Essay, Research Paper: Macbeth

Macbeth

A struggle is present in every tragedy, as a person tries to overcome
their flaws and fit the mold of their ideal. In the play Macbeth by
William Shakespeare, we discover that Macbeth is a tragic hero.
Macbeth is very ambitious, courageous, and a moral coward: all these
things lead to his tragic death at the end of the play.

At the beginning of the play, Shakespeare defines Macbeth as a hero
very clearly. From the courage in defense of Scotland is significant in
the opening scene. However, he is very ambitious to be king. At the
beginning of the play, he was loyal to the king. While he did imagine
of murder his mind rejects it and said, "Why, if fate will have me king,
why, chance may crown me," - Act I, Sc 3, p.44-45.

Yet increasingly his ambition defeated his good nature. When Duncan
named Malcolm the Prince of Cumberland, Macbeth decided on the
murder of Duncan. When Duncan arrived at Inverness, Macbeth
controlled his ambition for the time being and did not kill Duncan. The
failing of his decision was soon reflected by Lady Macbeth who called
him a coward. From then on, after the murder of Duncan, Macbeth
entered into a life of evil.

Since he overcame his good nature, he no longer needed to be with
his friend Banquo. He wanted to protect his ambition, by killing the
king, and now he killed Banquo, due to the prediction of what the
witches said about Banquo's son becoming the king. Macbeth wanted
to ensure that he would reach his ambition without problems. "Hear it
not, Duncan, for it is a knell that summons thee to heaven, or to
hell." -Act 2, Scene 1, p.73.

Macbeth, who now no longer needed any encouragement from Lady
Macbeth, started to leave her in ignorance of his plans. Near the end
of the play, Lady Macbeth sleepwalked and had a dream about the
killing of Duncan and Banquo. She died because of all this pressure
and her guilt about the murder. Soul of Macbeth have been destroyed
since Macbeth love Lady Macbeth very much, as shown in Act I, Sc.
5, p.58, "My Dearest Love."

The power of nemesis is shown clearly at the end of the play when
Macduff came back to murder Macbeth. Macbeth would never have
guessed that Macduff would come back for revenge for the killing in
Macduff's household. This nemesis shows an additional force beyond
Macbeth's control. Because of Macbeth's strong beliefs in ambition
and the witches, when he found out Macduff was not born of woman,
and also found out the Birnam Wood had been seen moving, he
realized that the third apparition had deceived him and he understood
he was no longer safe. Before his death he shouts out his last words
to Macduff. "Before my body I throw my warlike shield. Lay on,
Macduff, And damn'd be him that first cries, `Hold, enough!" -Act 5,
Scene 8, p.249.

Through the development of this tragedy, Macbeth has turned from a
fine natured person to an evil person. His ambition, strong belief in
the witches, has brought him to a tragic end of his life, and caused
many people to lose their lives.