth as he is busy on the battlefield, attempting to defend Duncan’s kingdom from the forces of Macdonwald, a man from the ‘Western Isles.’ Macbeth’s loyalty is shown in the fierceness of the battle being fought as it is reported by the wounded captain in Act I, Scene ii. He tells the king the battle was “As two spent swimmers that do cling together / And choke their art” (I, ii, 8-9), indicating that the two sides were equally matched and Fortune was favoring Macdonwald. “But all’s too weak / For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name) / Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel … unseamed him from the nave to th’ chops” (I, ii, 15-17, 22).

In addition to fighting for his king, Macbeth is quickly and well rewarded for his efforts as King Duncan makes him the new Thane of Cawdor in addition to his already holding the title of Thane of Glamis. “According to Holinshed, Macbeth’s parents were Sinel, Thane of Glamis (whose existence is otherwise unattested) and a daughter of Malcolm II named Doada (again, modern genealogies mention no such person)” (Friedlander, 2005).

In addition to his supposed genealogy and position of rank, Macbeth himself demonstrates nobility of spirit as he considers the idea of assassinating King Duncan in his own home: “He’s here in double trust: / First, as I am his kinsman and his subject, / Strong both against the deed; then, as his hose, / Who should against his murderer shut the door” (I, vii, 12-15). Beyond this, he also knows that Duncan has been a good and fair king and killing him is unjustified.

However, once the idea that he might be king has entered his brain, thanks to the three witches, Macbeth can’t seem to shake it, particularly as his wife continues to press the issue. “One common form of hamartia in Greek tragedies was hubris, that ‘pride’ or overweening self-confidence which leads a protagonist to disregard a divine warning or to violate an important law” (Zarro, 2001).

Although he knows he has no reason to move against his king other than “vaunting ambition, which o’erleaps itself” (I, vii, 25-27), his commitment to his wife and his greed proves overpowering, forcing him to the act. “Lady Macbeth bitches at her husband and ridicules his masculinity in order to make him commit murder. She talks about a smiling baby she once nursed and what it would have been like to smash its brains out – she would prefer this to having a husband who is unwilling to kill in cold blood” (Friedlander, 2005).

Macbeth’s single evil action of killing his king thus commits him to further evil acts. “That same Macbeth, who once as a warrior could spurn at death, now that he dreads the prospect of the life to come, clings with growing anxiety to his earthly existence the more miserable it becomes, and pitilessly removes out of the way whatever to his dark and suspicious mind seems to threaten danger” (Bates, 1906: 37).

When Macbeth willingly participates in murder, this quickly escalates to massacres of perceived enemies and the propagation of lies and deceits as a means of maintaining the perception others have of him. His own deceit of Duncan forces him to consider the possible schemes of Banquo, thus leading him to order murder once again. In avenge himself on Macduff, he orders the massacre of Macduff’s family, and the evil flows on. In this process, he loses his heath and sanity.

Finally, after having made a mistake in judgment causing a fall from his nobility and high moral station, Macbeth is forced to participate in numerous other actions that continually wear away at his nobility and sanity until he is finally, mercifully, killed by a man who was not born of woman. “Macbeth is still found worthy to die the death of a hero on the field of battle. The noble Macduff is allowed the satisfaction of saving his country by punishing with his own hand the tyrant who had murdered his wife and children” (Bates, 1906: 38).

This, again, is something he has brought on himself as it was Macbeth who ordered the murder of Macduff’s entire household once he learned that Macduff had fled the country in search of justice for Duncan’s murder. “Holinshed spends a lot of time on the incident in which Malcolm (who became a popular king) tests Macduff by pretending to be mean when he is really nice” (Friedlander, 2005), thus establishing the difference between a noble man who would lie and cheat his way to the throne and a noble man who would lie and cheat to determine another’s honesty. In the end, though, Macbeth can be seen to be a tragic hero because he started noble, made a terrible decision based upon his own foolish pride egged on by his ambitious wife and finally died a disgraceful death as the result of his actions.

