Macbeth An Ideal Model For A Shakespearean Tragic Hero

The character Macbeth is an ideal model for a Shakespearean tragic hero. He was known as victorious and powerful, yet within, he was ambitious and cowardice. Macbeth’s ambition ends up slowly tearing him down and destroying him by the end of the play. â€Å"Take a good man, a noble man, a man admired by all who know him – and destroy him, not only physically and emotionally, as the greeks destroyed their heroes, but also morally and intellectually.† (Booth, 17). Between the witches’ prophecies, Lady Macbeth’s prestige, and Macbeth’s growing need for power, his ambition developed rapidly, leading to the failure of this tragic hero. Specifically, Macbeth and Banquo’s first encounter with the three witches is when the prophecies are introduced. This is the point where Macbeth’s interest in discovering what they mean begins to consume him. â€Å"All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, than e of Cawdor! All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!† (Act 1, Scene 3, Lines 49-51). As you can see, right from beginning, foreshadowing appears. The witches inform Macbeth that one day, he will become king of Scotland and rule over all. This thrills the tragic hero, filling him with ambition from the start, like a single flame starting a fire. All he can think about is what they meant by that, and when will it come true. Macbeth becomes impatient and curious, causing ambition and obsession to grow. He becomes more anxious than ever before. As theseShow MoreRelatedEssay about Macbeth as A Tragic Hero1677 Words   |  7 Pages Macbeth as A Tragic Hero The character of Macbeth is a classic example of a Shakespearean tragic hero. There are many factors that contribute to the character of Macbeth of which three will be discussed. Macbeth is a typical tragic hero through his personality, actions, and qualities. One of Macbeths traits that evoke the idea of a tragic hero is that he is worthy of the readers interest. A tragic hero must be worthy of readers interest, concern, or sympathy. Macbeth