An Introduction to Shakespeares Macbeth Tragedy is the

An Introduction to Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Tragedy is the branch of drama, first developed in Ancient Greece, which deals with sorrowful or terrible events in a serious and dignified style. Every tragedy asks fundamental questions about the nature of humanity, the universe, and God. The central theme of every tragedy is concerned with defining the nature of evil and explaining its existence in the universe. The appeal of tragedy to the human mind lies in examining evil as a force that is external (lying outside of ourselves) and internal (originating from our own hearts and minds).

One of the greatest examples of Greek tragedy is Oedipus Rex, written by Sophocles in the fifth century B. C.

Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, defined tragedy as a “dramatic action containing incidents which arouse pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish a cleansing of such emotions”. n He also stated that the tragic hero must not be all good or all bad, but somewhere in between. His misfortune is brought about by some error of judgment caused by his tragic flaw. The tragic hero cannot blame the gods but must take responsibility for his own downfall. n

Shakespearean (or Renaissance) tragedy is modeled on many of the conventions of the Greek tragedy. Here are three chief characteristics of tragedy: n The Cult of the Hero n The Supernatural and the Psychological n A Conflict Between Fate and Free Will n Both external and internal conflicts are included, but the internal conflict is most important as we see a battle in the tragic hero’s heart and soul.

The Cult of the Hero n The Cult of the Hero: A man lives for honour and renown. His life is one of courageous and glorious action played out in a world of great men. The hero’s life reaches its climax in a great and noble death. The Greek hero is an extraordinary man, completely devoted to the pursuit of honour which is accomplished by making a great sacrifice for his people.

The Supernatural and the Psychological n The Supernatural and the Psychological: In Greek tragedy, the gods send suffering and evil into the world and help to bring about the downfall of the tragic hero (though he also contributes to his own misfortune as well). Shakespeare often included elements of the supernatural (ghosts and witches) and abnormal conditions of the mind (insanity, hallucination, sleepwalking).

Conflict Between Fate and Free Will n There is a conflict between free will (the hero’s ability to make a choice and to assume responsibility for that choice) and fate (the action of forces that are far more powerful than man. ) n Both external and internal conflicts are included, but the internal conflict is most important as we see a battle in the tragic hero’s heart and soul.

Aristotle & The Poetics A hundred years after Sophocles wrote Oedipus Rex, Aristotle composed a book called The Poetics in which he presented his theory of poetry and drama. These terms are also used in the study of Shakespearean tragedies: n Hamartia: Another word for the hero’s “tragic flaw” or “fatal flaw”. Aristotle believed that the tragic hero committed an offense because he was in ignorance of an important fact, not because he was evil or had a moral flaw. It was only the later influence of Christianity which made man totally responsible for his actions and which redefined the tragic flaw as a personal or character flaw such as ambition, greed, or jealousy.

Aristotle and The Poetics n Hubris: Excessive pride within the tragic hero, especially evident when he attempts to defy fate and control his own destiny. To fight against the will of the gods or Fate was a recipe for disaster.

n Nemesis: The agents of justice which bring about the hero’s deserved punishment. The Christian values of the Elizabethans dictated that sin against God would result in just punishment. n Pathos: The emotions of pity, fear, and sadness aroused in the audience as we observe the wasted human potential of the tragic hero.

n Catharsis: The effect that tragedy should have on the audience by purging and cleansing of our own dark desires and fears. The Greeks believed that by watching the misfortunes of the hero, we could confront our own flaws and fears (loss of love, family, friends, money, power, or life itself) and overcome them. This involves identifying with the hero and realizing that his problems are universal.

Characteristics of the Tragic Hero n Must be a man of noble stature. He is an extraordinary and admirable man (hence often a king). n Though he is great, he is not perfect. He has a moral defect known as a TRAGIC FLAW. n He works to achieve a goal that is very dear to him. This action involves him in a number of CHOICES which throw him into significant INTERNAL CONFLICT. As a result of his choices, he gets caught in a web of circumstance. This sets up a chain of events the tragic hero could not or would not see and which cannot be halted. He is thus CAUGHT IN HIS DESTINY.

TRAGIC HERO When it is too late, he realizes what has happened to him and he dies bitter and burnt out. n The hero’s poor choices often bring about disorder in society. Shakespeare assumes there is an order in the universe which we dare not disturb. If this order is broken, chaos and disorder will reign; however, counter forces will be set in motion to reestablish order. This order usually returns at the end of the play as a result of the tragic hero’s death. n The fatal ending is tragic in the sense that the heros’ downfall is brought upon himself as a result of his own choices, thus he never fulfills his true potential as a human being.

