Contents

Discuss Macbeth as a typical Shakespearean tragedy.

Shakespeare follows the very footstep of aristotle the but he uses the same in his way for writing tragedy. Macbeth rank among the greatest tragedy of the world. To him, the tragedy’s centre may be said to lie in action issuing from character or in character issuing in action. The diction that character is destiny is an exaggeration of a vital truth. In all the places it is possible to trace the tragedy to a certain fatalerror or weakness or predisposition in the hero. Julius Caesar, Hamlet Antony. Macbeth and Lear are all men of noble character of many oxcellent virtues and high qualities, but possessing one fault alone which over weighs all their greatness. Lear is passionate and lacking in self control, Macbeth is unduly ambitions and Othello is of too simple a nature. -Bardley

Shakespearean tragedy is all the tragedy of crime, treachery and evil emotions. There are critics who have different views as regards this tragedy. Prof. Quiller Couch says that Macbeth is an eminently effective play. Another critic says, Shakespearean tragedy is complex picture reflecting the mystery of evil in conflict with the good in life. This conflict is many sided. First, it is a conflict between two groups of characters, one representing the good, other representing the evil. Secondly, it is a conflict sarrowed down to principal characters, the Hero and the Villain. Thirdly, the conflict is still narrowed down and concentrated in open principal character – the Hero of the Villain – in whom there is an inner struggle between his own higher and lower nature, between conscience and desire, between reason and imagination, between, in short, the good and evil in himself. It is this inner conflict in the Hero which is the special characteristic of a Shakespearean tragedy. The first two conflicts have a theatrical effect born the body of the play, this third conflict has a dramatic effect and foems, as it were, the soul of the tragedy. Naturally, then our appreciation of the Shakespearean tragedy depends upon our appreciation of the character. Its protagonist, its Hero or its Villain for in some of his tragedies he makes the hero a villain and the villain a hero.

In broad outlines Macbeth conforms to this pattern fully. Prof. Bradley says, “Shakespearean tragedy, as a rule, has a special tone or atmosphere of its own quite percetible however different to describe. In Macbeth, it is a tone of celtic atmosphere. The tragedy is steeped in the horrible and supernatural spirit of the middle ages.

It is theawful supernatural atmosphere of celtlie Scotland which we find in this tragedy. It is set in a dismal and dreary atmosphere boset with overpowering supernatural awe and horror. It is, therefore, the most polgnant, the most appaling and the most awe-inspiring tragedy in which Shakespeare takes the readers and spectators both straight into black tragedy through one doom opening into utter darkness. We have in it deep pathos moving pity, momentous thrills, appalling tragic incident, awful supernatural scenes over in an over powering and impenetrably horrible atmosphere. Horror broods over the whole tragedy horror within and horror without. This is the celtic spirit embedded in this tragedy.

In fact, unique among the tragedies of the world. Macbeth present us with a character who is at once hero and villan of his own tragedy. He is the Judas isacariot who is also “the man of Sorrows”. He betrays himself before he betrays his master. He is the type and symbol of all final humanity. While we enjoy the play Macbeth himself in everything what we does is nothing. To understand all is not only to forgive. We feel at the end of the tradged play that Macbeth’s epitaph on Duncan is more appropriate to himself.

“After life’s fitful fever he sleeps well”. This may be expression but shows end of the play.