Macbeth Tragic Hero Essay – Flashcards
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The tragic hero is a character of noble stature and has greatness. This should be readily evident in the play. The character must occupy a "high" status position but must ALSO embody nobility and virtue as part of his/her innate character.
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Initially Macbeth occupies a respectable, noble status as a high ranking Military Officer and Lord. Quote:
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Though the tragic hero is pre-eminently great, he/she is not perfect. Otherwise, the rest of us--mere mortals--would be unable to identify with the tragic hero. We should see in him or her someone who is essentially like us, although perhaps elevated to a higher position in society.
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many other characters see him as great- higher than the typical character in the Macbeth society. Quote:
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The hero's downfall, therefore, is partially her/his own fault, the result of free choice, not of accident or villainy or some overriding, malignant fate. In fact, the tragedy is usually triggered by some error of judgment or some character flaw that contributes to the hero's lack of perfection noted above. This error of judgment or character flaw is known as hamartia and is usually translated as "tragic flaw.
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His downfall is his own fault. While some may argue that others were potentially responsible (the witches and Lady Macbeth), he ultimately made the final decisions regarding his actions. Quote:
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The hero's misfortunate is not wholly deserved. The punishment exceeds the crime.
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Macbeth, is eye for an eye is believed, deserved his outcome. His punishment (he is killed) does not exceed his crime (murder). Quote:
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While some may argue that Macbeth is not a Tragic Hero, based upon Aristotle's definition, he meets three out of four requirements.
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While some may argue that Macbeth is not a Tragic Hero, based upon Aristotle's definition, he meets three out of four requirements. Quote:
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What are the five requirements of a tragic hero?
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1. The tragic hero is a character of noble stature and has greatness. S/he must occupy a "high" status position as well as exemplify nobility and virtue as part of his/her innate character. 2. Though the tragic hero is pre-eminently great, s/he is not perfect. This is partially because we would be unable to identify with the tragic hero, something we must do in order to experience catharsis. We should see in him or her someone who is essentially like us, although perhaps elevated to a higher position in society. 3. The hero's downfall, therefore, is partially his/her own fault, and thus the result of free choice, not of accident or villainy or some overriding, malevolent fate. In fact, the tragedy is usually triggered by some error in judgment or some character flaw that contributes to the hero's lack of perfection noted above 4. The hero's misfortunate is not wholly deserved. The punishment exceeds the crime. 5. The fall is not pure loss. There is some increase in awareness, some gain in self-knowledge, some discovery on the part of the tragic hero.
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Though some may say Macbeth is not a tragic hero because his ultimate punishment fit his crimes, he meets the other three requirements by being of noble stature, having a fatal flaw, and a fall from grace in which the hero's decisions make them culpable.
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The fall is not pure loss. There is some increase in awareness, some gain in self-knowledge, some discovery on the part of the tragic hero.
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Macbeth realizes he's lost more than he's gained from his murderous path to become king, he realizes power isn't worth the sleepless nights, the guilt, committing murder, losing his respectability among those that know him, losing his wife, he feels guilt for his crimes, he realizes his crimes have left Quote:
