The Tragic Hero in Shakespeare's Play

The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play written by the English writer William Shakespeare. Macbeth is a tragic hero who learns that he could come to be a King through a prophecy from 3 witches. The genre that the play falls under is a tragedy, because the tragic hero Macbeth ends up losing his life by the end of the story. During the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a terrific character. The King and all the people respect him due to his nobility and bravery.

He is honored for his strength in the battle and the King’s son Malcolm tells his father about Macbeth, “This is the sergeant Who like a good and hardy soldier fought ‘Gainst my captivity. Hail, brave friends!” (1.2. 4-5). Malcolm feels loved and is proud of serving his country. He is content with his position until the three witches prophesied that he could turn out to be King. The prophecy marks the turning point for Macbeth from a nobleman to a greedy man that is eaten up by the ambition to grow to be King. He knew he needed to take action and his wife wants him badly to take King Duncan out and show his bravery as she accuses him of being a coward. His sense of right and wrong bothers him and he asks, “Will extraordinary Neptune’s ocean wash this blood/clean from my hand?” (2.2. 58-59).

Nonetheless, he goes on to murder the King and his character takes a turn for the worst as he kills the guards who could be the witness of the King’s death and he says he killed them because of his anger for them killing King Duncan. Banquo also knew about the witches’ prophecy and he could be a liability to him later. So he hires murderers to kill Banquo and his son Fleance because the witches had expected that Banquo’s sons might inherit the throne one day. His character of killing has grown to be so smooth for him and he has misplaced his experience of knowing what is right or wrong. He also plans to kill Macduff in order to hold his throne “I am in blood Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more” (3.4. 137-138). The existence of Macbeth takes a one of a kind turn from act 4 as he determined to seek advice from the witches to see his fate and those making plans to overthrow him. He appears to be on the road to self-destruction and nothing will keep him from the cruel man he has turned out to be.

Moreover, he drops deeper into darkness while he orders the killing of Macduff’s wife and children even though they are not a risk to him. Macbeth says, “Seize upon Fife; give to th' edge o’ th' sword His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls That trace him in his line.' (4.1. 151-153). His character additionally worsens while the witches inform him that he no man born of a girl can kill him and makes him think that he is invincible. He says that he will defeat the enemy because he thinks he cannot be defeated as Malcolm and his people go to Macbeth’s castle. Macbeth says, “I cannot taint with fear. What’s the boy, Malcolm? Was he not born of a woman? The spirits that know All mortal consequences have pronounced me thus' (5.3. 3-5).

However, he is killed bringing him to give up his rule and a new beginning for Scotland. Macbeth faces death because he changed from a nobleman to a very ambitious man. His character fails from the time he commits his first murder of King Duncan and is forced to kill many others in order to keep which eventually leads to his death.