Macbeth: A Tragic Hero

In Shakespearean tragedy the main character is often referred to as the "tragic hero". This character is usually a person of importance to society such as a king who, in the end, has a downfall caused by an antagonist. During the hero's downfall, he often confronts his demise with courage and dignity. Such is the case in the story of Macbeth. Macbeth, through a series of events and pressure from his wife, Lady Macbeth, becomes King of Scotland. In the end Macbeth is attacked by his enemy, Macduff, and killed in the battle field after realizing defeat is inevitable. Macbeth is a tragic hero because he is a person of importance, his downfall is caused by an antagonist, Lady Macbeth, and he meets his doom with courage and dignity.

In the opening of the play, the reader encounters three witches who prophesize what the future holds for Macbeth. The reader then meets Macbeth on a battlefield, after the fight is over, walking with his comrade, Banquo, when they are approached by the three witches. The witches greet Macbeth:

All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!

All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!

All hail, Macbeth! That shalt be king hereafter (1.3.48-50)!

Macbeth already held the title Thane of Glamis, but the titles Thane of Cawdor and king were prophesied by the witches to come to him in the near future. Being a thane already gave Macbeth some importance in society, but once he became king he also become the most important figure in the society.

Macbeth did not become king because of heritage. He became king through murder. After he heard the witches prophesies, he wrote a letter to his wife, Lady Macbeth, explaining what had happened. She immediately decided he had to kill Duncan, the current king, and take the throne. Macbeth did not want to do this at first, but Lady Macbeth pressured him into doing so. "Such I account thy live. Art thou afeard / To be the same in thine own act and valor / As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that / Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life, / And live a coward in thine own esteem, / Letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would,' / Like the poor cat I' the adage"(1.7.39-45)? As seen here Lady Macbeth called Macbeth a coward and says he is too weak to take the throne from Duncan.