Discuss The Concept Of Tragedy In Macbeth

Tadiwa Chinamo

British Literature

Suzanne Stannard

12/01/2016

How does Macbeth fit Aristotle's concept of a tragedy

Regarded as Shakespeare’s shortest and bloodiest tragedies, Macbeth is the story of how a fearsome warrior, Macbeth, rises to the top and becomes King of Scotland only to fall from grace and lose everything he had in the process. The story is based in medieval Scotland, loosely based on an ex-Scottish King by the same name. The play is considered a tragedy because of the elements it posses; a hero who rises to the top then because of his flaws has a tragic downfall. In modern day terms Macbeth is without a doubt a tragedy but before there was another form of tragedy known as an Aristotelian tragedy. Created by Aristotle,

The tragic hero is a very specific character and must meet several criterias. This tragic character must not be an extremely virtuous individual that instead of the audience feeling pity or fear for their downfall, they feel anger. The character must as well not be so evil that the audience wishes their downfall, simply for the sake of justice. This tragic hero is best described as someone ‘’who is neither outstanding in virtue and righteousness; nor is it through badness or villainy of his own that he falls into misfortune, but rather through some flaw", Macbeth fitting this character perfectly. He is introduced to us as a military hero who has proven himself in battle time and time again, but still an average man, easily comparable to a modern day soldier. Along with all of Macbeth's many positive attributes comes his tragic flaw, a moral weakness of being extremely ambitious. It is this seed planted in him that inevitable takes over this ordinary man and entraps his will and leads him down his

Many readers of Shakespeare can notice that all of his stories are magnificently written and Macbeth is of course no exception. The use of dramatic change can completely change the atmosphere of any story, putting the audience in a completely new frame of mind. It takes the audience out of their everyday life and puts them in a more dramatic and different world. If used effectively, it can even be used to apply real emotions to a fantasy world, something that Aristotle called ''purgation of pity and fear'', but in the modern day known as catharsis. Furthermore, If every single elements of an Aristotelian tragedy falls in place, catharsis should be achieved. The viewers should feel one with the story and have emotions for each and every action; becoming angered by the plans of Lady Macbeth, sadness for the innocent death of King Duncan, and ultimately sorrow and pity towards