Aristotle’s tragic hero must possess these four characteristics: goodness; superiority; a tragic flaw; and the realisation of both that flaw and the inevitable downfall (Literary Connections, 2008).
In Macbeth, William Shakespeare’s representation of the tragic hero can be seen through the character Macbeth. “For Brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name” (Act I, Scene II line 16) Shakespeare further constructs this representation through the second characteristic, superiority.
The first prophecy told to Macbeth and Banquo by the three witches entails specific details of Macbeth’s future: “All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis. All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor. All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter. ” (Act I, Scene III, line 46 – 48) Soon after, Macbeth is promoted to the Thane of Cawdor. This is when Shakespeare introduces Macbeth’s tragic flaw, his gullibility to what the witches tell him and his driving ambition to be king. Macbeth realises this tragic flaw and vows to fight to death: “Arm, Arm, and out!…
At least we’ll die with harness on our back. ” (Act V, Scene V, line 45 – 51) Although Macbeth fits the characteristics of the tragic hero, contrary to Aristotle’s tragic hero, his downfall is far from heroic. He is beheaded by Macduff, instead of receiving a “mortal wound” which a King falling during battle would commonly receive. It is evident through Shakespeare’s altered version of the tragic hero that he has constructed this representation to reflect his own cultural assumptions, values and beliefs learnt through his upbringing.
The Essay on Lady Macbeth Tragic Hero
Since the name of this play is Macbeth, most people wouldnt think of anyone but Macbeth being a tragic hero in this story. However, if the character of Lady Macbeth is examined we see that she is a tragic hero. A tragic hero is a protagonist, usually of high estate and neither entirely good nor bad. He is perfect except for a Hamartia (flaw), which is the significant factor leading to his ...
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher, who produced many works of literature in which he produced a piece of work on Poetics, which spoke of tragedy and the tragic hero (Aristotle: Politics and Art, 2008).
These pieces of work were often studied by those of a higher social class (Referatele. com, 2008).
John Shakespeare, William’s father, was the chamberlain of the town William grew up in, meaning that the Shakespeare family was of a high status quo. This also meant that William was able to attend school where he would have studied works by Aristotle, thus influencing his representation of the tragic hero, as can be seen in Macbeth.
However, the altered ending to Shakespeare’s version of the tragic hero reflects the assumptions, values and beliefs of Elizabethan culture. “The Divine Right of Kings was a theory which argued that Kings ruled because they were chosen by God to do so… ” (The European Enlightenment Glossary, 1999).
As a result of this, “any who are convicted of high treason by their peers… the manner of their death is converted into the loss of their heads only” (EyeWitnesstoHistory. com, 2001), the same punishment Macbeth receives.
