Macbeth: Macbeth A Tragic Hero - His Strengths, His Weaknesses, His Tragic Flaw
and the Effect of Outside Influences on His Nature
The contributions of Macbeth towards his fate in becoming the "tragic
hero" is evident from the first act. Like other of Shakespearean plays, the
tragic hero, Macbeth, is noble, honourable and highly respected by the general
public at the start of the play. Unfortunately Macbeth contributes to his own
fate more than what is implied. What seems to be his strengths, backfires and
these become his weaknesses.
During the play, Macbeth's strengths were ambition, courage, and honour.
Prior to the murders Macbeth utilised his strengths well and this earned him a
new title: "Thane of Cawdor". "For brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name.
Disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd steel, Which smoked with bloody
execution, Like valour's minion carv'd out his passage, Till he fac'd the
slave." (Act 1, Scene 2, Lines 16-20). However, after the murder of Banquo, his
ambition and superstitious nature clouded his morals and common sense. Pride and
ambition were a main contributor to his faltering public image of a brave hero.
Macbeth's own nature and "metaphysical" influences is a lethal cocktail
which propels him to his fate. The witches' ambiguous prophesies affected
Macbeth by making him curious to why they greated him as Thane of Cawdor and
why he would soon become king. Ambition seemed to be Macbeth's forte but after
the murder of King Duncan, which led to the murder of others, including
Macduff's family, it became his frailty.
In general, the witches and Lady Macbeth were responsible for causing
Macbeth ambition to become tragic flaw. Lady Macbeth, although not having any
direct influences on Macbeth's fate, affected his character deterioration by
testing his courage and manhood by suggesting that he is a coward for not
taking "the shortest way". When Macbeth starts to come to his senses and tells
his wife that they... [continues]
and the Effect of Outside Influences on His Nature
The contributions of Macbeth towards his fate in becoming the "tragic
hero" is evident from the first act. Like other of Shakespearean plays, the
tragic hero, Macbeth, is noble, honourable and highly respected by the general
public at the start of the play. Unfortunately Macbeth contributes to his own
fate more than what is implied. What seems to be his strengths, backfires and
these become his weaknesses.
During the play, Macbeth's strengths were ambition, courage, and honour.
Prior to the murders Macbeth utilised his strengths well and this earned him a
new title: "Thane of Cawdor". "For brave Macbeth-well he deserves that name.
Disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd steel, Which smoked with bloody
execution, Like valour's minion carv'd out his passage, Till he fac'd the
slave." (Act 1, Scene 2, Lines 16-20). However, after the murder of Banquo, his
ambition and superstitious nature clouded his morals and common sense. Pride and
ambition were a main contributor to his faltering public image of a brave hero.
Macbeth's own nature and "metaphysical" influences is a lethal cocktail
which propels him to his fate. The witches' ambiguous prophesies affected
Macbeth by making him curious to why they greated him as Thane of Cawdor and
why he would soon become king. Ambition seemed to be Macbeth's forte but after
the murder of King Duncan, which led to the murder of others, including
Macduff's family, it became his frailty.
In general, the witches and Lady Macbeth were responsible for causing
Macbeth ambition to become tragic flaw. Lady Macbeth, although not having any
direct influences on Macbeth's fate, affected his character deterioration by
testing his courage and manhood by suggesting that he is a coward for not
taking "the shortest way". When Macbeth starts to come to his senses and tells
his wife that they... [continues]
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