The character of Macbeth in Shakespeare's "Macbeth"

The Macbeth character in Macbeth by William Shakespeare can be played many ways. Macbeth's relationship with other characters in the play and Aristotle's theory of a tragedy are ways in which Macbeth is shown as a tragic hero.

At the very beginning of the play, Macbeth and Banquo are returning to Scotland from a fierce battle between the Norwegians and the Scottish. They have just won the war for Duncan. This shows a noble virtue of Macbeth, a requirement of a tragic hero according to Aristotle. It shows that Macbeth is a loyal person to the King and that he is a great warrior. As they are returning to Scotland, three witches appear and make prophecies about Macbeth and Banquo. The three witches say "All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis! All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Cawdor! All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!" (A 1, S 3, 48).

Lady Macbeth by George Cattermole.

English: Poster of Thos. W. Keene in William Shake...

The sleepwalking Lady Macbeth

Here, Macbeth is interested in what the witches have to say, but he does not really believe them. A few minutes later, Ross enters. He tells Macbeth that the thane of Cawdor is in line for death and that Duncan has named Macbeth the new thane of Cawdor. Now, Macbeth is absolutely shocked. The witches prophecy has come true! He can not believe it! But now Macbeth has a lot more on his mind; the third prophecy about becoming the King. Macbeth knows that if something were to happen to Duncan, Malcolm and Donalbain, Duncan's sons, would be the rightful heirs to the throne. How can Macbeth be King when he is nowhere near the next in line to the throne? Another requirement for a tragic hero is that he must have a tragic flaw. Macbeth's tragic flaw is that of ambition;...