The definition of a tragic hero, as given on Dictionary.com, is a literary character who commits an error of judgment which, combined with fate and forces external, causes tragedy. It has been debated for years whether Macbeth from Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Macbeth can truly be considered a tragic hero or whether he is solely a villainous tyrant. Although there are valid arguments that Macbeth is a purely evil point of view, by looking at Macbeth holistically you can see the tragic, the heroic, and the tragic hero in him. Macbeth is a tragic hero in every sense of the definition. Macbeth would not be the best first choice of literary character to use as an example of a hero. He is a hero at the beginning of the play and arguably a hero at the end, it is in the middle that his heroism falters. In the first act, Macbeth is showered with compliments after defeating the Thane of Cawdor. He is described as a “brave”, a “valiant cousin and a “worthy gentleman” (1.2.17-26). He enjoyed noble status and obtained the title of Thane of Cawdor for his victory over Macdonwald. Macbeth is a remarkable war hero. By the end of the play, Macbeth has committed many horrible acts that cannot in any way qualify him to bear the title of hero, but in the fifth act he regains his former nobility. Birnam Wood heads to Dunsinane, Macduff has been torn prematurely from his mother's womb, and Macbeth has a choice. He can become a coward by committing suicide, a prisoner by surrendering, or a noble by fighting. He chooses to stay and fight, not because he wants more of Macduff's blood on his conscience, Macbeth himself says, “Stand back. My soul is already too heavy with your blood. (5.8.6-7), but because it is in his nature to fight. He knows his time is up and... middle of paper ...... everything the WeÏrd Sisters said (5.7.23-24). Additionally, the only thing Macbeth does that encompasses all aspects of a tragic hero is fight Macduff and know he will lose. Macduff is a man very much like Macbeth, and arguably the man Macbeth would have become if he had not been tempted to commit such horrible acts. On top of that, Macduff is the man who Macbeth has wronged the most. Macbeth killed his family, his wife and children, and that is a pain far greater than any one person should ever have to bear. So who better to kill Macbeth than the man who truly deserves revenge. Macbeth fights Macduff not only because it is his nature, as previously mentioned, but because Macbeth owes it to him. This is Macbeth's way of making things right, this is Macbeth's apology and it is tragic, heroic and, above all, an act of a true tragic hero..