Key Themes in Macbeth n An Anatomy of Evil The play make several points about the nature of evil. A) Evil is contrary to human nature B) An evil act can destroy the natural order C) Evil is a disease

Evil is Contrary to Human Nature To commit an evil act, an individual must fight against his/her own conscience. Committing an evil act can produce a sense of guilt that can destroy a person from within.

Evil An evil act contrary to God’s moral order will destroy the natural order of the world and throw it into chaos. When chaos erupts, order is usually not restored until the source of the evil in society has been removed (often the tragic hero is this source of evil). Evil is a disease. It infects its victims and makes them sicken (especially mentally) until they die. If the infected person is a king, the infection can spread and corrupt an entire nation.

Themes of Macbeth n Ambition – Ambition cause a character’s downfall when he is willing to turn his back on what he knows to be right. A character who uses all of his strength and intelligence for evil purposes is sure to meet with failure. n Appearances versus Reality – Often in Macbeth, things are not what they appear to be. The witches’ predictions, which sound like good news, lead to death and destruction. Macbeth and his wife seem like gracious hosts, when actually they are plotting murder. The Macbeths appear to achieve their hearts’ desires, when in reality they bring about torment and death.

n • • Gender Roles and Reversals Throughout the play we see two visions of manhood. One vision defines manliness in terms of one’s ability to act ruthlessly and without remorse. The second view suggests that the true “man” is a person who acts morally and never sacrifices his/her humanity for his/her evil desires. Stereotypical gender roles reverse throughout the play as men are accused of weakness for showing emotions such as fear, grief or compassion, while Lady Macbeth calls to be “unsexed” to make her more capable of “masculine” brutality. Invariably, Shakespeare teaches us that morality is the measure of the man.

Themes of Macbeth n Honour and Loyalty – In Macbeth’s feudal society, honour and loyalty are of the utmost importance in maintaining order and civility. Any person was keenly aware of the duty he owed to his master, thane, and king. An act of disloyalty could throw the country into turmoil. Shakespeare’s audience would have been very conscious of the threat posed to their nation by acts of treason. King James I was the victim of treasonous plots, as was the queen who reigned before him, Queen Elizabeth I. n Fate vs. Free Will – The play suggests that a person should trust his destiny to a higher power. Macbeth tries to take his fate into his own hands (hubris), an action which brings him much grief

Themes of Macbeth n Resilience – the play gives rise to discussion about how much a person can handle before he/she becomes overwhelmed by his/her circumstances. Some characters demonstrate the ability to rise above their difficulties and be victorious (Malcolm, Mac. Duff) while others succumb to difficulty (Lady Macbeth).

Themes of Macbeth n Rebellion - much of the action of the play is powered by rebellion. Indeed, the play opens in the midst of civil strife where Macbeth leads forces in support of his king. His ambition brings about rebellion, not only against his ruler but also against his wife, the witches, and perhaps even himself.

Key Motifs: A motif is an element, usually symbolic, that recurs in a creative work. n n 1) The Sleep Motif: Shakespeare reinforces the idea that a guilty conscience never sleeps. 2) Clothing Imagery: Clothing is often used to symbolize one’s social position or the possession of power. 3) Plant Imagery of Growth and Decay: Characters are shown to grow in status or honour as plants grow. 4) Imagery Related to Darkness: Notice the darkness associated with evil thoughts and deeds.

Key Motifs: 5) Disease Imagery: Evil spreads like a disease through Scotland. The land itself is compared to a sick patient who must be purged of the root of its illness, Macbeth. n 6) Bird and Animal Imagery: Shakespeare often uses birds or animals as symbolic of characters’ personalities or to represent other key ideas within his plays. n 7) Eyes & Hands: Hands represent action while eyes represent conscience. When the eyes must acknowledge the actions of the hands, guilt is the result. n

Other Key Terms: n Pathetic Fallacy – This is the representation of nature as being in sympathy with or affected by the deeds or feelings of humanity (Ex: After the murder of Duncan, the sun hides his face in clouds because of shame). n Soliloquy – A speech delivered by a character in a play when he/she is alone on stage; it creates a dramatic moment in the play and is used to reveal the character’s inner thoughts. n Aside- A comment made by an actor on stage meant for the audience to hear and not the other actors. It serves to involve the audience more in the performance, as it reveals the speaker’s inner-most thoughts.

Other Key Terms n Anachronism – Something used out of its proper time frame (“…they were as cannons overcharged with double cracks”). n Dramatic Irony – created when the audience is aware of something when a character/s on stage is not.

Setting – n n n n Scotland – 1030 A. D. These are turbulent times and constitutional government is weak. The kingship is not yet hereditary. Duncan is king. He is aging and gentle. Macbeth is his first cousin and leader of his army. Banquo is his fellow general. They are engaged in battle against Scottish rebels supported by the king of Norway.