Satire Or Tragedy - Macbeth
William Shakespeare wrote four great tragedies, the last of
which was written in 1606 and titled Macbeth. This "tragedy", as it
is considered by societal critics of yesterday's literary world,
scrutinizes the evil dimension of conflict, offering a dark and
gloomy atmosphere of a world dominated by the powers ofdarkness.
Macbeth, more so than any of Shakespeare's other tragic protagonists,
has to face the powers and decide: should he succumb or should he
resist? Macbeth understands the reasons for resisting evil and yet he
proceeds with a disastrous plan, instigated by the prophecies of the
three Weird Sisters. Thus we must ask the question:
If Macbeth is acting on the ...
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character, diction, thought, spectacle, and song. Most important is
the plot, the structure of the incidents. Tragedy is not an imitation
of men, but of action and life. It is by men's 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 "pity and terror." 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 least want and most fear to face, and with what is
destructive to human life and values. It also draws out our ability to
sympathize with the tragic character, feeling some of the impact of
the evil ourselves. Does Macbeth succeed at this level? Can the reader
feel pity and terror for Macbeth? Or does the reader feel that Macbeth
himself is merely a branch from the root of all evil and not the poor,
...
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words, is near perfect in Macbeth, simply because it is written by
William Shakespeare, the inventor of perfect diction. Thought-the task
of saying what is possible and pertinent in the circumstances of
the play-can not be disputed. Spectacle and Song are the effects that
highlight the play, and are pertinent in providing an emotional
attraction. Such elements are easily found in Shakespeare. Macbeth is
written with the style and grace that only Shakespeare could provide.
Thus, these elements of tragic drama can not be challenged in this
argument.
While we need to consider that Macbeth strives on power, and in
doing so loses his values of humility and ...
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"Satire Or Tragedy - Macbeth." Essayworld.com. November 16, 2008. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Satire-Or-Tragedy-Macbeth/93141.
"Satire Or Tragedy - Macbeth." Essayworld.com. November 16, 2008. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Satire-Or-Tragedy-Macbeth/93141.
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