Macbeth as a Tragic Hero
Harmartia- Tragic Flaw
Macbeth brings about his own downfall because he allows himself to be manipulated by Lady Macbeth. Traditionally, a tragic hero falls from great heights, makes grievous errors in judgment, and brings about their own death. Macbeth makes many mistakes with his first being that he is too easily swayed by others. After he hears the witches’ prophecy about him becoming Thane of Cawdor and it comes true, he is caught up in his own ambition. Macbeth believes that he will now become king because the Witches prophesied it and the only way to become king is by killing Duncan. Macbeth is driven mad by his ambition to become king, with prime examples being Macbeth hallucinating when he sees the dagger in front of him and seeing Banquo at the feast after he is dead.
Macbeth brings about his own downfall because he acts rashly numerous times, killing Duncan’s guards bringing suspicion on himself and ordering criminals to kill Banquo and Fleance. Macbeth’s actions make many nobles believe that he has something to do with the murders and Macbeth comes under suspicion. Throughout the play, Macbeth is consistently paranoid about the witches’ prophecy of Banquo’s heirs becoming king. He wants to secure the crown for his family and it eventually gets him into trouble. After he encounters the witches for a second time, Macbeth feels relieved because he will not be killed by man born of a woman, and a forest must move to his castle. Because of this, Macbeth feels like he is invincible when he goes into battle. Macbeth’s ultimate flaws are many including: manipulation, ambition, ruthlessness, and overconfidence.
Perpetia- Reversal of the Situation
At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a brave, courageous Thane of Glamis who is highly regarded in the eye of the king, Duncan. A messenger comes to Duncan and tells him of how Macbeth and Banquo fought valiantly against Norway. Duncan honors Macbeth by giving him the title of Thane of Cawdor. While returning from the battle, Macbeth and Banquo encounter the Three Witches and listen to their prophecies. Macbeth is tempted by the Witches’ prognostications to become the King of Scotland. After sending a letter to Lady Macbeth about his meeting with the Witches, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth conspire to kill Duncan. After killing Duncan, Macbeth feels the irrevocable guilt of his murder by saying that the blood will never be washed off his hands. At this point, it seems as though Lady Macbeth doesn’t feel any guilt. Consequently, Macbeth becomes king and some nobles are suspicious of the circumstances in which he became king.
Throughout the play, Macbeth is paranoid about the prophecy that Banquo’s sons will become kings. For this reason, Macbeth orders the murders of Banquo and Fleance. Macbeth returns to the Witches once more, and is greeted with three apparitions and prophecies. After Macbeth is told “Beware Macduff,” he is determined to kill Macduff, or at least his family. Macbeth is seen as a tyrant through the eyes of every Thane of Scotland, and seems to be bringing Scotland to its Dark Ages. As Malcolm says, Macbeth rules on fear alone and none of the soldiers are actually loyal to him. An example of Macbeth’s ruthlessness is when he hears women shouting because of Lady Macbeth’s death. Macbeth does not even react to this because he says his mind is filled with such murderous thoughts. From the beginning to the end of the play, Macbeth transforms from a worthy noblemen who is a guilt ridden-murderer that seems to have made a grievous error, to a ruthless killer who will do anything to keep his safety.
Anagnorisis- The Recognition of the Reversal of the Situation
While meeting with Hecate, the Witches are told that human’s chief enemy is security. After they are told this, three prophecies are made to Macbeth, with two giving him great security and safety. It is when these prophecies come true that Macbeth finally realizes how far he has fallen. Macbeth feels as if he is invincible after hearing that no man born of woman shall kill him, or that he shall not be fearful until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane. Even after Malcolm orders his troops to cut down a branch from a tree and wear it to camouflage themselves, Macbeth still feels confident because of the second prophecy. It is when Macbeth comes across Macduff and is told that Macduff was prematurely ripped from his mother’s woman, that he distinguishes his downfall. Nonetheless, Macbeth goes on to fight Macduff but eventually is killed. Macbeth’s moment of anagnorisis is when he learns of Macduff’s birth, and discerns how he brought about his downfall through rash actions, emotions taking over judgment, and making irrevocable mistakes.