Works Cited

Bates, Alfred (Ed.). “Macbeth: An Analysis of the Play by Shakespeare.” The Drama: Its History, Literature and Influence on Civilization. London: Historical Publishing Company, 1906, Vol. 14: 34-39.

Friedlander, Ed. “Enjoying Macbeth, by William Shakespeare.” Pathguy. (2005). Web.

Shakespeare. “Macbeth.” William Shakespeare: The Complete Works. Alfred Harbage (Ed.). New York: Viking Books, 1969, pp. 1107-1135.

Zarro, Josephine. “More Terms Defined: Aristotelian Definition of Tragedy.” eGallery of Tragic Heroes in Literature and Life. (2001). Teach the Teachers. Web.

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• Shakespeare’s Macbeth: Tragic Hero

One might choose to assent to the statement, “Macbeth is a tragic hero.”  This conclusion may be based upon certain characteristics, proposed by Aristotle, which warrants him worthy of such a title.  Aristotle stated that a tragic hero must be of certain qualities: a man of noble stature, good, though not perfect, have a fall that results from committing an act of injustice, which is his own fault, and receive a punishment that exceeds the crime.

A tragic hero is one of noble stature and is good.  Macbeth is known as the Thane of Cawdor.  He receives this honor because he has just returned from a military success that has covered him in glory.  Macbeth can be considered “good” at the start of the work. He is good, although he is not perfect. 

He has a good heart and is in a keen state of mind before he hears the witches’ prophecy.  Macbeth does not begin to become evil until he is convinced to act on the prophecy by Lady Macbeth.  Lady Macbeth is the evil one who poisons Macbeth’s mind; although, she is only encouraging her husband to do what she feels is in his best interest.

The hero’s downfall is his own fault, the result of his own free choice, not the result of an accident or fate.  An accident and/or fate may be a contributing factor in the hero’s downfall but are not alone responsible.  Macbeth’s downfall is entirely his fault. 

He chose to listen to the witches’ prophecy.  Banquo heard the same prophecy but chose not to allow himself to be duped.  Macbeth could have done the same thing.  He, instead, chose to accept the prophecy and act upon it.  Macbeth spends most of the play in moral indecision.  Lady Macbeth encourages him, but it is he that chooses his actions.

A tragic hero’s misfortune is not wholly deserved.  The punishment exceeds the crime.  Macbeth does not totally deserve to die as a result of these incidents.  He begins the work as a good man, but later declines because of the desires of his wife, and bad choices.  Macbeth does not want to kill anyone, but does it. 

He is a person of greatness, but is also of weakness.  In the beginning, he is “better than ourselves.”  Macbeth’s death may not be considered a total loss because knowledge is gained before he dies.  Aristotle says that there is some “discovery”, a change from ignorance to knowledge.

In conclusion, Macbeth can be described as a “tragic hero” because he possesses the characteristics that are required by Aristotle.  Macbeth is of nobility, is good, though not perfect, experiences a downfall that is his own fault, has a misfortune that is not wholly deserved and receives a punishment that exceeds the crime.

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Author:  William Anderson (Schoolworkhelper Editorial Team)

Tutor and Freelance Writer. Science Teacher and Lover of Essays. Article last reviewed: 2022 | St. Rosemary Institution © 2010-2024 | Creative Commons 4.0

In the last line it’s ‘ that is not* wholly deserved’

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Explain Macbeth as a Tragic Hero

In the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, the protagonist is a tragic hero. Tragic heroes are people who have been dealt an unfortunate hand but do not give up and continue with the fight even if it means their death. In a way, these characters are admired for how they persevere in the face of adversity.

Macbeth is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. Though the play does not have much in the way of comic relief, many people think Macbeth is a tragic hero because he has noble intentions at the beginning of the play, and he undergoes terrible changes throughout.

What is a tragic hero?

