Macbeth - A Tragic Hero :: essays research papers

William Shakespeares play Macbeth, written in the 1600s is a perfect manikin of Shakespeares ability to manipulate his audience by dint of creating a sad hero. A tragic hero who, because of a deformity, tumbles from a well-respected hero to a cowardless murderer. It is through Shakespeares manipulation of figurative language, dramatic conventions and social expectations of the seventeenth century, do the audience witness the demise of this mixed up man. Macbeths piece of the tragic hero is enhanced even more when the characters around him influence his decisions, creating mayhem inside his mind and disorder throughout Scotland. Shakespeare positions his audience to respond to the central floor the struggle between good and evil, by illustrating to the audience his weaknesses, which through the guidance of the supernatural, leads to murder and mayhem and eventually madness. It is this influence of the supernatural that leads to Macbeths tragic persona and in turn his physical a nd mental destruction. Shakespeare utilises these techniques to embody in Macbeth characteristics indicative of that of a seventeenth century tragic hero.Aristotle described the Greek image of the tragic hero as one who takes part in a fictional account of a set of events that is serious, complete and of a certain magnitude. (The Poetics) Macbeth conforms to the image of the tragic hero by possessing a flaw and dying because if it. His flaw of being led besides easily is evident through the actions of characters who influence Macbeth. Macbeth is involved in a story intertwined with evil, disorder, conflict and failure all resulting finally in his death. Part of being a tragic hero is possessing a flaw. A flaw which will inevitably lead to self-destruction the fall of the tragic hero. In the play, the central protagonist Macbeth, is confronted with the supernatural and the prophesy of becoming king. He cannot help tho want this position, as this flaw also includes his weakness thro ugh over ambition. It is generally said that those possessing a flaw will die. The first Thane of Cawdor was a traitor, Duncan was too trusting, Banquo did not act on the knowledge he had about Macbeths murders, Lady Macbeth helped plot the murder of Duncan, and Macbeth destroyed the natural order and harmony of the time. all in all of these deaths are a result of Macbeths over ambition to become king, fuelled by the prophecies of the evil witches. Like Macbeth, a tragic hero has choices, a sense of right and wrong of right from wrong and in the end must die, because to live would create mayhem and a feeling that his actions were justified.