Analysis of Tragic Heroes: Macbeth and Gatsby

Introduction

“Tragic heroes are failed pragmatists. Their ends are unrealistic and their means are impractical” - Adam Philipp. Tragic heroes are protagonists that are introduced as honorable people with heroic traits, but they have flaws or make errors that ultimately lead to their downfall. The tragic hero does not realize the error of their judgment until it is too late. The tragic hero archetype is portrayed in William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby”. “Macbeth” is a play that follows the downfall of a noble and loyal Thane who allows his deepest desire to control him. On the other hand, “The Great Gatsby” is a story about a wealthy man whose deepest desire consumes him and it inadvertently leads to his tragic demise. Upon thorough analysis, it is evident that Macbeth and Gatsby's fatal flaws lead to their corruption and ultimate downfall.

Exploring Tragic Heroes in Macbeth and The Great Gatsby

To start off, Macbeth, like Gatsby, depicts the tragic hero archetype because his flaws play a role in bringing about his eventual destruction. Once Macbeth listens to a prophecy in which it is revealed that Macbeth will become King, his hidden ambition is uncovered, and eventually, this ambition leads to deadly consequences. Macbeth clearly reveals his ambition when he says, “The prince of Cumberland! That is a step/ On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap/ For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires/ Let not light see my black and deep desires.” The prophecy acts as a catalyst that triggers Macbeth's latent ambitions and drives him to commit regicide. Because of the witches' prophecy, Macbeth truly believes that he is the rightful King of Scotland and he will do anything to ensure that the prophecy comes true. His ambition of becoming King is so strong that he is willing to murder King Duncan, whom Macbeth acknowledges as a good ruler who has bestowed many gifts upon Macbeth. At this point, Macbeth is intent on pursuing his goal of killing King Duncan and has his eyes set on the throne. Despite Macbeth being shown as a loyal and brave subject at the beginning of the play, his ambition quickly morally corrupts him as he justifies the evil act of killing Duncan to be “fair” in his eyes. Additionally, Macbeth’s never-ending greed for power and superiority above others drives Macbeth to commit horrific acts of violence in order to maintain his rank as the ruler of Scotland. Macbeth’s willingness to do whatever it takes to cement his role as King of Scotland is shown when he says, “To be thus is nothing/But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo.” This is what Macbeth states after he becomes King; however, he is still uneasy because he is afraid that he might lose his position. This leads to him arranging the murder of Banquo, which reveals how giving in to his ambition and murdering Duncan has not brought Macbeth peace, but rather has left him more paranoid and anxious. Even after Macbeth commits regicide and becomes the King, his desire for power becomes more obsessive as he is never content with the power he has. This prompts Macbeth down a path of madness in which he must continue to commit violent actions in order to maintain his hold on the recently acquired power he has gained. To conclude, Macbeth succumbs to his ambition and greed, which causes him to descend into madness.

To start off, Gatsby, alike to Macbeth, has a hamartia which brings about his unpleasant fortune. However, the tragic flaw of Gatsby is his fixation on a woman named Daisy. An example of Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy is evident when Nick Carraway says, “There must have been moments, even that afternoon, when Daisy tumbled short of his dreams — not through her own fault, but because of the colossal vitality of his illusion. It had gone beyond her, beyond everything” (Fitzgerald 95). Gatsby wants to be with Daisy, a woman he has not talked to or seen in five years. He genuinely believes there is a chance that someday Daisy and he will be together. Gatsby’s blatant obsession regarding Daisy shows how disillusioned he has become with reality. Daisy is a married woman with a child, yet Gatsby still pursues her. Gatsby’s obsession with the past has blinded him, and it consumes his entire life. Gatsby’s inability to distinguish between reality and disillusionment is what inadvertently leads to his unfortunate death. Furthermore, because of Gatsby’s desire for Daisy, Gatsby uses dishonest means in order to achieve his goals. Gatsby’s illegal activities are exposed when Tom Buchanan says, “He and this Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That's one of his little stunts. I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him, and I wasn't far wrong.” Through this quote, it is quite apparent that Gatsby earned his fortune through dubious and unlawful means. Gatsby has a strong ambition for wealth and power in society, so he resorts to immoral and criminal behavior. Gatsby is morally corrupted as he chases after a married woman, and he becomes criminally corrupted as he engages in criminal activities. Moreover, Gatsby's unwavering pursuit of his idealized dream causes him to overlook the inherent flaws in his ambition. Overall, both Macbeth and Gatsby share flaws that lead to their downfall. Macbeth’s hamartia is ambition and greed, while Gatsby’s hamartia is his obsession for Daisy. They are both corrupted by their strong ambition as they pursue their immoral goals. Also, both Macbeth and Gatsby believe they are justified in their actions, even though their actions are quite dishonest and sinful.

Conclusion

Ultimately, as proven by a thorough analysis of “Macbeth” and “The Great Gatsby,” it is evident that Macbeth and Gatsby are very alike when examining their moral weaknesses and corruption. Both tragic heroes have fatal flaws that cause them a great amount of misfortune and lead to their deaths. These tragic heroes go to extreme lengths in order to achieve their goals and desires. Overall, it may be said that the tragic heroes prove how ambition can corrupt and demoralize even the most pious of individuals.

References

1. Fitzgerald, F. S. (1925). The Great Gatsby. Charles Scribner's Sons.
2. Shakespeare, W. (1623). Macbeth. In First Folio.
3. Philipp, A. (n.d.). Quote on Tragic Heroes. [Quote]