A tragic hero is a character that faces difficulty or tragedy due to a flaw in his or her character. The tragic hero has a sense of nobility and worth, but they are unable to let go of their mistakes. They have a divine charisma, which is part of what makes them lovable. A tragic hero will usually commit suicide at the end of the story as they try to avoid the pain and humiliation, they know is coming for them.

A tragic hero is usually a protagonist with exaggerated greatness but falls from grace with a tragic flaw that leads to his downfall. Macbeth has as his tragic flaw ambition and as such as his fall is as great as he was before the tragedy.

What are the qualities of a tragic hero?

A hero is a person who is admired for their special achievements, courage, or noble qualities. A tragic hero is a protagonist, usually from a tragedy, who must overcome serious obstacles and eventually dies as a result of those struggles.

In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, Macbeth embodies this definition as he kills Duncan to become king. He must flee his kingdom due to prophecies that fate will catch up with him and he will be killed by one of his sons. A tragic hero is someone who possesses several qualities that are found in Shakespearean tragedies. These include the following: the hero is noble, has good intentions, has a tragic flaw, and suffers inevitable defeat.

Tragic elements in the play Macbeth

The play Macbeth is a tragedy that follows the protagonist from the point of view of his actions. It is a story about one man’s passion for power and greed which leads to betrayal, war, and death. The story begins with a prophecy from three witches who tell him he will eventually become king. In order to fulfill this prophecy, Macbeth murders Duncan, the king of Scotland. However, Lady Macduff tries to stop him, and he murders her as well. Macbeth is most seen as a tragic hero and is often cited as Shakespeare’s most poetic and beautiful tragedy.

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The pivotal moment in the play, which defines his heroic nature, is when he chooses to kill Duncan instead of Gaulton. It is his choice to commit the murder that would make him a traitor, but he still goes through with it knowing that he will then be killed for it. Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most popular tragedies, with its flawed protagonist, Macbeth. The play starts out with three witches who are meeting on a heath. They give Macbeth an ominous prophecy that he will become king, but once that happens his downfall will be swift and tragically fast. His wife, Lady Macbeth also convinces him to murder the King so they can seize the throne.

This sets in motion a tragic chain of events where Macbeth is torn between his cowardliness and ambition for power until eventually, he becomes consumed by fear and guilt.

 Macbeth is a tragic hero because his tragic flaw defines what makes him a hero. His ultimate downfall is due to his greed and ambition. Macbeth has the qualities of being courageous, strong willed, loyal, he’s willing to take risks, etc. but it’s these same qualities that are the reasons for his downfall.

How does Macbeth seem to fit this definition?

Macbeth is easily the most tragic of Shakespeare’s heroes. His fate leads him to commit murder after murder, and eventually leads to his downfall. Macbeth kills Duncan, the King of Scotland, in order to gain power for himself. The play also alludes to his lust for power throughout the course of the story.

Macbeth ends up dying by suicide after he hears that he has lost everything because someone else assassinated him. Macbeth is a tragic hero because by the end of the story, Macbeth has done many things that can cause him to be seen as a hero. He kills Duncan in order to claim the throne and then he even goes on a killing spree to protect his kingship. However, when Lady Macbeth commits suicide, she was the real tragic figure of this story.

Macbeth is a tragic hero because he has noble qualities and because he does two honorable things: He acknowledges that he was wrong to murder Duncan and he shows remorse. However, his dishonesty and the many murders he commits mean that he can’t escape tragedy.

Macbeth is a tragic hero as he is characterized as a man who makes a great mistake and pay for it with his life. Macbeth’s heroism derives from the fact that he faces the consequences of his actions head-on and tries to correct them, which runs in contrast to most tragic heroes in literature. Macbeth is not considered a villain, but one does not need to be a villain in order to be considered a tragic hero.

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Essay Topics About Macbeth: Is Macbeth a Tragic Hero?

Is Macbeth a tragic hero? Explore the factors that say “yes” to this common literary question.

