Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Macbeth as a tragedy
Macbeth as a tragedy play
Macbeth as a tragedy play
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Macbeth as a tragedy
Sympathy for the Tragic Hero of Macbeth
A tragedy according to Aristotle within ‘Poetics’ is;
’…Imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself...in a dramatic, not narrative form; with incidents arising pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish its catharsis of such emotions’
In Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, the character of Macbeth murders his king, Duncan, for personal motives, there appears to be little subjective reasoning for the murder. This perhaps encapsulates the notion of an incident which has the potential to arise pity from an audience. The reader pities Macbeth despite the obvious character flaws of greed and corruption. Shakespeare manipulates the audience to react sympathetically towards Macbeth through the use of Macbeth's actions, dialogue, and passion.
Throughout the story, there is a feeling of animosity toward Macbeth in response to his deleterious actions. However, scenes revealing Macbeth's more admirable side balance and even abet that negative feeling.
One particular instance where the reader has the potential to feel pity for Macbeth appears in the dialogue immediately before Macbeth decides whether or not to kill King Duncan. Macbeth is unsure of the morality of the murder. During much self-deliberation, he agonizes in the monologue,
"I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed" (I.vii.14-15).
While Macbeth contemplates whether murdering Duncan is feasible, Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth that he would murder Duncan if he were truly brave and masculine. Lady Macbeth goes on to remark that if he murders Duncan, Macbeth
"would be so much more the man" (I.vii.58).
A weak Macbeth gives in to his wife's badgering and manipulation and reluctantly agrees to participate in the murder. The audience feels sympathy for an insecure Macbeth as he begins his spiral into ultimate destruction. It appears that without the push of Lady Macbeth the deed would have been unlikely to have taken place.
Another instance in which Macbeth seems weak and pitiable is at the banquet held in his honor. Before the dinner party begins, Macbeth orders the assassination of his friend Banquo. After Banquo is killed, his ghost attends Macbeth's banquet, visible only to Macbeth. The chain of events that occurs at the party lends sympathy to Macbeth. His deteriorating mental state becomes known to all when he first beholds the ghost. He cries out to the guests, inquiring who has played the cruel trick.
Rains, Noah. “Audie Murphy: War Hero and Movie Star.” East Texas Historical Journal 47.1 (2009): 79-80. Academic Search Premier. Web. 29 Jan. 2014.
Lady Macbeth’s wicked character has an extreme impact towards her husband. Lady Macbeth is responsible for influencing her husband to commit both crimes; she unleashes the dark side of him and motivates him to become an evil and horrendous man. In various parts throughout the story we find that Lady Macbeth strives beyond limits to be converted into a bitter and sour women. The audience is revolted by her horrific actions and although she may seem repugnant, she is an extremely talented actor. In her role, having a deceitful and convincing character is important
Macbeth feels a great deal of remorse after he has killed the king. He understands that he has committed a sin and will be punished. He is so terrified that he hears voices telling him:“ Macbeth does murder sleep, … , Macbeth shall sleep no more”(Act 2, Sc.2 p. 57). Macbeth is very upset with himself and wishes that he never killed Duncan. “To know my deed it were best not know myself.” When he hears strange knocking at the gate he wishes that it wakes up Duncan, “wake Duncan with thy knocking”, however it is too late (Act 2, Sc.3 p. 61).
When Macbeth is confronted and chided by Lady Macbeth for his cowardice, he reluctantly agrees to kill Duncan. It is evident that Lady Macbeth is hunger for power Lady Macbeth’s manipulation and dominance over her husband is evident when she demands Macbeth to prove his ‘masculinity by killing Duncan.
Macbeth’s capacity for suffering also leads him to be a tragic hero. Before the murder of Duncan, Macbeth has a personal moment of truth and thinks about what he is going to do. He imagines the dagger in his hand and thinks about the nightmares he will be invaded with. Macbeth is so obsessed with murder; he begins seeing things, and must be quiet and not wake anyone, for he would give himself away.
Lady Macbeth is getting very confused that Macbeth is refusing to kill King Duncan and she cannot commit the crime her self because evidently King Duncan resembles too much like her father. She fells that Macbeth is not a man and she ridicules and tries to persuade him to kill King Duncan by saying that he is not a man and that the only way to become a man is to kill the king (regicide).
...loyment is such an increasing issue in America is that people do not notice talent (Maffucci).
Although Macbeth, hesitates at the beginning to kill King Duncan. His wife, Lady Macbeth, convinces him by saying,
In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the main character, Macbeth, murders King Duncan with the assistance of his devious wife, Lady Macbeth. Although they get away with the murder, they are unable to omit the feeling of remorse, although it affects them in different ways, the outcome is similar for both characters. It is obvious to the reader that killing Duncan inflicted the character’s odd behaviors and unstable mental state because of Shakespeare’s use of imagery related to illness.
“World War I vs World War II.”-Differences and Comparison. N.p, N.d Web. 09 Feb. 2014.
Lewis, Jone Johnson. "A history of the abortion controversy in the United States." Women's History. 2004. 23 Feb. 2005
Another instance in which Macbeth seems weak and pitiable is at the banquet held in his honor. Before the dinner party begins, Macbeth orders the assassination of his friend Banquo.
“When you first do it, then you were a man, And to be more than what you were, you would, be so much more the man” (I. VII, 54-56). After struggling with the thought of killing Duncan, Macbeth is reprimanded by Lady Macbeth for his lack of courage. She informs him that killing the king will make him a man, insinuating that he isn’t a man if he doesn’t go through with the murder. This develops Lady Macbeth as a merciless, nasty, and selfish woman. She will say, or do anything to get what she desires, even if it means harming others.
Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” explores a fundamental struggle of the human conscience. The reader is transported into the journey of a man who recognizes and acknowledges evil but still succumbs to its destructive powers. The character of Macbeth is shrouded in ambiguity that scholars have claimed as both being a tyrant and tragic hero. Macbeth’s inner turmoil and anxieties that burden him throughout the entire play evoke sympathy and pity in the reader. Though he has the characteristics of an irredeemable tyrant, Macbeth realizes his mistakes and knows there is no redemption for his sins. And that is indeed tragic.