Macbeth Tragic Hero Essay

The choices we make directly impact our lives. Our decisions influence our good nature to become more negative or more positive. Similarly, characters’ choices in literature affect their outcome. Oftentimes, these decisions aid to exemplify a specific role for the character. If we tie this idea into one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies, Macbeth, the protagonist clearly reflects the role of a traditional tragic hero. Macbeth is first depicted as a man of high social standing in Scotland. Upon being given a title by King Duncan, Macbeth showcases his potential to achieve a more elevated societal rank. Due to his desire to achieve the crown, Macbeth displays his tragic flaw of ambition. This determination causes him to act blindly by taking fate into his own hands. He fails to change any of the prophecies by his own free will, reflecting how fate never changes. As a result of the negative decisions he makes in the play, Macbeth first impacts himself due to the guilt he feels. His choices start to upset the natural order in Scotland, influencing the entire universe. Macbeth lastly has far reaching effects on others, primarily his wife Lady Macbeth, showcasing the outcome of his decisions. The character of Macbeth from Shakespeare’s tragedy embodies the persona of a tragic hero; his high social standing and hamartia of ambition manipulate him to believe he can intertwine the separate roles of fate and free will. Macbeth then has a direct effect on himself, the universe and others because of the choices he made leading to his death, channeling the author’s concept that our decisions have either a positive or negative impact on us.
The first requirement of a tragic hero is the necessity to possess a high stature and potential in society. Macbeth already fits the criteria of having an elevated societal rank by being a General in the king’s army and possessing the title of Thane of Glamis. His importance is further showcased when the Sergeant acclaims, “For brave...