Abstract
Abstract This study is concerned with Shakespeare's tragic heroes: Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, and King Lear. It identifies their good traits and their tragic flaws. It studies the relation between their fall and their tragic flaws. This study also intends to show how Shakespeare's tragic heroes invoke in the audience a deep sense of pity and fear. It displays Aristotle's concept of tragedy and tragic hero, and how Shakespeare was influenced by Aristotle's definition of a tragic hero. The study is divided into six chapters. The first chapter presents a general introduction to Aristotle's concept of tragedy and tragic hero. It also discusses Shakespeare's concept of a tragic hero in general. The second chapter analyses Shakespeare's hero, Macbeth. It studies his traits and his tragic flaw, and how his flaw results in his downfall at the end of the play. The third chapter concerns itself with another Shakespearean hero, Hamlet. First it identifies Hamlet's personality. Second it analyses his flaw and how it causes his destruction. The fourth chapter discusses Othello as a tragic hero. It follows the same steps used in the preceding chapter. It examines Othello's characteristics and his tragic flaws. It also discusses the relation between his doom and his flaws. The fifth chapter studies King Lear. It shows how Lear meets all criterions to be a tragic hero. The last chapter is the conclusion. It gives the result that Shakespearean heroes, Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, and King Lear demonstrate the necessary requirements of being tragic heroes. It also proves that there is a strong relation between the doom of Shakespeare's tragic heroes and their tragic flaws.