What Role Does Guilt Play In Macbeth

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Guilt. Greed. Glory. Three things many people experience in different degrees during their life. Although not everyone can be considered a tragic hero.A tragic hero holds a high role in society, is at fault for their actions, goes through a tragic fall from their previous social status, and learns from their actions. The story shows the rise of Macbeth’s social status, the blame of his actions, the fall of Macbeth, Macbeth refusing to learn from his actions. In the play ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare we see what a tragic hero is not, even when the character themselves are to blame for actions they may have partaken in.

High social status is often extremely coveted in high school settings, during Macbeth’s time the same mind set was in place. …show more content…
Growing arrogant, pushing away the guilt and any other feeling. Macbeth dismisses his wife’s death when she commits suicide shown here when speaking with Seyton “She should have died here after;There would have been a time for such a word…” . The arrogance Macbeth possesses leads him to believe it is better for his chances to fight rather then give up, stating his sword is better for hurting others then himself shown here“Why should I play the Roman fool and die On mine own sword? Whiles I see lives, the gashes Do better upon them.” As Macbeth’s arrogance grew he became rash and believed too much in the three witches prophecy only to meet his demise “Thou losest labor. As easy mayst thou the intrenchant air With thy keen sword impress as make me bleed. Let fall thy blade on vulnerable crests; I bear a charmèd life, which must not yield To one of woman born.” When it is learned that Macduff is in fact not born from a woman but removed.

Macbeth holds characteristics of a tragic hero but he does not hold the title of one, because he does not learn from his actions which is the most important part of a tragic hero. Without the hero learning from their actions they can not teach the reader what is wrong with what they have done in the
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