Macbeth fits the role of a tragic hero because he is born to nobility, and he has good character. But his fatal flaw, his ambition, leads to his death at the end of the play. It also pushes him to commit many atrocities, including murder, as he falls deeper and deeper into darkness. Some characteristics of the character are not perfect examples of tragic heroes, but overall, he fits this archetype.

William Shakespeare’s tragedies have several examples of tragic heroes, but many literary analysts are divided about whether or not Macbeth, the Thane of Cawdor, is one of them. Does the character and his tragic flaw fit the definition of the tragic hero, or is Shakespeare’s Macbeth a different type of character?

Here we will take a closer look at the answer to this question, for you to use in your next argumentative essay.

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Definition of a Tragic Hero

1. macbeth’s background, 2. the audience’s view of macbeth, 3. macbeth’s tragic flaw, 4. the wicked actions of the character of macbeth, 5. macbeth’s tragic ending, 1. he is not born with his tragic flaw, 2. his heroic nature is suspect, 3. little pity from the audience, macbeth as a villain instead of a tragic hero, macbeth as a victim instead of a tragic hero, though not perfect, macbeth shows many characteristics of a tragic hero.

Before looking more closely at whether or not Macbeth is a tragic hero, first, you must understand what a tragic hero is.

According to the dictionary , a tragic hero is a character in a drama who is “destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat.” However, in literature, the definition is slightly more in-depth.

In Greek literature, Aristotle defined the tragic hero as someone whose mistakes or errors in judgment were the ultimate cause of their downfall. Other components of the tragic hero literary archetype are:

• Creates fear or pity in the audience’s mind, which creates a sense of catharsis at the end of the work.
• Have a tragic or fatal flaw, which is a character trait that causes the character’s downfall
• Be nobility, monarchy, or in leadership in some other way.
• Has heroic or potentially heroic tendencies.
• They endure great suffering and have a tragic ending

Based on these character traits, you can decide if Macbeth is, in fact, a tragic hero.

Ways Macbeth Fits the Idea of a Tragic Hero

In the play Macbeth, the main character fulfills some of the characteristics of the tragic hero. Looking more closely at these will help you decide whether or not you believe that Macbeth is a tragic hero.

One of the characteristics of the tragic hero is being of noble background, and Macbeth fits this profile well. He starts the play as the Thane of Glamis and quickly becomes the Thane of Cawdor. From the very beginning of the play, he is in a leadership role.

Early in the play, Macbeth has the king’s trust. The king has this to say about him: 

“What bloody man is that? He can report, As seemeth by his plight, of the revolt. . . O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman! Dismay’d not this Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo?” Macbeth

This quote shows a high level of trust between the king and captain.

Macbeth is also a member of the military. Early in the play, the three witches prophesy that he will become king of Scotland. Through their prophecy and the urging of his wife, Lady Macbeth, he pursues the throne very violently.

With all three of these roles and his leadership in the military, Macbeth fulfills the requirement of noble birth or being a member of the monarchy.

Similarly, at the start of the play, he seems to be a nice man and a military hero. Until he meets the three witches, he also appears to be loyal to his king. The classic tragic hero will start as a pleasant character until the tragic flaw takes over. in this way, Macbeth fits the archetype.

To be a tragic hero, the audience must develop feelings of fear or pity for the character, which often occurs in Macbeth. At the start of the play, he seems to be an honest man of noble character. The play describes how he killed McDonald, a traitor, which could cause the audience to view him as a hero.

However, as the play unfolds and the external forces, like the three witches, impact the Thane, his moral character and mental health decline. He changes into a completely different type of person, eliciting the audience’s sympathy.

As the play continues, Macbeth’s outside influences grow stronger, as does his desire for power. Eventually, this causes him to become insane, and the audience feels fear and pity for the man and where his choices may take him.

Again, because the audience starts to feel this sense of pity for the once brave Macbeth, he fits the definition of a tragic hero.

That said, this is one area where Macbeth is not quite as clear a fit for the definition of a tragic hero. While some audience members may feel pity and fear, others will detest his fall from power and his poor character throughout the play.

