Throughout the play Romeo’s reputation for being a peaceful loveable character is good, however Mercutio’s death made him change from someone who bottles up anger to someone who releases it. Therefore he kills Paris and Tybalt. This makes the death count high, but because the audience has so much sympathy for Romeo they tend to forget that he is capable of killing someone.
Banishment of course adds an extra twist to the play and both Romeo and Juliet are distraught after it. The audience sympathise immensely with this because they are unable to see each other.
The tragedy at the end is brought about by a misplacement of a very important letter from friar Lawrence to Romeo. This letter brings about the fate of the lovers, which of course is death. The audience sympathises greatly because they know that it would have all been all right if the letter had reached Romeo.
Fate and the supernatural also play a large part in the two plays, as everyone believed very much in both when they were written. In ‘Macbeth’, the witches torment Macbeth with riddles, they speak his thoughts, and, after showing him that they have the power of prophecy, they make him believe that the greatest prize, kingship, is near. At the start of the play, the witches meet in foul weather, speaking of fog, lightning, thunder and filthy air. This introduces ‘Macbeth’ as a dark, dangerous play, in which the theme of evil is central. In the opening scene, the witches say, 'Fair is foul and foul is fair' (Act I, Scene I). These words seem to contradict each other, which initiates the idea of illusion and reality with an evil influence. Then, upon Macbeth’s entry, he echoes those words by saying, ‘So foul and fair a day I have not seen.' (Act I, Scene III). This induces the question of why the witches' words are in Macbeth’s mouth and introduces the idea of prophecy. It also evokes the thought of whether Macbeth is in charge of his own destiny or not In. The witches have chosen the right moment to approach Macbeth - when he is full of the triumph of battle, and fresh from killing. They know exactly what to say, and their timing is precise. They seem unnaturally close and act with one mind. Macbeth begs the witches to stay and tries to question them:
'Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell me more.'
(Act I, Scene III)
It makes you wonder whether he's already thought about what they are saying about being king. In Macbeth’s soliloquy, he talks about a 'horrible image'. This could possibly be of Duncan's murder, as the witches could only have so much power over Macbeth if he already had these thoughts in his mind. Act I, Scene III, the witches turn to Macbeth and tell him he will be king:
“All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter”
(Act I, Scene III, Line 50).
The other supernatural forces that lead Macbeth down his path of evil and insanity are Banquo’s ghost, and the apparitions that the witches conjure. The apparitions especially lead to Macbeth’s downfall.
That single line is what sparks Macbeth’s evil ambition. This is the also the point when Macbeth start to turn evil. He realises that he must kill the King or heir to become King himself. Fate has it that Duncan will be staying at Macbeth’s castle, so Macbeth and Lady Macbeth plot to kill Duncan.
Nowadays, a tragic hero is a person who has a talent or skill, is a great character and has usually achieved something momentous. They also may have died tragically, often for mankind. Whichever way you look at him, Macbeth is contemptible, even if you think he was just an instrument of the witches, and unable to escape his fate. However, he often challenges fate, as he believes he leads a ‘charmed life’. This is because he was told that ‘none of woman born shall harm Macbeth’ and that he cannot be vanquished until ‘Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come’. Unfortunately for Macbeth though, Birnam wood does seem to move toward Dunsinane. Although shaken, Macbeth is not yet despairing because he still believes himself to be safe. After all, what man is ‘not born of woman’? In Act V, Scene VIII, when Macduff enters Macbeth’s castle, Macbeth is arrogant, as he still believes he is safe. However, when Macduff tells him to ‘despair thy charm’ and reveals that he ‘was from his mothers womb untimely ripped’, Macbeth suddenly becomes resigned when facing death, even if it is after a spell of despair and cowardliness. He agrees to fight with Macduff till the last even though he will die. He was told by the witches to ‘beware Macduff’, so he is almost reconciled to his unavoidable death. Yet the element of him that is a soldier has emerged; he will not die a coward, he will fight to the last, even though there is no hope. It is now obvious that Macbeth fits the classical definition of a tragic hero; he has high social status; he reveals many primary truths about mankind and humanity through his suffering and he has a great, noble character which is tragically wasted through circumstance. His otherwise great personality has a tragic flaw, which ultimately leads to his destruction; and he is resigned to his inevitable