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Aristotle’s view of a tragic hero is one that involves both an evil and peaceful side of a hero. The hero needs to fit into certain criteria to fit into Aristotle’s view of a tragic hero. The tragic hero must first commit an act of injustice, and then recognize his error, but it’s to late. Finally, the punishment for his crime must exceed the deed. Shakespeare has the ideal tragic hero in Macbeth. Macbeth fits the tragic hero criteria because he has committed acts of injustice and has received severe punishment.
In the beginning of the play Macbeth shows his duality, a good hero with the capacity of evil. The beginning of the end of Macbeth starts with Banquo and himself receiving three prophecies from three witches. The three witches pronounce their own prophecy, “All Hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!” “All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor!” “All Hail, Macbeth thou shalt be king hereafter!” (Act 1 Scene 3 Lines 48-50). After Macbeth received his prophecies, Banquo received his own prophecy. “Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none: So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!” Macbeth’s prophecies make him muse. He is already Thane of Glamis. What he doesn’t know is that the current Thane of Cawdor is about to be killed and the title will be turned over to Macbeth. After pondering for a little while Macbeth no knows that in order for him to become king, King Duncan has to die or be killed, showing the evil side of Macbeth. The good side of Macbeth came out just before he decided he was going to kill King Duncan. Macbeth thought, “If it were done when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly: if th’ assassination could trammel up the consequence, and catch with his surcease success; that but thus blow might be the be-all and the end-all.” Macbeth shows his indecision about killing Duncan in this quote. Even though he is unsure of killing Duncan and showing some of his good side, he is thinking only of him self. Any...