Aristotle’s
"A man cannot become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall." (“LearnHub”).Aristotle shows how a person must see through themselves in order to be great. A tragic hero can be defined has a person of noble stature, who’s ultimately is the cause of his own downfall. The tragic flaw triggers an error in judgment, which in turn will cause the tragic downfall of the character. (“Aristotle”).Shakespeare’s protagonist Macbeth represents Aristotle’s definition of a tragic hero, and how his tragic flaw of unchecked ambition ultimately led to his tragic demise. When taking in key factors of the witches and Lady Macbeth one can see why Macbeth was driven over the edge.
Macbeth is influenced by the three witches in an immense way has they led him into a dark spiraled. In the beginning of the play Macbeth has the title of Thane of Glamis. He pleases the king by defeating two separate armies invading Scotland. Has he and his friend Banquo speak the witches tell him he will become Thane of Cawdor, and King of Scotland. At first Macbeth didn’t believe the witches, but the prophecies arouse Macbeth’s curiosity to rise to power. Once the witches give him the prophecy of becoming king, he immediately thinks about how he can accomplish this. In act 1 scene 3 Macbeth says “If good, why do I yield to that suggestion? Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair? And make my seated heart knock against my ribs. Against the use of nature?” (Shakespeare and Coleman). Soon after the witches prophecy the king gives him the title Thane of Cawdor, just as the witches predicted. Macbeth now realizes that the witches’ first prediction was accurate; this awakens Macbeth’s desire to become King of Scotland. Therefore it is very obvious that Macbeth is becoming the tragic hero.
The hero's downfall is his own fault, the result of his own free choice, not the result of an accident or fate. An accident and/or fate may be a contributing factor in the hero's downfall, but...