English 20-2
Macbeth
The Nature of Tragedy
Tragedy might be defined as a drama in which a heroic man is often hindered by his
own flaws, or struggles against the gods or other powers such as society and gets
beaten. The key word is “struggle”, because according to literacy experts the person
who simply “waits” for his fate is not tragic he is pathetic.
Tragedy, despite its attitude of pessimism has been the most popular and enduring
mode used in literature over the years. Tragedy makes us think about the human
condition long after the laughs in a comedy are forgotten.
There are several reasons for this:
1. Tragedy most accurately reflects the true nature of man - the way things really are.
2. Tragedy deals with the cycle of life from birth to death, and covers all the
experiences in between.
3. Tragedy deals with the good and evil that exists in our world.
4. We all understand tragedy because in some way, we’ve each dealt with it.
5. Human beings remember bad experiences before they remember enjoyable ones, as
a rule.
Shakespearian tragedy follows the classical form because Highborn or high class people
through their own errors in judgement, pride, ambition, or desire, fight against fate,
and after the struggle, are doomed anyway.
We must also note that most of Shakespeare’s characters are two or three-dimensional;
that is, they are full of contradictions, anxieties and insecurities that all readers can
recognize in themselves. Shakespeare’s characters are humanized - they can learn, and
before they die, understand what they are and why. Shakespeare’s characters always
ask questions about their environment/situation in their struggles against fate.
Therefore, in summary, a tragic hero is a man who fights the odds and, though dying,
achieves personal victory in the knowledge that though he’s been destroyed, he’s not
been beaten.
Comedy in Tragedy
Comedy serves as a relief for the characters in the play, as well as for the audience.
Laughter is good therapy when feelings of fear, depression and anger become too
intense. Shakespeare often puts in a comic scene after something dreadful (tragedy)
has occurred.
English 20-2
Terminology
1. ambition- a strong desire for fame or honour; seeking after a high
position or great power.
2. witch- a person, especially a woman, who practices black magic
3. superstition- an unreasoning and abject fear of what is unknown
or mysterious.
4. regicide- the crime of killing a monarch (king, queen, etc)
5. tanistry- Gaelic (scottish) custom or electing the “most worthiest”
kinsman to lead the people.
6. primogeniture- (England) law - the right of inheritance or
succession by the first-born, especially the inheritance of a
family estate.
7. equivocate- use expressions of double meaning in order to mislead
8. traitor- a person who betrays his or her country or ruler; one who
commits treason
9. conspiracy- a secret scheming or planning together to do something
treacherous or evil
10. sacrilege (sacrilegious)- an intentional injury to anything sacred;
disrespectful treatment of anyone or anything sacred.
11. tempt (temptation)- make, or try to make (a person) do something
wrong by promising pleasure or some advantage.
12. treason - the act or fact of betraying one’s country or ruler.
Helping the enemies of one’s country.
Important Terms and Concepts
1. The Great Chain of Being (Universal Hierarchy of Being)
God
King
Man
- Nobility
- Knights
- Aristocrats
- Working Class / Merchants
- Peasants
Animal
Vegetable
Inanimate
2. Divine Right of Kings: King rules under the direct influence of God
** King acts as both a spiritual and political leader
- politics and religion were meshed together
- belief if there were disturbances in the heavens it foretold
of disorder in the state. (Superstition)
3. Man too existed as a “little kingdom”
- psychological health depended on the preservation of this
order.
- REASON
WILL
+ DESIRES / INSTINCTS
(emotions)
But if Desire and Will out weighed one’s reason, that leads to chaos.
4. TERMS
Regicide: The killing of the King- this is considered to be the
supreme violation of the moral order ordained by God
(sacrilegious), as well as political treason.
Tanistry: Gaelic custom of electing the “most worthiest kinsmen”
Primogeniture: England - eldest son held the right of succession.
Equivocation: Half-truths, with the intent to mislead.
- Witches suggest a potential for evil in the world, mislead
Macbeth and tempt him to sin and Macbeth allows desire
to replace reason and causes evil upon the environment.
5. Macbeth is a complex study of evil and its corrupting influence on
humanity.
- Macbeth and Lady Macbeth allow their desire for the throne
to overcome their rational and spiritual insight and
consequent disorder in their personalities is reflected in the
chaotic state of Scotland.
Macbeth’s Tragic Flaw??