Macbeth Tragic Hero Essay Example

The phrase “fair is foul and foul is fair” means that things are different from what they appear to be. In the 11th century of Scotland, a heroic soldier, Macbeth, becomes the epitome of evil in the face of an environment where "fair is foul and foul is fair. He is met by three unusual witches that predict his future, particularly that he will become the King of Scotland. The rest of the story plays out as Macbeth is willing to get the crown regardless of the consequences. In the play, “Macbeth” written by William Shakespeare, Macbeth is seen as a tragic hero because of his noble stature, his tragic flaw which ambition, and goes through reversal. 

In order for Macbeth to be a tragic hero, he must have a noble stature. At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is given the title Thane of Glamis from his father’s death. He later is named Thane of Cawdor due to slaying traitorous Macdonwald in a war. A captain reports back to King Duncan praising Macbeth’s impressive battle against Norway, 

For brave Macbeth — well he deserves that name

Disdaining fortune with his  brandished steel

Which smoked with bloody execution, Like Valor's minion carved out his passage Till he faced the slave,Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him,Till he unseamed him from the nave to the chaps, And fixed his head upon our battlements."

The captain tells the king how the Scottish general Macbeth bravely overcame Macdonwald, with Macbeth killing Macdonwald and placing the rebel’s head on the castle’s battlements. 

The manner in which the captain speaks about Macbeth proves that he is respected and holds a noble stature. Macbeth’s high position in Scottish nobility eventually leads to his downfall.

Macbeth suffers from a tragic flaw which is being too ambitious. After receiving the Thane of Cawdor title , Macbeth realizes the witches' prophecies are coming true. Instead of allowing fate to happen, Macbeth lets his ambition follow a dark path to achieve it. This is first shown by Macbeth saying to himself, 

Then, he finds out that Malcolm is the heir to the throne of Scotland and  

The Prince of Cumberland — that is a step, On which I must fall down, or else overleap, For in my way it lies. 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. 

Macbeth says this once he finds out that Malcolm is heir to the throne of Scotland. At this moment, he feels as if he has to take action to guarantee his position as the potential king. This is significant because Macbeth is willing to do anything to be King of Scotland, even if that means killing Malcom. This is introducing Macbeth’s excessive ambition that later drives him to insanity and murder lead to his downfall. 

Macbeth experiences a reversal of fortune as a result of his tragic flaw, ambition. An example is, Macbeth’s ambition to be king leads him to murder Duncan. From that moment, Macbeth knows he will not be the same person. He acknowledges that his path as king will be one that leaves a bloody trail, “I am in blood / Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more, / Returning were as tedious as go o'er." This foreshadows what is yet to come. Macbeth has involved himself in so many murders that it is easy for him to continue than to turn back. He is now a traitor and is forced to continue killing his subjects to avoid the consequences of his crime, causing his death. He murdered innocent people that ended up reversing his fortunes. 

William Shakespere’s play “Macbeth” embodies the characteristics of a tragic hero. Macbeth holds a noble stature as Thane of Glamis and Cawdor. His ambition takes over him. And reversing his fortunes due to killing his subjects.