Macbeth

Tragic Hero?

Murderer?

Madman?

Victim?

MACBETH – THE TRAGIC HERO

What is a “tragic hero”?

A character who makes an error of judgment

or has a fatal flaw.

The error of judgment (believing in lies or

gossip or threats) or the flaw in character

(ambition? Greed? Power hungry? Weakness or

cowardice?) eventually leads to the “hero’s”

tragic death.

In order for the tragic hero to stir these

feelings in the audience, he cannot beeither all

good or all evilbut must be someone the

Definition (characteristics) of a TRAGIC HERO

If you believe that Macbeth is a

TRAGIC HERO

you will need to find scenes and

quotes in the play which prove

that he “fits into” the definition of

a TRAGIC HERO

Is Macbeth a cold-hearted

murderer?

mur·der  (mûrdr) n.

1. The unlawful killing of one human by

another, especially with premeditated

malice.

2. v.tr. 1. To kill (another human)

unlawfully.

2. To kill brutally or inhumanly.

3. To put an end to; destroy: murdered

their chances.

Noun

1. A man who is mentally ill.2. An extremely foolish or reckless person.

Synonyms: lunatic - maniac - bedlamite - fool

Is Macbeth a mad·man?  

KEY SCENES THAT YOU NEED TO:1. KNOW… 2. UNDERSTAND… AND, 3. ANALYSE…

IN MACBETH