Throughout history, authors have been writing stories with a happy and loving ending for ages. Stories such as Pinocchio, Mulan, and Sleeping Beauty all share a correspondence of an uplifting ending. However, this is not the case with every tail, as stories can also portray fatal flaws which leads to the destruction of a protagonist. In this case, The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald and Macbeth by William Shakespeare both make the characteristic of a tragic hero hamartia clearly visible in the text. This characteristic is shown by both James Gatz and Macbeth through their determination, arrogance, and pride. Determination is the strong desire to achieve something and typically requires hard work. In Shakespeare's Macbeth a strong desire to conquer the throne from Duncan has been shown by Macbeth. He did whatever it took to achieve this goal which included killing and deceiving those who are closest.
Alongside with Lady Macbeth, both characters had cleverly plotted a plan to murder Duncan for his spot as king. His dedication towards ascending the throne blinded him from realizing the horrible actions, he took. In the text, it states “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on the other” (1.7.25-28). This quote shows that Macbeth had nothing but determination to drive him rashly and to kill as his ambition was “vaulting”. After the murder of Duncan took place Macbeth states “One cried, 'God bless us!' and 'Amen,' the other, as they had seen me with these hangman's hands. List'ning their fear, I could not say 'Amen,' when they did say 'God bless us'. Methought, I heard a voice cry, 'Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep” (Macbeth, Act II, scene II). The great plan that started with great determination started to slowly ruin Macbeth's life as he becomes unable to utter the word Amen or God bless us. This sense of realization that killing Duncan was not the best idea is leading him to start losing his grip on balanced mental health. This is how hamartia altered the text as the characteristic determination was being shown affecting Macbeth's downfall.
James Gatz spent most of his life lonely as Daisy his girlfriend left him after noticing his lack of wealth. She is later seen in the text united with a filthy rich man named Tom Buchanan. But that did not stop Gatsby he did whatever it took to become rich. He reinvented his whole persona to become what he thought Daisy would love. Throwing big party's and dressing well in hopes of catching Daisy's attention. His love for Daisy is so great that he willingly took the blame for Myrtles death, while knowing the consequences in the text Gatsby states 'I thought so; I told Daisy I thought so. It's better that the shock should all come at once. she stood it pretty well”. He spoke as if at the moment Daisy's feelings was the only thing that mattered over the fact, she killed somebody. Despite everything Gatsby is still committed to winning Daisy's love. Sadly, it's this determination that lead to his death. Throughout history, authors have been writing stories with a happy and loving ending for ages. Stories such as Pinocchio, Mulan, and Sleeping Beauty all share a correspondence of an uplifting ending. However, this is not the case with every tail, as stories can also portray fatal flaws which leads to the destruction of a protagonist. In this case, The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald and Macbeth by William Shakespeare both make the characteristic of a tragic hero hamartia clearly visible in the text. This characteristic is shown by both James Gatz and Macbeth through their determination, arrogance, and pride. Determination is the strong desire to achieve something and typically requires hard work.
In Shakespeare's Macbeth a strong desire to conquer the throne from Duncan has been shown by Macbeth. He did whatever it took to achieve this goal which included killing and deceiving those who are closest. Alongside with Lady Macbeth, both characters had cleverly plotted a plan to murder Duncan for his spot as king. His dedication towards ascending the throne blinded him from realizing the horrible actions, he took. In the text, it states “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself and falls on the other” (1.7.25-28). This quote shows that Macbeth had nothing but determination to drive him rashly and to kill as his ambition was “vaulting”. After the murder of Duncan took place Macbeth states “One cried, 'God bless us!' and 'Amen,' the other, as they had seen me with these hangman's hands. List'ning their fear, I could not say 'Amen,' when they did say 'God bless us'. Methought, I heard a voice cry, 'Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep” (Macbeth, Act II, scene II). The great plan that started with great determination started to slowly ruin Macbeth's life as he becomes unable to utter the word Amen or God bless us. This sense of realization that killing Duncan was not the best idea is leading him to start losing his grip on balanced mental health. This is how hamartia altered the text as the characteristic determination was being shown affecting Macbeth's downfall.
James Gatz spent most of his life lonely as Daisy his girlfriend left him after noticing his lack of wealth. She is later seen in the text united with a filthy rich man named Tom Buchanan. But that did not stop Gatsby he did whatever it took to become rich. He reinvented his whole persona to become what he thought Daisy would love. Throwing big party's and dressing well in hopes of catching Daisy's attention. His love for Daisy is so great that he willingly took the blame for Myrtles death, while knowing the consequences in the text Gatsby states 'I thought so; I told Daisy I thought so. It's better that the shock should all come at once. she stood it pretty well”. He spoke as if at the moment Daisy's feelings was the only thing that mattered over the fact, she killed somebody. Despite everything Gatsby is still committed to winning Daisy's love. Sadly, it's this determination that lead to his death.