Macbeth brings about his own downfall because he allows himself to be manipulated by Lady Macbeth. Traditionally, a tragic hero falls from great heights, makes grievous errors in judgment, and brings about their own death. Macbeth makes many mistakes with his first being that he is too easily swayed by others. After he hears the witches’ prophecy about him becoming Thane of Cawdor and it comes true, he is caught up in his own ambition. Macbeth believes that he will now become king because the Witches prophesied it and the only way to become king is by killing Duncan. Macbeth is driven mad by his ambition to become king, with prime examples being Macbeth hallucinating when he sees the dagger in front of him and seeing Banquo at the feast after he is dead.
Macbeth brings about his own downfall because he acts rashly numerous times, killing Duncan’s guards bringing suspicion on himself and ordering criminals to kill Banquo and Fleance. Macbeth’s actions make many nobles believe that he has something to do with the murders and Macbeth comes under suspicion. Throughout the play, Macbeth is consistently paranoid about the witches’ prophecy of Banquo’s heirs becoming king. He wants to secure the crown for his family and it eventually gets him into trouble. After he encounters the witches for a second time, Macbeth feels relieved because he will not be killed by man born of a woman, and a forest must move to his castle. Because of this, Macbeth feels like he is invincible when he goes into battle. Macbeth’s ultimate flaws are many including: manipulation, ambition, ruthlessness, and overconfidence.
Perpetia- Reversal of the Situation
At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a brave, courageous Thane of Glamis who is highly regarded in the eye of the king, Duncan. A messenger comes to Duncan and tells him of how Macbeth and Banquo fought valiantly against Norway. Duncan honors Macbeth by giving him the title of Thane of Cawdor. While returning from the battle, Macbeth and Banquo encounter the Three Witches and listen to their prophecies. Macbeth is tempted by the Witches’ prognostications to become the King of Scotland. After sending a letter to Lady Macbeth about his meeting with the Witches, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth conspire to kill Duncan. After killing Duncan, Macbeth feels the irrevocable guilt of his murder by saying that the blood will never be washed off his hands. At this point, it seems as though Lady Macbeth doesn’t feel any guilt. Consequently, Macbeth becomes king and some nobles are suspicious of the circumstances in which he became king.
Throughout the play, Macbeth is paranoid about the prophecy that Banquo’s sons will become kings. For this reason, Macbeth orders the murders of Banquo and Fleance. Macbeth returns to the Witches once more, and is greeted with three apparitions and prophecies. After Macbeth is told “Beware Macduff,” he is determined to kill Macduff, or at least his family. Macbeth is seen as a tyrant through the eyes of every Thane of Scotland, and seems to be bringing Scotland to its Dark Ages. As Malcolm says, Macbeth rules on fear alone and none of the soldiers are actually loyal to him. An example of Macbeth’s ruthlessness is when he hears women shouting because of Lady Macbeth’s death. Macbeth does not even react to this because he says his mind is filled with such murderous thoughts. From the beginning to the end of the play, Macbeth transforms from a worthy noblemen who is a guilt ridden-murderer that seems to have made a grievous error, to a ruthless killer who will do anything to keep his safety.
Anagnorisis- The Recognition of the Reversal of the Situation
While meeting with Hecate, the Witches are told that human’s chief enemy is security. After they are told this, three prophecies are made to Macbeth, with two giving him great security and safety. It is when these prophecies come true that Macbeth finally realizes how far he has fallen. Macbeth feels as if he is invincible after hearing that no man born of woman shall kill him, or that he shall not be fearful until Birnam Wood moves to Dunsinane. Even after Malcolm orders his troops to cut down a branch from a tree and wear it to camouflage themselves, Macbeth still feels confident because of the second prophecy. It is when Macbeth comes across Macduff and is told that Macduff was prematurely ripped from his mother’s woman, that he distinguishes his downfall. Nonetheless, Macbeth goes on to fight Macduff but eventually is killed. Macbeth’s moment of anagnorisis is when he learns of Macduff’s birth, and discerns how he brought about his downfall through rash actions, emotions taking over judgment, and making irrevocable mistakes.
