Reflection of Aristotle’s Theory of Tragedy on Shakespeare’s Macbeth
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Abstract
In the Tragedy of Macbeth by William Shakespeare, Macbeth fits the definition of an Aristotelian tragedy. Macbeth is a tragic hero because he starts by being loyal and trustworthy, develops a tragic flaw that leads to his downfall, and he redeems a small measure of himself before he dies. An Aristotelian tragic hero is a person who is born into a noble family and who, by fate, has a tragic flaw that ultimately causes him or her to fall from grace but who ultimately redeems them by the end of the tragedy. Due to his efforts to redeem a small portion of his nobility, Macbeth is a tragic hero. By persevering in battle until the very end, he atoned for his sins. Despite knowing his fate, he persisted in fighting. After all that he has done, Macbeth also feels guilty. That demonstrates that he still has a conscience and some redeeming qualities. The entire plot of Macbeth reflects the Aristotelian Tragedy theory. The article makes an effort to demonstrate how Macbeth and Aristotle's idea of tragedy are related.
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References
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