“My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical, Shakes so my single state of man That function is smother’d in surmise, and nothing is but what is not.” Macbeth

Macbeth’s tragic flaw is the subject of much debate in the literature. Many will state that Macbeth’s ambition  leads him down such a dangerous path. He wants to become king so badly that he is willing to murder.

Yet Macbeth also has a bit of hubris. He believes he can achieve everything in the witches’ prophecies without help, and he takes matters into his own hands to do so.

Finally, as the play progresses, he seems to develop some insanity. Though the vaulting ambition is likely the cause of some of his insanity, the insanity and mental health issues could be the fatal flaw that ultimately contributes to Macbeth’s downfall.

“For mine own good All causes shall give way. I am in blood Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o’er.” Macbeth

Another component of a tragic hero is the errors in judgment that cause evil actions. As Macbeth pursues his desire for the throne, pushed toward that desire by the prophecy of the three witches and various other apparitions that encourage him, he commits many crimes.

His criminal behavior starts with the murder of the Scottish King Duncan, a necessary move for him to take the throne. However, as he ascends to rule Scotland, he becomes paranoid about keeping his power, especially since Duncan’s sons, Malcolm and Donalbain, got away and remained a threat to his power.

Yet Macbeth’s murderous path is not over after the murder of Duncan. His friend Banquo, who spoke against his murderous intentions, is the next to fall.

Macbeth then sights Macduff, a loyal thane who believes Macbeth is King Duncan’s assassin. Macduff flees to England to escape the treachery, yet he leaves his family behind. Macbeth kills Macduff’s family. Eventually, this action leads to Macbeth’s death at the hands of the grieving husband and father.

These actions further solidify that Macbeth is a tragic hero. He makes errors in judgment that lead him to murder to retain his power.

“It will have blood, they say. Blood will have blood.” Macbeth

The final characteristic of a tragic hero is a tragic downfall. In a Shakespearean tragedy, this typically includes the main character’s death.

At the end of the play, Macbeth’s tragedy begins when his wife starts to show signs of mental decline and ends up taking her own life. This causes him to sink into despair, withdrawing to Dunsinane to try to protect his throne and defend himself. The English army, with Macduff, comes to the castle in search of him.

As the battle unfolds, Macbeth fights hard, but his castle is no match for Macduff’s forces. Macduff confronts Macbeth and cuts off his head, allowing Malcolm to become the King of Scotland. Peace comes back to the land, but only because the traitor Macbeth died.

“Despair they charm And let the angel whom thou still hast served Tell thee. Macduff was from his mother’s womb Untimely ripp’d” Macbeth

Arguments Against Macbeth as a Tragic Hero

Though many literary analysts believe Macbeth to be a tragic hero, some will argue that he is not. Macbeth is not the perfect example of a tragic hero. Here are some of them.

Many tragic heroes have a tragic flaw that is part of their inborn character, but this is not the case with Macbeth. His ambition is not entirely present at the start of the play. It is the prophecies of the witches and the urging of Lady Macbeth that fuels the flame of Macbeth’s ambition. When he starts to believe that he is destined to be king, and Lady Macbeth perpetuates that belief, he starts down his dangerous path.

In addition, his tragic flaw of ambition and desire to keep his power dos not become evident until the play is well underway. Their tragic characteristic is present in most tragic heroes from the very beginning.

Another reason some claim Macbeth is not a tragic hero is that the play shows little to indicate he has heroic tendencies. While it shows he is a good soldier, his descent into madness starts fairly early in the play, and thus he does not have much time to show his good character.

For someone to be a tragic hero, they must have good character qualities that take a wrong turn. Macbeth may not fulfill this role well, depending on how the audience views his character.

Some literary analysts state that the character of Macbeth does not evoke much pity. When he dies at the end, you do not experience catharsis but rather a sense of justice. His ruthlessness makes it hard to pity the character, which is an essential part of the idea of a tragic hero.

That said, the feelings of an audience are not always the same from one reader to the next. Some may feel pity for Macbeth, thus allowing him to fulfill this role, while others may not.