death, exhibiting his truly heroic side. However, in my eyes he is neither heroic nor tragic; only selfish, feeble and insatiable, although that is judging him by the standards of today, and not in the context in which he was written. Romeo is not, in my opinion, a tragic hero in the traditional sense of the word. He is not of high rank and he does not have a tragic flaw. However, the play could be a tragedy of youth and of circumstances conspiring against young love. Juliet is strong because it is she who proposes to Romeo and defies her father and mother. Juliet tells them she won't marry Paris and she doesn't. She is brave enough to go through with a secret marriage against her parents' wishes and to go through with the Friar's plans. Most of all, the young lover is brave enough to stab herself. So, is Romeo the hero? Well, he's certainly tragic, but were his actions heroic? We would normally call somebody a hero if they saved somebody, not killed them. Did Romeo just let his own anger get in the way of reason? Or do you think that it was a noble thing to do, to avenge his friend's death? He certainly didn't think it through, even if he did think it for the best. And where did this leave poor Juliet? I think you will be able to see, from my questions, that you could argue for either side of your question. He is a hero in the way that he is prepared to fight for what he believes in (after all, the ancient Greeks and Romans thought that that type of attitude was "sweet and fitting"). But Romeo just didn't think through his actions, and acted on a passionate spur of the moment feeling on more than one occasion. So would you call him heroic? That could be a matter for debate.
One of Macbeth’s tragic flaw is marrying Lady Macbeth., who is obsessed with the news sent by Macbeth and immediately hatches a plan. When Macbeth tries to back down, she taunts him –‘not a man’ – man valued as a soldier In ‘Romeo and Juliet’, the Prince had already warned the two families that any more fighting would result in serious consequences - everybody including the audience knew that as soon as the fighting began. However, what the audience and a few selected characters also know is that Romeo has just married Juliet, and so we see the repercussions far beyond a mere fight. It was his loyalty to his friend. Romeo knew that he would be in major trouble if he got in another fight. And yet he had just seen his best friend killed. Even worse for him personally is that he has just married the murderer's cousin! So an act of love that should have brought two families together just ended in tragedy. All the things that follow: Romeo being banished, Juliet being betrothed to Paris and forced to marry, the muddle over the messages – may not have happened if Romeo hadn't been involved in the fight The timing of each action influences the outcome of the play. While some events are of less significance, some are crucial to the development of this tragedy. The substantial events that inspire the conclusion of Romeo and Juliet are the Capulet ball, the quarrel experienced by Tybalt and Romeo, and Friar John’s plague. A servant to Capulet, who is incapable of reading the list of guests, asks for Romeo’s assistance. Romeo notices that Rosaline, his lover, is among these names. Benvolio challenges Romeo to compare her with other "beauties." To show his appreciation, the servant asks for Romeo’s presence at the ball. Romeo should have considered the servant’s warning; if Romeo occupies the name of Montague, he shall not be permitted. Once at the ball, Romeo is searching for a maiden to substitute the unreturned love of Rosaline. Romeo happens to gaze upon Juliet, whom he instantly falls in love with. Since Romeo declares his love for Juliet, she feels the attraction also. They believe that they are in love and must marry. However, it is a genuine coincidence that Romeo and Juliet were at the same place, at the same time. Near the end of the play when Juliet refuses to wed Paris, she asks for Friar Laurence’s assistance. The day before the wedding, Juliet is to drink the poison, which will make her appear to be dead. In forty-two hours she shall awake, with Romeo by her side. Romeo will then bring her to Mantua with him. In the meantime Friar Laurence will convey a message to Romeo in Mantua, telling him the plot. When she gains consciousness, Romeo and Friar Laurence will be there. Following Juliet’s intake of the poison, Romeo is anticipating news from Verona. Balthasar, a servant to Romeo, tells Romeo that Juliet has passed on. Romeo, who is told there are no letters from the friar, seeks a way to accomplish his suicide. Meanwhile, Friar Laurence, confronts Friar John, who was to deliver the letter to Romeo. Friar John informs Friar Laurence that he was seeking another Franciscan, who was visiting the sick, to accompany him to Mantua. He says,
"Suspecting that we both were in a house
Where the infectious pestilence did reingn,
Seal’d up the doors, and would not let us forth;"
(Act V, Scene II, Lines 9-11)
Friar John tells that he could find no one to deliver the letter, for fear they may catch the infection.
