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

Macbeth ambitions eventually drive him to senseless acts of violence and murder of innocent people. He wants to stay as king and when he is warned by the witches to be careful of Macduff. He decides to kill Macduff’s wife, child and everyone else in Macduff’s castle without actually thinking about it: ‘The castle of Macduff I will surprise; Seize upon Fife; give to the edge of the sword His wife; his babes, and all unfortunate soul That trace him in his line. No boasting like a fool; This deed I’ll do before this purpose cool’

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.

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 o

Some topics in this essay:
Lady Macbeth, Seize Fife, Tragic Hero, Cawdor Glamis, Cawdor Macbeth, Prince Cumberland, Duncan Macbeth's, Fleance Ambition, Macbeth Banquo, lady macbeth, Macbeth's Murder, tragic hero, macbeth tragic hero, doesn’t care, macbeth hears, clouds judgement, ambitious macbeth, witches prophecies, judgement eventually, macbeth tragic, clouds judgement eventually,