Tragic Hero - Someone who by a weakness of character brings about their own downfall.
By this definition Macbeth is a tragic hero. It is Macbeth" s "vaulting ambition" that led him to his downfall. It clouds his judgement and eventually he grows into an evil and cruel man who doesn't care if he kills anyone. .
At the start of the play we hear about how noble and brave Macbeth is. In the next scene Macbeth meets the witches who give him the prophecies. Then when the first of these comes true and Macbeth is made Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth is shocked. His mind soon turns to murder but at this moment in the he is repelled by the idea and will not interfere with fate. .
"If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, without my stir". .
But later, when Macbeth hears that the Malcolm is named as the heir to the throne, Macbeth's thoughts turn to Murder again because he now thinks that he should be king.
"The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step, which I must fall down or else o-er- leap, For it lies in my way. Star's hide your fires! Let light not see my deep and dark desires". .
This is the first time that shows that his aspiration to become king clouds his judgement and it eventually drives him to kill King Duncan. .
Macbeth's ambitions also turn him against his best friend. Banquo knows how ambitious Macbeth is and ends up suspecting that he murdered Kind Duncan: "Thou hast it now: King, Cawdor, Glamis, all, as the weird women promis"d; and, I fear, Thou play"dst most foully for't" .
When Macbeth becomes king he realises that the witches prophecies about Banquo might also come true: When they first put the name of king on me, and bade speak to; then prophet- like, They"d hailed him father to a line of kings, Upon my head they"d placed a fruitless crown. He convinces the two murders that Banquo was their enemy and sends them to kill Banquo and Fleance. .
Ambition also tore apart Macbeth's relationship with his "dearest partner of greatness".