With close reference to the text, explore and analyse the way Shakespeare develops the tragedy in Macbeth

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With close reference to the text, explore and analyse the

Way Shakespeare develops the tragedy in “Macbeth”

The word tragedy is used everyday in the media and it usually means sad and upsetting, but this is a modern usage of the word. In Shakespeare’s plays A tragedy follows a pattern starting with a hero, then who has a tragic flaw which takes over and makes him think, he can do what he likes, which is when his conscience eventually catches up with him and the hero dies. Shakespeare borrowed tragedy from Greek drama and the idea of Hubris, which is a hero who is loved and appreciated and they get too full 0f pride and arrogance the consequences are death because they destroy everyone around them in the process, but he gets what’s coming to him by his nemesis (appropriate revenge).

I am going to look at how Shakespeare develops ideas of tragedy by looking at the journey Macbeth takes. First Macbeth is a noble hero for saving Scotland “O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman” Duncan says this because Macbeth has just saved Scotland and the king; this shows his honour and bravery towards the king. Macbeth is given the title Thane of Cawdor- for being a nobleman; he is also given land and is now known as a war hero. Shakespeare is setting the ground for the tragedy.

 

Shakespeare writes Banquo in Act1, Scene3 because Shakespeare is showing Macbeth has a choice to make, either to listen to the weird sisters or not. Shakespeare writes Banquo in Act 1 Scene 3 because it’s about two people that get told similar prophecy’s how they react is up to them. When Macbeth and Banquo meet the three witches, Macbeth is told three prophecies by them the first is “All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis”, the second is “All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor” and the last witch says “All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter” the witches say these prophecies as a way of temptation. Banquo is also told some prophecies like “your children shall be kings” but Banquo knows that whatever the witches tell him, is going to be evil “and oftentimes, to win us to our harm” Macbeth and Banquo both have choices to make, Banquo decides not to think about what the witches have told him unlike Macbeth he is trapped with the thought of being king, he’s tempted by what the withces have said and thinks about the thought of murder, he’s trying to take it out of his mind but he can’t it’s still there, it won’t go. The witches can use spells and charms on Macbeth but they don’t because the temptation of the prophecies leads Macbeth to a tragic flaw and lets his ambition and greed get the better of him. The witch speak in riddles to Banquo and has no idea what they’re saying. Shakespeare is making it clear that tragedy is born from moral devices, Macbeth turns to Banquo and says “if chance will have me king, why chance may crown me king, without my stir”, the image won’t get out of his head and this is when Banquo warns Macbeth not to listen to the witches because whatever they say it’s evil.

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The first appearance of Lady Macbeth, Shakespeare makes her out as evil, too ambitious and greedy which will show how Macbeth leads to his flaw. A character that will further develop the temptation and pushing of Macbeth’s device. Lady Macbeth is crutial in Act1, Scene 5 because this is when she works on Macbeth and worries that he’s filled with goodness and that he wont go through with the assassination of Duncan. Later in the play Shakespeare shows how she makes him change his mind, not physically but verberally. In a way Shakespeare has made Lady Macbeth like the ...

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