Aristotle defined a tragic hero as " A hero whose status means that his downfall will be significant, affecting many people... A tragic hero is one whose suffering reveals essential truths about humanity." When applied to the title character in William Shakespeare historic tragedy, MacBeth, it not only epitomises the definition given by Aristotle but also the Shakespearean definition of a tragic hero. This is that "the tragic hero is one born of noble birth or in a position of social importance to begin with and who is held in high esteem, but through an error of judgement (tragic flaw or hamartia) brings about their own downfall and destruction." In relation to MacBeth his hamartias are his vaulting ambition, moral rectitude and his allowance of others influence which support the perception of Macbeth embodying the characteristics of the tragic hero.

MacBeth fulfils all the requirements of a tragic hero...