analysis mackbeth as a typical Shakespearean tragedy

Hi ,

William Shakespeare's Macbeth is a typical targic hero as his own ambition cause him to murder Duncan even his own death.

He can be seen as a man with many good traits. However, his one mistake fills his life with fear and regret at every step. Being the protagonist of the play, he is someone who can be admired. His qualities are shown in his battle skills and at the start we realise that Macbeth is a good soldier and is loyal to his King. His bravery and performance in Scotland’s battle is celebrated.

His greatness and courage in battle for his country eventually leads him to be a great thane and then a powerful king, making his actions have a significant impact on his country.

His reluctance and guilt in killing Duncan also reveals his heroic nature. The reasons he displays to justify his guilt show Macbeth’s positive attributes and his potential in being a hero.Macbeth has many good traits and did not want to kill Duncan. He was tempted by Lady Macbeth and so is a tragic hero as he knew that he was making the wrong decision. Therefore we notice that his morals are important to him.

However, the one flaw in his character is responsible for the tragic events that occur during the whole play. This flaw is his ambition to be king and to gain power which becomes an obsession to remain in his current position.

His ambition is the major cause of his downfall. At every step his morals are taken over by his temptations. Even though he is a hero at heart, as we have seen from the start, his mistakes create a perception that he is evil. Hence, the term “tragic hero”

Although fate and ambition are responsible for Macbeth’s degeneration, Lady Macbeth and the witches are also at fault.

With the influence and manipulation of Lady Macbeth the ambitions hidden in Macbeth are strengthened and her evil scheme gradually tempts Macbeth. Her manipulative character causes Macbeth to concede to her talks and his small weakness overturns his whole life and changes his noble character into a violent and evil one. Even though the witches do not directly influence Macbeth’s decisions, their prophecies seem to leave an impression on Macbeth, and boost his confidence throughout the play. They drive his ambition to an obsession.Macbeth’s mistake of solely relying on the witches prophecies gives him the impression that all are against him. As a consequence, he decides to kill his noble friend, Banquo, hoping to secure his crown.

In all of the influences so far mentioned we are able to see that the one weakness that befalls Macbeth causes his whole character to degenerate and turns him into a tragic hero. From being a respected, praised and loved man he becomes violent and evil. However as readers, we consider him to be a tragic hero because even though he is not bad at heart, we can see how circumstances and people around him have turned him into a hated person in Scotland. Therefore, in our view he is a tragic hero.