The Tragedy Of Macbeth

The Tragedy of Macbeth The full title of this play is 'The Tragedy of Macbeth'. In Shakespeare's time, the word 'tragedy' had a very precise meaning. It was used to describe a type of drama or literature in which certain patterns were followed. A tragedy involved the fall of a great man either through forces beyond his control or by his own error. In the latter case, his error usually had lasting and far-reaching consequences, which often resulted in his death. It was the nature of this fall from greatness that was considered 'tragic'. Aristotle, a Greek philosopher of the fourth centuryBC, was the first person to write formally about the nature of tragedy as it applied to drama. He argued that the playwright who wished to write a tragedy had to choose his main character very carefully. This character should neither be too good nor entirely evil. The ideal person to take the role of a teagic hero was, then, someone whose downfall should be caused, not by pure evil, but by some form of human weakness or mistake. Having said that, however, Aristotle also thought that the best subjects for tragedies were 'great men' – kings and high nobles. Shakespeare was influenced greatly by Aristotle's views In many ways Macbeth seems to meet the criteria set out by Aristotle. The play's opening scenes show that Macbeth is a well-respected and esteemed warrior, held in the highest regard by his peers and his King. Macbeth is, however, also an ambitious man; when his ambitions are aroused by the witches, he finds himself tempted: he cannot see how he will become king unless he takes action himself. Murder presents itself as an option and Macbeth must decide what to do. The good within him argues against killing Duncan, the King. He maintains that Duncan does not deserve to be murdered, and fears the possibnle consequences of such a crime. He sums up his hesitations in these words to his wife: I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more, is none. (Act 1, Sc. 7 46-7) His ambition, however, overcomes his conscience. Spurred on by his wife, who partly goads him into the act by claiming he is 'too full o' the milk of human kindness' to do the deed, he kills the King, Duncan. This is where Macbeth's tragedy lies. He knows that killing Duncan to satisfy his ambition violates his sense of right and wrong. In spite of this he murders Duncan. The murder, as an act of his will and ambition, is achieved against Macbeth's human nature, and both he and his wife must face the consequences. The plot of the play follows Macbeth's temptation to do evil, his crime and the impact of the crime on him and those around him. It works through the consequences of his choice.