How Is Macbeth A Tragic Hero

The character Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s best examples of a tragic hero. A tragic hero is a character who rises to power however some his qualities like his hubris will blind him and will eventually be the cause of his decline Tragic hero is a common theme throughout literature. Macbeth’s pride and lust for power, influenced by Lady Macbeth, are the factors that ultimately lead to his downfall.

The main quality that makes Macbeth a tragic hero is his lust for power. This desire mainly comes from Lady Macbeth. During Act 1, Macbeth is told by the witches that if he kills Duncan who is the king, he will become the new king. He says at first that he will wait and see but eventually says that he will not kill him. Another example of this was when Macbeth is doubting if he should murder Duncan and Lady Macbeth tells
Lady Macbeth says “Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be what thou art promised. Yet I do fear thy nature; It is too full o’th’ milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way” This is Lady Macbeth telling Macbeth how he is getting the position that he was promised. This gives him confidence that he can become king which eventually leads to his downfall. Lady Macbeth also mocks his manhood to hurt his pride and influence him to kill Duncan. “Was the hope drunk wherein you dressed yourself? Hath it slept since? And wakes it now, to look so green and pale at what it did so freely? From this time such I account thy love. Art thou afeared 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’ th’ adage? This quote was essential because it shows how Lady Macbeth hurt Macbeth’s pride by saying he was too scared to kill Duncan. This made Macbeth want to kill the king even more so he could prove