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Macbeth Tragic Hero Research Paper

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What is a tragic hero? What are the characteristics of a tragic hero? A tragic hero is a character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads them to their own downfall. Tragic heroes usually are an exceptional being in the beginning of the story and they have a tragic flaw that causes their downfall. Some example of tragic heroes include Prince Hamlet, Oedipus, Romeo, and Macbeth. In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth receives a prophecy from three witches that one day he will become King of Scotland. Macbeth informs his wife of what the witches have told him. Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbeth, become consumed by ambition which causes them to murder the King of Scotland to take his throne for themselves. Macbeth become …show more content…

A tragic flaw is a trait in a character leading to their downfall. Macbeth tragic flaw is his ambition for power and position and being easily influenced. He is willing to give up everything he has in his life to gain power and to become king. He is also influenced by his wife, Lady Macbeth, and the witches. Lady Macbeth influenced Macbeth when she insults him when accuses him of being less of a man because he doesn't kill King Duncan to become king. Lady Macbeth is so vicious towards Macbeth that he finally influenced to kill the king. Macbeth is also influenced by the three witches that deliver the prophecy that Macbeth will become King of Scotland some time. The witches don't give Macbeth a specific time period that he will become king which causes him to become obsessed with the idea of becoming king now. Hamlet also has a tragic flaw. His flaw is his inability to act which delays him coming to terms with killing his mother, putting on a play to delay the killing of Claudius and killing Claudius while he is praying. An important characteristic of a tragic hero is acquiring a tragic flaw that leads to their downfall which is what happened to both Macbeth and Hamlet. They both started as exceptional people but eventually their tragic flaw lead to their destructions. A tragic flaw is a major characteristic of a tragic hero which Macbeth

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