Tragedy In Macbeth

3 Pages 683 Words

IS THIS A TRAGEDY?

"In Shakespeare’s tragedy, one element is consistent- the tragic hero. Each tragic hero shares certain traits that contribute to his tragedy. Such as Macbeth, each hero is a man of high estate or high ranking. Also, they each possess some flaw or obsession that will eventually lead to their demise. The character does not have to be “good”, or moral, but he or she does have to have some unknown potential that makes the reader feel that they could do great things. The reader admires and pities these characters for that reason, but when the death of the tragic hero comes it often brings a sense of relief. Macbeth is one of the best examples of a tragic hero, and proves that this story is a tragedy.
At the beginning of the play, Shakespeare defines Macbeth as a hero very clearly. For the couragous defense of Scotland he is easily seen to be a hero. When it is discovered that the Thane of Cawdor has surrendered, Duncan decides to give Macbeth this title: “What he hath lost noble Macbeth hath won” (1.2.70). This shows Macbeth’s rank, which starts him in the right direction for a tragic hero. As Macbeth starts to believe the prophecies of the witches that he will be the Thane of Cawdor, and the King, it is easy to see his obsession with his destiny. This great ambition will turn into the flaw that brings Macbeth to his demise. When Duncan named Malcolm the Prince of Cumberland, Macbeth decided to murder Duncan. When Duncan arrived at Inverness, Macbeth controlled his ambition for the time being and did not kill Duncan. The failing of his decision was soon reflected by Lady Macbeth who called him a coward. From then on, after the murder of Duncan, Macbeth entered into a life of evil.

When Macbeth is crowned King, he seems to be isolated from the people who he began this journey with. When the Macbeth plans to kill Banquo, it is obvious that Macbeth has transformed into a completely evil character: �...