Some literary scholars view Macbeth as the play’s villain, not a hero. The antagonist can still be a tragic hero if the audience has empathy for them, but if not, then he is just a villain.

To state that Macbeth is a villain, you must prove that he would have done the actions in the play regardless of the other events of the play. His character flaws would have pushed him to murder the king, even without the prophecy and his wife’s influence.

Shakespeare does not give enough detail in the play to draw this conclusion. However, Macbeth feels fear and defiance, not guilt, when he sees Banquo’s ghost, which may show that he is more villainous than heroic.

Another potential view is that Macbeth is the story’s victim . To prove this view, you must prove that the outside influences, including the witches and his wife, push him toward his murderous actions rather than his character.

The key question here is whether or not these influences force Macbeth’s hand or if they encourage him along a path that he would have followed on his own.

One argument toward Macbeth being a victim is the intense guilt he feels after killing Duncan. The guilt is almost enough to drive him mad, and it is the start of his loss of peace through the end of the play.

You could also argue that Macbeth is a victim of himself. At the end of the play, when Macduff strikes the fatal blow, it is the witches Macbeth curses. This points toward him viewing himself as a victim.

This question is probably one that literary analysts will continue to debate. However, one thing is clear: Macbeth is not a perfect example of a tragic hero, but he does display many of the characteristics.

In literature, characters are not always perfectly representative of the archetypes they portray. Writers can give their characters different traits that pull them away from a particular path. Yet more of Macbeth’s characteristics align with that of a tragic hero than do not, and thus the conclusion that he is one is valid.

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Macbeth: the Tragic Hero

How it works

On the evening of Friday, November 9th, I had the pleasure of seeing one of Williams Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, Macbeth, was exquisitely performed at the University of West Georgia Theater Company in the Black Box at the TCPA Richard Dangle Theater. Although the tragic events in the play where difficult to comprehend due to Shakespeare’s early modern language, it was an enjoyable night of theatre. Macbeth can be viewed as a cautionary tale because it shows that not everything in life is what it seems to be.

This theme is shown through the witches and in the way they manipulate Macbeth to their will, giving him false hope that one day he would be great.

Inside the set, a wonderful ensemble of actors played. I applaud the director, Christine Fuchs, in her choice of casting. It was unexpected that female actors were used to play male characters. King Duncan (played by Mary Dixon) and Macbeth (played by Monica Garcia) were actually played by female actors, and they dominated their characters really well. Each actor is worth mentioning, but the one who stood out the most was Lady Macbeth, performed by Ashley Carter. Ashley Carter’s use of different facial expressions, notably an evil little smirk, her body language and her powerful voice made her character exceptional and fierce. The director’s choice on a thrust theater style was not at all what I expected. The audience were closer to the actors executing their performance, which made them connect a little more to the performance and to details.

Jackson Bernhardt’s set design, and Deja Culver’s sound design worked impeccably well with Bryan Hopps’ lighting design, creating a world that was realistic enough to understand between the different transitions in setting throughout the production. Resembling palace torches, for example, warm yellow lighting was used to indicate that a given scene was occurring within the castle walls, dim green lights that provided a dark atmosphere resembling a scene in the woods, and a bright red color, but still dark enough whenever tension stirred up. The lighting helped bring life to the performance. The set design also made it easy for actors to walk in and out of the performance through a wooden door.

In addition, the costume designs which included splashes of paint enhanced the show by illustrating where the play is set, and who the different characters are. JoAnna Maxwell’s makeup design was extraordinary. Banquo (played by Shamia Taylor) dressed in all white clothing with huge red blood stains and with a grey, ashy face helped me understand that this character was now a ghost. The scars on Macbeth’s face also illustrated that this character was a brave fighter.

Although the words were difficult to comprehend, the performance was really enjoyable. Lighting had a huge impact in setting the mood. Overall, the performance was well designed, well directed and amazingly performed without any glitches. Macbeth was a show well worth an evening at the theater.

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