The Tragedy of Macbeth

The full title of this play is 'The Tragedy of Macbeth'. In

Shakespeare's time, the word 'tragedy' had a very precise meaning. It
was used to describe a type of drama or literature in which certain
patterns were followed. A tragedy involved the fall of a great man either
through forces beyond his control or by his own error. In the latter case,
his error usually had lasting and far-reaching consequences, which often
resulted in his death. It was the nature of this fall from greatness that
was considered 'tragic'.
Aristotle, a Greek philosopher of the fourth centuryBC, was the first
person to write formally about the nature of tragedy as it applied to
drama. He argued that the playwright who wished to write a tragedy had
to choose his main character very carefully. This character should
neither be too good nor entirely evil. The ideal person to take the role of
a teagic hero was, then, someone whose downfall should be caused, not
by pure evil, but by some form of human weakness or mistake. Having
said that, however, Aristotle also thought that the best subjects for
tragedies were 'great men' – kings and high nobles.
Shakespeare was influenced greatly by Aristotle's views In many
ways Macbeth seems to meet the criteria set out by Aristotle.
The play's opening scenes show that Macbeth is a well-respected
and esteemed warrior, held in the highest regard by his peers and his
King. Macbeth is, however, also an ambitious man; when his ambitions
are aroused by the witches, he finds himself tempted: he cannot see how
he will become king unless he takes action himself. Murder presents
itself as an option and Macbeth must decide what to do.
The good within him argues against killing Duncan, the King. He
maintains that Duncan does not deserve to be murdered, and fears the
possibnle consequences of such a crime. He sums up his hesitations in
these words to his wife:
I dare do all that may become a man;
Who dares do more, is none.
(Act 1, Sc. 7 46-7)

His ambition, however, overcomes his conscience. Spurred on by his

wife, who partly goads him into the act by claiming he is 'too full o' the
milk of human kindness' to do the deed, he kills the King, Duncan. This
is where Macbeth's tragedy lies. He knows that killing Duncan to satisfy
his ambition violates his sense of right and wrong. In spite of this he
murders Duncan. The murder, as an act of his will and ambition, is
achieved against Macbeth's human nature, and both he and his wife
must face the consequences.
The plot of the play follows Macbeth's temptation to do evil, his
crime and the impact of the crime on him and those around him. It
works through the consequences of his choice.