Thesis: What is the role of a tragic hero in a tragedy and how does Macbeth

fulfill this role?

Introduction
Macbeth, also known as The Tragedy of Macbeth, is a typical Shakespearean tragedy.
In a Shakespearean tragedy, a noble and virtuous protagonist, admired for his noble
virtues, plummets from the lofty highs of his life to utter despair due to an inherent
defect in his character. This defect is termed a “tragic flaw” or “hamartia" and the
protagonist is referred to as a “tragic hero”.

Aristotle’s Early Notion

Although Shakespeare popularised the notion of a tragic hero through his many
remarkable tragedies, the concept of the tragic hero dates back to classical Greek
literature and the first person to define a “tragic hero properly” was Greek
philosopher Aristotle. Aristotle believed that a good tragic hero must evoke feelings
of fear and pity as these two emotions are integral to catharsis, the process of
releasing strong or pent-up emotions through art. Aristotle believed these emotions
are evoked because “pity is aroused by unmerited misfortune, fear by the misfortune
of a man like ourselves." Furthermore, he believed that a tragic hero must be virtuous
yet flawed and must suffer a reversal of fortune.

Enter William Shakespeare

In the realm of English drama, there are few more recognisable than William
Shakespeare. His genius lies in his prowess to shape characters who portray the
imperfection of a human mind. He also intricately crafts the dialogues to mirror their
internal conflict and despair. Shakespeare used these concepts to stage a variety of
tragedies. Some of his most famous tragedies are Othello, Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth
etc. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is the tragic hero with his tragic flaw being his
reckless passion for love. Similarly, Othello, tainted by his jealousy as his tragic flaw,
makes rash decisions leading to his downfall. Tragic heroes are inherently relatable.
Their flaws give us a human side to sympathise with. This natural virtue of tragic
heroes metaphorically tears apart the audience. Their actions provoke hostility
towards the character but this virtue invites the audience to sympathise with the
character’s human tendencies.

Shakespeare’s typical tragic hero has certain paradoxical qualities that give him the
ability to move the audience. To be virtuous yet flawed. To be self-centered yet loyal.
Intrinsically they might be hasty, judgemental, selfish, ambitious, jealous or
indecisive but they all unite under one common umbrella, the human tendency to err.
Macbeth, the Tragic Hero
In Macbeth, we meet a tragic hero driven by a vaulting ambition. However, it is not
just a typical story of Icarus. Shakespeare uses his descent into the shadows to offer a
profound insight into the power of power. Macbeth is initially introduced as a loyal
warrior. The wounded captain expresses Macbeth’s courage and valour through his
words:

For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name),

Disdaining Fortune, with his brandished steel,

Which smoked with bloody execution,

Like Valor’s minion, carved out his passage
Till he faced the slave;

Macbeth’s bravery and valour are two qualities that he is admired for. Furthermore,
he is also admired for his “unwavering” loyalty as he says:

The service and the loyalty I owe in doing it pays itself

This quality is especially relevant as Macbeth expresses his loyalty as his ultimate
virtue. Moreover, he abandons this loyalty when he chooses to murder King Duncan for
the throne. Over time, another deeper trait of Macbeth comes to light. Ambition was
a long-lost treasure he had tried to bury under “more virtuous” qualities like loyalty
and courage. Inevitably, though, it resurfaced and ended up consuming him.
Macbeth’s ambition is his hamartia, his tragic flaw. It is perfectly embodied through
Macbeth’s dialogue when he says:

Stars, hide your fires;

Let not light see my black and deep desires.

This dialogue fittingly represents Macbeth’s hamartia. It reveals his conscience but
also his unquenchable and irresistible thirst for power. The fact that he refers to it as
“black and deep” shows that he understands its moral implications. However, he still
chooses to go down that road showing the control that ambition has over him. To be
crowned, Macbeth initially plans to murder Duncan. In his relentless pursuit of the
throne, he finds himself digging up a metaphorical hole too deep to escape. He
betrays the throne, his people, and even his own friends. Essentially, Macbeth loses
the human touch that makes him relatable. In his wild sheep chase, he turns into a
brutal tyrant devoid of love and incapable of looking beyond the labyrinth that is his
mind.
Inner Turmoil
Macbeth is portrayed as a man of two minds. Initially, when he plots to murder
Duncan, he is visibly distressed by the thought and decides to desert the plan.
Nevertheless, upon Lady Macbeth’s persuasion, he convinces himself to go forth with
it. Despite tricking his mind into it, Macbeth fails to convince his heart to join the
party. Macbeth, torn between morals and guilt, commits the murder. His guilt can be
seen in his dialogue:

Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood

Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine

Macbeth’s war with his inner demons continues as he continues on his barbaric murder
spree. On one hand, he is losing the trust of his friends, family and people. On the
other hand, his ambitious resolve urges him to continue down his path of violence.
This inner scrutiny is fittingly worded in Macbeth’s dialogue in the last act when he
says that he lacks the things that usually accompany people into old age like love,
friends and family and instead, in their place, he is blessed with the curses of people.
It expresses Macbeth’s regret but the fact that Macbeth, despite this resentment,
continues to fight shows the void in his heart. The void that he is unable to fill. The
void that he brought upon himself when he murdered Duncan.

Conclusion
Through Macbeth, Shakespeare essentially redefines his own definition of a tragedy
and a tragic hero. Delving into complex personal ruminations of the protagonist’s soul
and mind, he unlocked the key to the audiences’ hearts. Macbeth’s intricate
psychology, expressed through his inner turmoil and further psychological realism,
captures the pity and empathy of the audience. Moreover, his tenderness and
vulnerability to Lady Macbeth reveal his mental struggle.
Furthermore, the play also exploits moral obligations and norms, operating within
certain grey areas and taboos in Elizabethan societies. Through the witches’
interference which effectively begins and ends the play, it shows the intersection of
good and evil, also questioning the true nature of what is considered good and evil.
Shakespeare also plays around with a more, well, “tragic” version of dramatic irony
known as tragic irony. Through foreshadowing and irony, he heightens tension and
anticipation, provoking the audience to really think about and connect with the
characters.
In conclusion, Macbeth embodies the classic tragic hero archetype. Shakespeare, with
his wit and mastery, poignantly paints the portrait of Macbeth, evoking empathy and
fear in the audience. He also reinvents the typical tragedy through Macbeth’s
downfall. Exploring moral ambiguity, he yearns the audience to reflect. Macbeth’s
relatable flaws and inner chaos epitomise the daily struggles of a common man,
invoking catharsis in the audience. Shakespeare’s creativity, exploring tragic irony and
psychological realism, greatly magnifies the play’s emotional effect. Ultimately,
Macbeth stands as a monument of Shakespeare’s brilliance as a playwright, setting
standards nearly impossible to match.