Macbeth, Othello, and King Lear are three prominent Jacobean tragedies that William Shakespeare created with notable tragic protagonists. According to Aristotle a tragic protagonist is a nobleman or person from high honor who contributes to his own degeneration and illustrates a flaw or weakness in judgment. Finally, the tragic protagonist must make a fall from a high state of being to a low state or death. These characteristics being easily compared and contrasted can show how Shakespeare carefully fulfilled Aristotle's norms for a tragic hero in the above mentioned plays.
             The play Macbeth is an excellent work that follows Aristotle's norms closely. Macbeth is a brave warrior in King Duncan's Army who compromises his honor and neglects his moral responsibilities in the attainment of power and position which results in his tragic end.
             Macbeth is a man who killed Macdonwald to prove his courage and valor to King Duncan and Scotland. This also strengthens his ambition to become King. After being seduced by the witch's prophecies, Macbeth yields to his ambitions, leaving murdered bodies in his path, and his moralities behind to attain the kingship.
             Macbeth's tragic flaw, which resulted in his death, was poor decision making. Because of Macbeth's lust for power, he is constantly acting without thinking first. He does not care how the choices he makes will affect others, as long as Macbeth gets what he wants.
             The moment when Macbeth begins on his own tragic downfall, and realizes that he has brought all of this trouble upon him is considered the catharsis or what Aristotle called a purgation of pity and fear. Macbeth now knew that he had placed too much trust and hope on the witches prophesies, and allowed his wife to taunt and manipulate him in the ways that she did.
             Macbeth fulfills all Aristotle's expectations for a tragic protagonist. Macbeth had the potential for greatness, but hi...