Macduff triumphs; Malcolm is crown king, where he declares peace at last. In this play he proves himself to be a tragic hero, imperfect basically good human who suffers from one tragic flaw, ambition, later realizing his error and universal role in the scheme of things.Firstly, Every tragic hero is basically a good human, imperfect (Aristotle). As Macbeth said: This supernatural soliciting cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill, why hath it given me earnest of success, commencing in a truth? I am Thane of Cawdor: If good why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock at my ribs, against the use of nature(I.
iii. 130-142)? In this quote from Macbeth, he is trying to understand the witches meaning.Macbeth proves his is a good human by thinking it wrong for the king to be killed against nature itself. But on the other hand he is imperfect for thinking that this cannot be bad for if it comes true then he will be king. This makes him a good, imperfect, human being for he is trying to decide what is right and wrong. Star, hide your fires; Let not light see my black and deep desires(1.
iv. 50-51). This is another example of how Macbeth recognizes the wrong he foresees himself doing, and is already ashamed.Yet proving his is an imperfect, basically good person.
Secondly, Macbeth proves himself to fall into suffering because of his own tragic flaw, Ambition. Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown and put a barren scepter in my grip, thence to be wrenched with an unlineal hand, no son of mine succeeding. Put rancors in the vessel of my peace only for them, and mine eternal jewel given to the common enemy of man, to make them kings, the seeds of Banquo kings (III. i. 48-72)! Macbeth’s ambition has leaded him to suffering; he is crazed with wanting to remain king.
He will not let them take his place even if that means more suffering for him and his ambition. From this moment the very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstlings of my hand. And even now, to crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done. No boasting like a fool; this deed I’ll do before this purpose cool (IV. i. 144-156).
Macbeth’s ambition is now taking over, making rash decisions that are affecting his judgement, thus causing himself to suffer for his decisions.Both of these have proven Macbeth as a tragic hero based on how he falls into suffering because of his own tragic flaw. Thirdly, A tragic hero experiences a moment of recognition realizing their error and recognizing their role in the universal scheme of the universe (Aristotle). My way of life is fall’n into the sear, the yellow leaf, And that which should accompany old age, as honor, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have; but, in their stead, curses not loud but deep, mouth-honor, breath, which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not (VI.
ii. 19-24).Macbeth knows now that he cannot have that should accompany old age, honor, love, obedience, friends in the universal scheme of the universe. As life were in’t. I have supped full with horrors.
Direness, familiar to my slaughterous thoughts, cannot once startle me (VI. vi. 9-15). Macbeth then is realizing that after all the horror’s he committed he cannot be startle by such horrors that are familiar. And with both these quotes he feels recognition to what he has loss, realizing both error and role in the universal scheme of things.
In conclusion, Macbeth can be proved to fit into the idea of Aristotle’s Tragic Hero. He has proved to be good but imperfect, also suffers from a tragic flaw, and has also realizes his error and his universal role. Macbeth is a perfect example that fits Aristotle’s views of a Tragic Hero. Macbeth is an imperfect basically good human who suffer from a tragic flaw, later realizing his error and his universal role in the great scheme of things.Works citedhttp://nfs.sparknotes.com/macbeth
