Presence of Elizabethan Tragedy in Shakespeare's Macbeth

The tragedy of “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare, was written in the early 1600s. Many people debate whether this play is an Aristotelian tragedy or an Elizabethan tragedy. The main components that are included within an Aristotelian tragedy involve, fate and free will impacting the character’s choices, the character breaking a moral law within the play, and the character recognizing his own fault. The important factors in an Elizabethan tragedy on the other hand, encompass an ongoing struggle between good and evil, elements of tragic waste, and presence of supernatural elements and fate. Though the Elizabethan Tragedy includes examples of spectacle and sensation, and supernatural elements and fate, the Aristotelian tragedy does not. In the Aristotelian tragedy, the character recognizes or discovers his own fault. This important element is not included in the Elizabethan tragedy. The tragedy Macbeth most clearly fits the characteristics of an Elizabethan tragedy rather than the Aristotelian tragedy.

Some would argue that Macbeth is clearly an Aristotelian tragedy, though the play only fits some key aspects. First of all, Macbeth struggles with a tragic flaw of ambition. Macbeth eventually loses control of himself while winding up with multiple murders on his hands. He also brings death upon himself because of his excessive desire for power. Additionally, both fate and free will impacts Macbeth’s choices. He hopes that fate will bring him his kingdom because fate will make all his plans and wishes fall into place. “If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me Without my stir.” Though destiny “may” do the dirty work, Macbeth’s ambition and impacientness prove this to be wrong.

Macbeth becomes impatient for power, which causes him to take fate into his own hands. “Let not light see my black and deep desires.” (Shakespeare 262). The uncontrollable urge to be king overpowers Macbeth’s moral thoughts and he can no longer fight them which leads to him killing Banquo. Moreover, the breaking of a moral law can be demonstrated when Macbeth murders Banquo. After he kills him Macbeth says “I'll go no more. I am afraid to think what I have done; Look on ‘t again I dare not.” (Shakespeare 273). Macbeth is aware that his actions were not moral, and repents in hopes he will be forgiven. Lastly, Macbeth's aspiration to be king was so pronounced that his wants became his faults. Macbeth murdered many, contradicting his morals, which leads to his tragic death.

The people who believe Macbeth is an Aristotilean tragedy are wrong due to the fact that all the requirements in which it needs for that classification are not met. First off, Macbeth is not of social rank or renown, and is not respected by most people in Scotland. He murders the King as well as many other innocent people, solely for optimum power. After Macbeth kills Macduff’s wife and all of his children, Macduff takes it into his own hands and sees it to himslef to murder evil Macbeth. “Tyrant, show thy face! If thou be’st slain, and with no stroke of mine, My wife and children’s ghosts will haunt me still.

I cannot strike at wretched kerns, whose arms Are hired to bear their staves. Either thou, Macbeth, Or else my sword with an unbattered edge I sheathe again undeeded. There thou shouldst be; By this great clatter, one of the greatest note Seems bruited. Let me find him, Fortune, And the more I beg not.” (Shakespeare 311-312). This line demonstrats Macduff’s determination to get revenge for the unnecessary murder of his family. Nextly, Macbeth is not portrayed as someone with whom a reader identifies with. He murdered the innocent, and believes he is indestructible, therefore it is hard to relate to Macbeth. Though Macbeth struggles with guilt and paranoia, no reader identifies or wholly understands what struggles he goes through.

Furthermore, the character Macbeth is strictly evil with no good. If man continues to commit murder because of his selfishness without realizing his own fault, then he is anything but righteous. A person who commits murders without recognizing his own fault is evil. Macbeth never discovers his own fault even seconds before his own death. He wholeheartedly believes he is above all and that no man woman born will defeat him. Macbeth believes he is invincible and does everything in his own power to become king while never thinking about how his cruel actions affects anyone else’s life. Finally, the audience catharsis is not demonstrated because no one feels pity for Macbeth even after he is murdered. He took the innocent lives of so many as well as their families, therefore no one pities him.

Macbeth is most definitely an Elizabethan tragedy because it fits almost every requirement and expectation. First of all, spectacle and sensation is portrayed at the beginning of the play when Macbeth fights in war; “he unseamed him from the nave to th’ chops, And fixed his head upon our battlements.” (Shakespeare 256). This demonstrates Macbeth’s loyalty to the King at the beginning of the tragedy as well as his willingness in battle. Next, the wyrd sisters within the play are an example of supernatural elements and fate. The witches show Macbeth the path of his own downfall by influencing him and his accomplishments and awakening his ambitions. Macbeth’s desire for power and position is his utmost tragic flaw. Ruling is more important than anything else in his life, and he is willing to give up almost everything for control. Macbeth’s ambition leads to him hurting the people he loves and cares for most in his life.

Additionally, Macbeth struggles with an internal fight between good and evil throughout the entire tragedy. He hopes fate will bring him his kingdom and not murder. Macbeth does not want or desire to commit murder, but he fells it is necessary to gain power. “I have no spur To prick the sides of my intent, but only Vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself And falls on th’ other -” (Shakespeare 265). This quote means Macbeth possesses no reasonable justification to murder Duncan, and the only thing driving him to commit the deadly deed is ambition. In addition to fate, the tragedy also includes tragic waste. As Macbeth’s desire for the throne increases, he takes fate into his own hands which leads to him murdering Duncan. Macbeth, shortly after the murdering incident, drives himself to insanity because of the immense guilt produced by his deteriorating conscience. Subsequently, the dagger which Macbeth uses to kill King Duncan haunts him before the murder takes place, and symbolized his paranoia. “Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible To feeling as to sight? Or art thou but A dagger of the mind, a false creation, Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?” (Shakespeare 270).

Follwing the murder, Macbeth drowns in this grief, forcing him to commit more and more murders to protect himself from his animosity and others suspicion resulting in the waste of many innocent lives. As a result, the drunken porter represents the comic relief and lightens the mood after the murder of Duncan. He makes the reader laugh because of his foolish actions and relieves the tension from the prior killing scene. Finally, Macbeth has a tragic downfall. Macbeth’s ambition catches up to him in the end as well as his misguided determination to take control of his future. Macduff murdered Macbeth, gaining justice for what Macbeth did to Macduff’s family by killing the man who caused him so much loss.

The tragedy of Macbeth does not fit all of the aspects of an Aristotelian tragedy, therefore the title of an Elizabethan tragedy most clearly fits. The elements of an Aristotelian tragedy that fit Macbeth include Macbeth struggling with a tragic flaw, fate and free will impacting his choices, Macbeth breaking a moral law, and having an ultimate downfall. While those elements work for this tragedy, the rest of the elements that encompass an Aristotilean tragedy do not. These include the audience relating to Macbeth, Macbeth being respected or of social rank, being neither good nor evil, recognizing his own fault, and the inclusion of audience catharsis. The tragedy of Macbeth most clearly fits the title of an Elizabethan tragedy because almost every aspect is resembled in the play. Spectacle and sensation, supernatural elements and fate, and comic relief are portrayed, Macbeth struggles with a tragic flaw, and a downfall and there is a tragic waste. The classification of an Elizabethan tragedy is important because it gives “Macbeth” an identity.