Classical Heroes Essay, Research Paper
?In order to answer
this question we must first understand what is meant by ?Tragic hero?. The
classical term was coined in ancient Greek drama, and can be seen in its
earliest known example, Aristotle’s ‘Poeticus’. The definition of a tragic hero
includes several criteria. Firstly, the character must be important, and his
circumstances and actions must affect a plethora of people, if not the whole
world. Secondly the character must be good-natured, well known and respected
brave and of good repute. Thirdly, the character must have one tragic flaw,
which leads to his downfall. The fourth criterion is that the tragic hero?s
high status or rise to power must show a decline in any period. Lastly, the
tragic hero must redeem himself despite his flaw and eventually create sympathy
for the character. ?An evil tyrant, on
the other hand, can be defined as someone who is merciless and greedy, and who
kills for his own personal gain. The character should have a bad reputation,
and be generally disliked. They should show a hunger for power and control, and
demonstrate a lack of compassion for others, which leads to selfish acts. ?Macbeth, at
different stages in the play, demonstrates many of the characteristics of each
personae. In the early stages of the play, we can see that Macbeth commands
respect, and has a good reputation for being brave and loyal. As we can see
from this speech, given by Macbeth after his appointment as Thane of Glamis, he
is genuinely loyal to his king and country, and is honourable and courageous in
battle:??? ?The service and
the loyalty I owe, ??? In doing it, pays
itself. Your Highness’ part ??? Is to receive our
duties, and our duties ??? Are to your
throne and state, children and servants, ??? Which do but what
they should, by doing everything ??? Safe toward your
love and honour.? ??????????? (Act 1:
Scene 4: Line 22)Indeed, if Macbeth did not display these characteristics
then the title would not have been bestowed upon him in the first place.
Macbeth is already appearing to fit the criteria for a tragic hero, as he is of
good repute, respected, brave, and honourable. His actions have so far affected
many people, as he has saved Scotland from invasion and played a large part in
a battle. So, from the very beginning Macbeth is demonstrating some characteristics
of a tragic hero, now we must see how his character develops. In the next
scene, when he meets Lady Macbeth she seems to have planned to kill Duncan
already:??? ?To beguile the
time, ??? Look like the
time; bear welcome in your eye, ??? Your hand, your
tongue; look like th? innocent flower, ??? But be the
serpent under?t. He that?s coming ??? Must be provided
for; and you shall put ??? This night?s
great business into my dispatch, ??? Which shall to
all our nights and days to come ??? Give solely
sovereign sway and masterdom.? ??????????? (Act 1:
Scene 5: Line 61)This dialogue suggests that perhaps Lady Macbeth has already
decided that in order to become kind, Macbeth must eliminate Duncan. However,
Macbeth stills shows reluctance to be disloyal to his king: ??? ?We will proceed
no further in this business, ??? He hath honoured
me of late, and I have bought ??? Golden opinions
from all sorts of people, ??? Which would be
worn now in their newest gloss, ??? Not cast aside so
soon.? ??????????? (Act 1:
Scene 7: Line 31)Perhaps Macbeth is merely being selfish and wants to be
appreciated for a while longer, or maybe his conscience is causing his resolve
to falter, either way he is showing mercy. Mercy is not a virtue of an evil
tyrant, and so we can say that Macbeth is not at this stage an evil tyrant. At
this stage Lady Macbeth tries to goad Macbeth into considering killing Duncan
by insulting him, calling him a coward and questioning whether he is afraid to
be the same in action as in desire. The contrast between action and desire is
seen throughout the play, and it is a strong feature of Lady Macbeth?s
persuasive speeches to Macbeth. ?In Act 2 Macbeth
kills Duncan, after being persuaded to do so by his wife. His wife then returns
to the scene of the crime to complete her plan by incriminating the guards.
Once the murder has been carried out, Macbeth seems repentant:??? ?Wake Duncan with
thy knocking. I would thou couldst.? ??????????? (Act 2:
Scene 2: Line 76)This implies that he is regretful after killing Duncan. This
is another example of Macbeth?s conscience coming into play after almost being
forced into doing something by Lady Macbeth. I would seem already that the
?evil tyrant? was not Macbeth, but his wife. In the following scenes, Macbeth
and his wife act out their plan, and Malcom and Donalbain escape to England and
Ireland respectively in order to avoid accusation. Macbeth is named king of
Scotland, and is invested at Scone. This is the last of the prophecies for
Macbeth (made by the witches) fulfilled. ?In Act 3 Banquo
begins to suspect that Macbeth has played a part in the events, which lead to
his being invested. When Macbeth realises that Banquo is suspicious of him,
this together with his fears of Banquo and the prophecies made to him by the
witches, causes Macbeth to decide to kill Banquo and his son Fleance. This is
because the witches told Banquo that he would not be a king himself, but that
he would father kings. The fact that everything the witches have said has so
far come true worries Macbeth. Banquo is murdered by men who are hired by
Macbeth, but his son Fleance escapes. Then, at Macbeth?s castle he begins to
show signs of delusion and he hallucinates, seeing Banquo. This shows that he
is feeling guilty for what he has done. Surely an evil tyrant would not feel
remorse, sorrow or guilt? At this point I think we can conclude that at this
stage Macbeth is not an evil tyrant, but is in fact a Tragic Hero whose fatal
flaw has been exploited by his wife. His fatal flaw is his pride, and his
ambition, which Lady Macbeth was able to use to manipulate him. By Act 3 Scene
5 however, people are beginning to suspect Macbeth:??? ?..And I do think ??? That had he
Duncan?s sons under his key? ??? As, and?t please
heaven, he shall not?they should find ??? What ?twere to
kill a father. So should Fleance.? ??????????? (Act 3:
Scene 6: Line 17)This is implying that Macbeth had something to do with the
murders so far committed, and we find in the next act that Macduff has fled to
England. Macduff surely suspects Macbeth too at this point. Macbeth goes to see
this witches, and upon drinking a potion prepared by them, he has a vision
of? ?A line of kings, Banquo at the
head?. He is also told that he shall be killed by ?None of woman born?. Macbeth
takes this to mean that he is invincible, and this seems to give him a new
passion for his murderous acts. By this time Macbeth seems to have gone mad,
hallucinating and seeing ghosts. Macbeth has Macduff?s family and staff
murdered, and his castle destroyed. At this stage, Lady Macbeth begins to go
mad. She begins sleepwalking, and frantically washing her hands:??? ?Out damn spot,
out I say!? ??????????? (Act 5:
Scene 1: Line 34) In act 5 scene 2 Malcom, Macduff, and the English army
attack Macbeth’s castle, and Macbeth is finally killed by Macduff after a long
fight, during which it is revealed that Macduff was born by caesarean. ?Now, towards the
end, after Lady Macbeth commits suicide, Macbeth takes his actions into his own
hands. He loses all signs of being a tragic hero, and adopts most of the
characteristics of an evil tyrant. Therefore I conclude that Macbeth was a
tragic hero, as he maintained throughout the play, until his madness, most of
the characteristics of a tragic hero. His flaw was his pride and ambition which
were exploited by his wife. Once his wife went mad, this drove Macbeth mad too,
and he began to become evil. Therefore I believe than until the end Macbeth was
a tragic hero, but he became evil.