DEPATMENT OF ENGLISH
FOR THE STUDENT OF 2ND YEAR
ENGLISH HONOURS
By TANUSREE ROY
A Tragedy by William
Shakespeare
A drama or similar work, in which the main character is brought
to ruin or otherwise suffers the extreme consequences of
some tragic flaw or weakness of character.
Aristotle in his Poetics says about tragedy
“A Tragedy is the imitation of an action that is serious and also
, as having magnitude in itself, in appropriate and
pleasurable language…in a dramatic rather than narrative
form, with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to
accomplish a catharsis of these emotions.”
Macbeth’s fatal flaw in the play is his unchecked
ambition, that is a desire for power and position,
namely to be king, which is more important to him
than anything else in life
“The witches in Macbeth are present in only four scenes
in the play, but Macbeth’s fascination with them
motivates much of the play’s action”
“The extent of Lady Macbeth’s power over her husband
is debated. Some critics blame Lady Macbeth for
precipitating Macbeth’s moral decline and ultimate
downfall. Others argue that, while Lady Macbeth
appears to be increasingly guilt-ridden as the play
progresses as evidenced by her sleep-walking and
hand
washing
scenes,
Macbeth
becomes
increasingly murderous.”
Witches’ prophecy.
Lady Macbeth’s provocation.
Macbeth’s over powering ambition.
Macbeth is a tragedy that combines the
Greek dimensions of destiny and the
more prominently Renaissance
dimensions of individual agency. The
play is a study of evil, both within the
mind and without. For Macbeth and
Lady Macbeth both, it is a tragedy of
their ambition. It shows the chaotic
inner mind of them and eventually
leads to the tragic sin or action,
prompted by the ‘hamartia’
Roman Polenski’s Macbeth(1971)
THANKING YOU