The substantial events that inspire the conclusion of Romeo and Juliet are; the Capulet ball, the quarrel experienced by Tybalt and Romeo, and Friar John’s plague. The Capulet ball influences the ending of the play by Romeo’s invitation at the ball, which creates the meeting of Romeo and Juliet. The ball also gives birth to Tybalt’s anger and causes his challenge. The challenge causes the banishment of Romeo, which produces much grieving by Juliet and Romeo. Also, the quarrelsome weather is partly to blame for the feuding between Tybalt and Mercutio. Since Friar John did not deliver the letter, Romeo thinks that Juliet is dead, sacrifices himself. Juliet seeing that Romeo is dead, slays herself also. In the beginning of Macbeth, the King gives Macbeth the late Macdonwald’s former title. In this instance ambition is a good thing:
But all’s to week;
For brave Macbeth (well he deserves that name.)
(Act I Scene II Line 16).
At the beginning of the play, Macbeth’s ambition is used to do a good thing, but if you stop to think; would any of this happened had he not killed Macdonwald.
In that case he is still loathsome because of the weakness he exhibits with Lady Macbeth and the unnecessary murders of Lady Macduff and all her household. Macbeth achieved nothing terribly momentous in his life, apart from his success as a soldier. But his latter behaviour ruins any favourable impression you might have formed of him. Macbeth did not die in tragic circumstances; he was killed by the husband and father of people he had murdered without a cause; he was defending his unlawful position as King against the claims of the true heir to the crown, and he died as he lived his life: selfishly and thoughtlessly, without putting right or seeming to regret any of the vile acts he has committed or the self-interested pain he has caused.
Macbeth knows he will be condemned to hell if he does it, but he kills
Duncan anyway because of “vaulting ambition.”
In the end Macduff kills Macbeth because he is an evil tyrant.
Ironically in the beginning of the play, Macbeth is awarded Thane of
Cawdor for stopping a traitor from becoming king. He became in the end what he set out to destroy in the beginning. Because of “vaulting ambition”, Macbeth’s character flaw destroyed him in the end.
‘Macbeth’ fulfils my expectations of a Shakespearean tragedy as it follows all the factors given by Aristotle. ‘Macbeth’ leaves a feeling of catharsis in its audience as I felt upset by the events of the story yet was left with a feeling that it was for the better as evil had been defeated (Macbeth) and good had overcome it (Malcolm). Scotland was a happier place after Macbeth had been defeated. Order was restored and Malcolm brought harmony back to Scotland as he was rightfully king because he was the son of Duncan. I personally found ‘Macbeth’ quite a tragic story as there is a lot if suffering and many people are killed. ‘Romeo and Juliet’ has elements of tragedy. Young, innocent lovers die, through no fault of their own. The play does not show the common pattern of tragedy, a person of high rank falling to death. Instead it shows the deaths of two protagonists, young and hasty, caught in a web only partly of their own making. But if it were not for the sombre Prologue, Romeo and Juliet would seem very much a comedy until the unexpected, almost accidental death of Mercutio.
The second one tells him that, “no man of woman born shall harm Macbeth”, and another says, “Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him.” This gives him security, which, “is mortals’ chieftest enemy”, as Hjecate states; and in this security comes his death.
The daughters of Satan were powerful, yet powerless. They could no directly have killed the king, but they did introduce the thoughts into Macbeth’s head. So, the supernatural did have a profound effect on the natural world, but perhaps Shakespeare wanted the witches and their powers to symbolise the darkness and iniquity that can be found in the depths of man. One thing is certain, these powers were what caused the whole tragedy of Macbeth.
