Macbeth Tragic Hero Research Paper

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A tragic hero can be defined as a literary character that the audience finds sympathy for, as the character becomes the root of their own downfall through errors in judgment. It is controversial that it was purely Macbeth who fell to his destined fate; the plot displays incredible evidence that various other forces such as Lady Macbeth and the weird sisters had manipulated his decisions. His tragic flaws also factored in Macbeth’s declining character, leading him to commit a series of crimes throughout the plot. Nonetheless, the most crucial component in his tragic heroism is his fall from his high standing role in the societal hierarchy. Evidently, Macbeth’s qualities and actions throughout the plot have deemed him as a tragic hero, reminding…show more content…
After King Duncan's dead body has been discovered and his sons, the primary suspects fleeing, Macduff informs Ross of Macbeth's crowning as King of Scotland, "Then ’tis most like / The sovereignty will fall upon Macbeth. / He is already named and gone to Scone / To be invested" (2.4, 30-34). One can recognize Macbeth as a tragic hero who is evidently well respected while occupying a high status position as he is announced as the King of Scotland. However, Macbeth achieved this honor after slaughtering the King, acting upon through numerable factors. In addition, Macbeth realizes that the Weird sisters have deceived him speaking only through manipulative maneuvers and in a duel against Macduff, nobly speaks his final words, “I will not yield, / To kiss the ground before young Malcolm’s feet, / And to be baited with the rabble’s curse. / 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!”” (5.8, 30-37). In this quote from Macbeth, he recognizes that he is a factor in his downfall, the result of free choice. This tragedy is triggered by his error of judgment choosing to trust the witches' prophecies, an apparent manipulation. Subsequently this decision resulted in his avenged death, ultimately losing his high standing position in society. Macbeth, a great tragic hero fell from his high standing position towards his unfortunate

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