Macbeth: Tragedy :: essays research papers

According to the classical view, tragedy should arouse feelings of pity and fear in the audition. Does macbeth do this?Shakespeares Macbeth is definitely a tragedy in the sense that it arouses feelings of pity and fear in the audience. Macbeth is a weak minded man who, if sees an opportunity for power follows his ambitions and takes it, even if this is not the rightful(prenominal) thing to do. He is easily persuaded and suffers great guilt. Macbeth the character on his own creates the feeling of pity and fear in the audience. This added to the abundance of other developed characters creates a great tragedy.Pity is felt by the audience at many times. These feeling of pity are quite strong in some instances. The prototypal example of pity is the general feeling for Duncan, Banquo and Macduff and his family after being slaughtered by Macbeth for the only reason of his personal ambition. Duncan was a fair and good king, and had even shown gratitude to Macbeth and Banquo after the batt le in influence I. Also there is pity towards Macduff, who after leaving the country returns to find his wife and child murdered. The audience can have-to doe with to this by the unfairness in which they were killed in cold blood by Macbeth.The second example of pity in Macbeth is for Macbeth. Even though he had moreover assassinated Duncan he regretted it and realised what he had do wrong. He realised that Lady Macbeth had encouraged him incorrectly and he was sincerely scared for what he had doneI am afraid to think what I have done. Look ont again I dare notAct II Scene ii The audience feels pitiful for Macbeth because he knows he has made a mistake and he is suffering for it through the guilt and his conscience.Thirdly the audience feels pity for Macbeth when he sees the vision. Macbeths mental state deteriorates severely after killing Duncan, and seeing the ghost of Banquo at his own dinner party in front of the lords do not help his cause. If trembling I inhabit then, prot est me The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow Unreal mockery, hence Act III Scene ivMacbeth is scared at this point. For a great warrior king to be scared is a big deal in the eye of the lords and the audience. The audience feels pity for him because he is at a time of weakness which at this stage is uncharacteristic for Macbeth.