How Effectively Does Shakespeare Explore the Aspects of Tragedy in Macbeth?
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How effectively does Shakespeare explore the aspects of tragedy in Macbeth?
Shakespeare effectively explores the aspects of tragedy in Macbeth by establishing Macbeth’s nobility and then presenting the fatal flaw in his character and the influence of the witches and Lady Macbeth that contributes to his downfall and eventually, his destruction. This is shown through a wide range of literary and dramatic techniques.
In Act 1, Macbeth’s nobility is established early on in the play, “for brave Macbeth- well he deserved that name- disdaining Fortune, which his brandied steel, which smoked his bloody execution, like Valour’s minion carved out his passage.” He is considered the servant of courage. His fierceness in the battle field, displayed bravery, is why Captain calls Macbeth ‘brave Macbeth’. The mention of blood is frequent in Macbeth; it underlines the violence of his actions.
Macbeth’s fatal flaw is his ambition to be King. This is introduced in Act 1, when Banquo and Macbeth meet the three witches, their prophecies are Macbeth will become the “Thane of Glamis,” “Thane of Cawdor” and “be King hereafter.” Macbeth wants to accomplish the prophecies because of his ambition and later it’s shown to prove his manhood to his wife because she and ambitious and regards him as “full o’the milk of human kindness” to achieve it other than ‘holily’. Lady Macbeth is the one who spurs Macbeth to achieve the witches’ prophecies. She calls for “direst cruelty” to achieve her aim. But, Lady Macbeth is calm about the murder. Macbeth speaks these lines “Stars, hide your fires, let not light see my black and deep desires.” in the fourth scene of Act One. He has just learned that Malcolm is to be Prince of Cumberland, which makes him the heir to the throne after Duncan. Macbeth, having had his ambition stoked by the witches prophecy, clearly wishes to become king, and the imagery of these lines, by characterizing these desires as “black,” clearly demonstrates that he recognizes that, in order to achieve the throne, he will have to commit deeds that are contrary to his sense of right and wrong. In short, he wishes to keep his desires hidden, revealing them to nobody, both because he realizes they are evil. This line reveals the depth of Macbeths ambition even as it demonstrates the inner conflict this ambition unleashes.
In the same way, Shakespeare explores the aspect of Macbeth’s downfall and destruction; but Macbeth creates his own downfall by following Lady Macbeth’s encouragement and the prophecies of the three witches. He knows that the actions of killing Duncan are wrong and soon gets paranoid about it.¬¬ He continues to kill those around him even though they haven’t done anything wrong. ‘I am in blood stepped in so far that should I wade