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Write an essay on Shakespearean tragedy.

Macbeth is regarded as one of the four greatest Shakespearea tragedy. It has all the main characteristics of Shakespearan tragedy.

The main character-as the only key Figure-Shakespeare’s tragedies present the tragic life of the hero. The hero is the key figure of these tragedies, The theme of the play exposes the tragic sufferings of the hero. Other characters play subordinate parts. Therefore these tragedies are named after the hero. Prince Hamlet is the hero play ‘Hamlet’. His father’s ghost asks him to kill his uncle. The uncle is a wicked man who killed the king. Hamlet’s father and marned Hamlet’s mother. Hamlet is determined to kill his uncle who is now his father and king too. Hamlet gets success in killing him but at the cost of his life. His mother and the beloved too are dead by now. Thus, Hamlet is the key figure of the tragedy ‘Hamlet. Likewise Othello is the hero of ‘Othello’, Lear of King Lear and Macbeth of ‘Macbeth’.

The main character-a man of high status-Shakespeare’s tragic hero should be a man of high status. Hamlet is a prince, Othello is a general. Lear is a king and Macbeth is a great general who becomes the king of Scotland after the death of Duncan. When this man of high status rises, many people become fortunate but when he falls many people become unfortunate and lose their lives. The hero’s desting becomes a matter of national importance. His actions affect the future of the whole country. For example, Macbeth murders Duncan and the country gets a new King whose cruel rule leads the country to worst sufferings.

Tragic Flaw – Shakespeare’s tragic hero suffers from a human weakness. This weakness becomes the main cause of his tragedy. So it is called the tragic flaw. The flaw is not a crime or sin. It is a common human instinct which is present in every body. But in Shakespeare’s hero it is found in excess. It dominates his character and provokes him to do undersirable deeds. Macbeth’s over-ambition is his tragic flaw. He is a noble man but over ambition provokes him to murder Duncan.

Character is Dentiny- In Shakespeare’s tragic world, character dominates desting. The hero himself is responsible for his tragedy. Destiny plays a subordinate part. The main cause of tragedy is always present in the hero’s character. In ‘Macbeth’ destiny plays a subordinate part when witches predict, lady Macbeth provokes and by chance Duncan stays in ‘Macbeth’s castle. But Macbeth has the thought of Duncan’s murder in his mind even before meeting witches When witches predict. he begins to think about the murder.

Romantic Element- Shakespeare’s tragedies are romantic. These tragedies are free from classical rules of unities of time, place and action.

Change in Fortune-The tragedy present change in the hero’s fortune. In “Macbeth’ the hero’s fortune changes. When Macbeth shows bravery in the battle, he gets high honours. After Duncan’s death he becomes the King of Scotland. Thus he has risen in fortune. But his mental suffering turns his joy into agony.

It’s Plot-Construction-Shakespeare’s tragedies are known for their strong characters but the plots of the tragedies are well constructed. The tragedies are developed in five acts in a natural manner.

It is clear, Macbeth contains almost all features of tragedy, in this regard, it hailed as perfect tragedy.