Shakespeares Macbeth - A Tragedy Without the Tragic Flaw? :: GCSE English Literature Coursework

Macbeth  A Tragedy Without the Tragic Flaw?   William Shakespeare wrote four great tragedies, the last of which was compose in 1606 and titled Macbeth. This disaster, as many critics of literature consider it, scrutinizes the grievous diwork forcesion of conflict, offering a dark, gloomy atmosphere of a clement dominated by the powers of darkness. Macbeth, more so than any of Shakespeares other tragic protagonists, has to face the powers and decide if he should he succumb or resist. Macbeth understands the reasons for resisting wickedness and yet he proceeds with a disastrous plan, instigated by the prophecies of the trinity Weird Sisters. One may question whether Macbeth is really a tragedy if Macbeth is acting on the impulses stimulated by the prophecies of his fate. Aristotle, one of the greatest men in the history of human thought, interpreted Tragedy as a genre aimed to present a heightened and harmonious imitation of temperament, and, in particular, those aspect s of nature that touch most closely upon human life. This I think Macbeth attains. However, Aristotle adds a few conditions. According to Aristotle, a tragedy must have sestet parts plot, character, diction, thought, spectacle and song however, Macbeth fails to portray the most important part, that of the tragic flaw.                to the highest degree important most important what? is the plot, the structure of the incidents. Tragedy is not an imitation of men, scarce of action and life. It is by mens actions that they acquire happiness or sadness. Aristotle stated, in response to Plato, that tragedy produces a healthful effect on the human character through a katharsis, a proper purgation of sympathize with and terror (authors name page ). A successful tragedy, then, exploits and appeals at the start to two basic emotions fear and pity. Tragedy deals with the element of evil, with what we to the lowest degree want and most fear to face, and with what is destructive to human life and values. It withal draws out our ability to sympathize with the tragic character, feeling some of the jounce of the evil us. It is difficult for the reader feel pity for Macbeth because he is nevertheless part of the evil force that has always existed in our world and not the poor, forsaken, fate-sunken man, according to Aristotles idea of tragedy.  The reader can sense the power and cupidity upon which Macbeth thrives, prospers, and finally falls and therefore the reader sees Macbeth as a stinking guy, feeling little or no pity for him.