A Descend into Darkness: The Tragedy of Macbeth Essay Example

A vision of the future can be dangerous if it were seen by the wrong eyes, it may even change fate. Written in 1606, Macbeth is a play that told about a hero who turned into an unjust tyrant that ensued chaos and darkness upon the peaceful land of Scotland. Shakespeare crafted this play with catharsis, and to show that when natural order is disturbed, chaos ensues. In this tale, Macbeth is a tragic hero because he is revered by many, and has a lot of excessive pride–this in turn made him commit sinister actions that led to his pitiful yet satisfying downfall. 

A tragedy is a type of play that deals with major problems, the conflict in the story is between superior forces, it includes a character with a significant background–such as Macbeth–and his actions turn his luck upside down. Macbeth is a tragic hero because in the beginning, he used to be a hero to Scotland considering his victory against Macdonwald. After this, everyone respected him, which gave him hubris. This pride disabled him from having a clear mind, and he did not think many of his actions through. In Act I, scene ii, it says, “For brave Macbeth–well he deserves that name–” The wounded captain labeled Macbeth as “brave”,  and praised him and Banquo for their efforts in the war. Macbeth is loyal to Duncan, but these amounts of praise will give Macbeth the hubris he has now in the play. However, he is not all heartless. He finds himself guilty and regretting many of his heinous crimes. “I’ll go no more; I am afraid to think what I have done; look on’t again I dare not.” (Shakespeare, II; ii) After Macbeth murdered King Duncan, he said to Lady Macbeth that he feared for what is going to happen when people find the corpse of the king. Macbeth regretted his action because he can’t really believe that he’s just killed the humble king, King Duncan. Duncan’s innocent blood is drenched over his hands, and the guilt will never go away. “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red.” (Shakespeare II; ii) Macbeth believes that no matter how many times he washes his hands, the blood will never come off. This is not literal, but instead it means that his guilt and regret will never leave him. This also shows how he does not consider the weight of his actions. 

Macbeth is a tragic hero because his actions led to a reversal of his fortune. He did many dark deeds, and created enemies along the way. These enemies were once his friends, yet he betrayed them. “Front to front bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself. Within my sword’s length set him; if he ‘scape, heaven forgive him too.” (Shakespeare IV; iii) The murder of his family enrages Macduff, and he vows to kill Macbeth with his own sword. He claims that if he escapes, the heavens should forgive Macbeth, because he will never. In the end, Macduff does what he vowed to do, and fulfilled the divine warnings given to Macbeth. “Stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires. The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be which the eye fears, when it is done, to see.” (Shakespeare I; iv) Macbeth starts plotting to get things done in order for the first prophecy to come true, which is that he will replace King Duncan. He begs the heavens to be blind to this action because he does not really want to do something bad. Yet, he does not think that if he is fated to become king, all he would have to do is follow the right path, and he will truly be a king, not a tyrant. 

Macbeth is a tragic hero because of his heavy hubris and his actions which eventually led to his downfall. He was too arrogant to listen to the witches’ divine warnings and prophecies because he believed they were impossible feats. The story of Macbeth conjures a sense of catharsis because throughout the entire play, the audience follows the perspective of Macbeth. Right up until the final battle. In this scene, the three divine prophecies given by the witches come true, and after seeing so many hateful and sinful crimes committed by Macbeth, it is almost relieving or pleasing for some to see his legacy ended by Macduff. “That will never be. Who can impress the forest, bid the tree unfix his earthbound root? Sweet bodements! Good! Rebellious dead, rise never till the wood of Birnam rise, and our high-placed Macbeth shall live the lease of nature, pay his breath to time and mortal custom.” (Shakespeare IV; i) When Macbeth is given these prophecies in act IV, he believes that he is on top of everything, because they seem so unlikely to happen that he can not possibly think they will kill him. This makes him more proud and he feels unstoppable, as long as he does not go to Birnam woods, he will never die. “Though Birnam Wood be come to Dunsinane, and thou opposed, being of no woman born, yet I will try the last. Before my body I throw my warlike shield. Lay on, Macduff, and damned be him that first cries, ‘Hold, enough!’” (Shakespeare V; viii) Near the end of the play, the final fight displayed a feeling of catharsis because after watching Macbeth develop into this heinous tyrant, the audience finally gets to see the false king be beheaded by one of his mortal enemies, Macduff.

Macbeth was written by Shakespeare in 1606, a tragedy that induced catharsis to its audience. Macbeth, the tragic hero, was looked up to and seen by many as a brave warrior. However, he and his friend Banquo were given prophecies by the witches, which planted dark ambitions within Macbeth’s mind. He began to plot against Duncan to become king, as the prophecy had stated he will become a king. His horrid crimes and actions gave him enemies, like Macduff and Malcolm. The three witches gave to Macbeth three divine warnings, but he chose to ignore them, as they seemed insurmountable. However, his hubris led to his downfall, and gets beheaded by a man not born from a woman.