Macbeth as a Tragic Hero Essay

In Shakespeares play Macbeth, the protagonist Macbeth can be seen as a tragic hero as he suffers from a fatal flaw in his character that eventually leads to his demise, but, Macbeth can also be seen as a ruthless tyrant throughout the middle of the play. Macbeth is obsessed with becoming the King of Scotland and will make sure the prophecy comes true. Macbeth also undergoes meaningful suffering at the death of Lady Macbeth and he is also of noble birth. Macbeth shows signs of remorse before his death, restoring some of his past glory and nobility but it seem that he had gone beyond the point of no return. Macbeths wrongs far outweigh the slight remorse he shows at the end of the play.

Macbeth is controlled by something subconscious acting on his decision-making. This was first sparked when he heard the witched prophecy and it then festered and slowly consumed Macbeth. The prophecy said that Macbeth will become Thane of Cawdor and then King of Scotland; it also said that Banquos sons would become Kings. At this point an idea begins to grow in Macbeth mind and it is this idea that is the fatal flaw in his character. When a messenger comes to Macbeth to tell him that he is now the Thane of Cawdor the witches prophecy seems like it could come true and that it is not just witchcraft. Macbeth tries to hide his dark motivations and this is exemplified when he says Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires. Macbeth is a victim of an idea that slowly changed the course of his life and the lives of the people around him, therefore it can be seen that Macbeth died a tragic hero.

The death of Lady Macbeth is an initial shock of Macbeth, but it could be said that Macbeth doesnt show genuine remorse for the death of his companion. Macbeth saw a side of Lady Macbeths character that was very selfish and malicious and this seemed to drive them apart. Macbeth is seen as a cold and heartless at this point in the play. All Macbeth seems to do is ask How does your patient Doctor? and this is the only time Macbeth even mentions his dying wife again. Even when she dies he seems to just take it in his stride. Macbeths soul and conscience seem to have been permanently scarred. Macbeth is so caught up in his own tale he rarely stops to observe the chaos around him. Macbeth is perceived here as the villain and therefore not a tragic hero.

When Macbeth finally does become King, he seems incapable of making the right decisions as he is mentally changed by the acts he has committed. All that he worked for is now lost as he is unable to enjoy the fruit of his labor. Macbeth is a tyrannical dictator that rules his Thanes mercilessly and without reasoning. Macbeth has lost his direction throughout the middle of the platy and is always trying to feed Lady Macbeths desires or his own. Noble and brave Macbeth is transformed into a ruthless tyrant in his spiral into a very dark state of mind. Macbeth shows a lack of remorse in the end and the only inkling of a turn in his course of destruction is when he dos not want to fight Macduff and he pleads Of all men else I have avoided thee: But get thee back; my soul is too much charged. With the blood of thine already. Macbeth seems to show some remorse here but in the end he fought Macduff and would not yield.

Macbeth has many characteristics that could be associated with those of a tragic hero but it seems that Macbeth may have tarnished his soul through murder to the point where he could never be seen as any sort of hero. Macbeth at times is a very selfish and misguided person that can be seen as a dictator. Macbeth exploits his role as King and fails to fill his responsibility to his people and country. Macbeth also can be seen to have a lack of remorse at the death of lady Macbeth for all these reasons Macbeth could be seen as a tragic hero, only one that has committed almost unforgiveable deeds that could be seen to make this title irrelevant.