Assignment Paper 101:- Literature of the Elizabethan and Restoration Periods

 Assignment Paper 101:-Literature of the Elizabethan and Restoration Periods 

Table of contents:- 

 1. Personal Information

 2. Assignment Details 

 3. Abstract

 4. What is tragedy

 5. Shakespearean tragedy

 6. 9 Elements of Shakespearean tragedy

 7. Macbeth as a Shakespearean tragedy

 8. Conclusion

Personal Information:-

Name:- Sanket Vavadiya 

Batch:- M.A. Sem 1 (2024-26)

Enrollment number:- 5108240039

E-mail:- vavadiyasanket412@gmail.com

Assignment Details:- 

Topic:- Macbeth as a Shakespearean tragedy

Paper number 101:- Literature of the Elizabethan and Restoration Periods 

Submitted to:- Smt. Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar

Date of submission:- 20 November 2024

Abstract 

William Shakespeare’s Macbeth embodies the core elements of a Shakespearean tragedy, revealing the impact of unchecked ambition and moral decline. The play follows Macbeth, a brave soldier whose ambition is ignited by the witches’ prophecies, leading him to betray his king and disrupt the natural order of his kingdom. Through themes like the struggle between good and evil, supernatural influences, and inner conflict, Shakespeare illustrates how even a noble character can be overcome by flaws. Macbeth’s journey from hero to tyrant shows the dangers of pursuing power at the cost of integrity, making Macbeth a powerful reflection on the consequences of ambition and the fragile nature of human morality.

What Is a Tragedy?

The term "tragedy" derives from the Greek word tragoidia, which means the "song of the goat". It was called the "song of the goat" because, in the past, the theater performers used to wear goatskin costumes to portray mischievous satyrs. 

Today in theater and literature a tragedy is a work that has an unhappy ending. The ending must inn the main character's downfall.

Tragedy is a serious play or drama typically dealing with the problems of a central character, lec an unhappy or disastrous ending brought on, as in ancient drama, by fate and a tragic flaw in th character, or, in modern drama, usually by moral weakness, psychological maladjustment, or sou pressures."

-Webster Dictionary

Shakespearean tragedy:-

Shakespearean tragedies are highly influenced by Greek drama and Aristotle's notion of tragedy. It was Aristotle who had first defined tragedy in his 'Poetics' which is followed even today to analyse modern drama. Aristotle defines tragedy as:

"Tragedy is a representation of an action which is serious, complete in itself, and of a certain magnitude; it is expressed in speech made beautiful in different ways in different parts of the play; it is acted, not narrated and by exciting pity and fear gives a healthy relief to such emotions."

According to A.C. Bradley the Shakespearean Tragedy is "a tale of suffering and calamity conducing to death."

9 Elements of Shakespearean tragedy 

1. Tragic hero

A tragic hero is one of the most significant elements of a Shakespearean tragedy. This type of tragedy is essentially a one-man show. It is a story about one, or sometimes two, characters. The hero may be either male or female, and he or she must suffer because of some flaw of character, because of inevitable fate, or both. The hero must be the most tragic personality in the play.

An important element of the tragic hero is that he or she is a towering personality in his/her state, kingdom, or country. This person hails from the elite stratum of society and holds a high position, often one of royalty.

Tragic heroes are kings, princes, or military generals who are very important to their subjects. Take Hamlet, prince of Denmark, for example; he is intellectual, highly educated, sociable, charming, and philosophic.

The hero is such an important person that his/her death gives rise to full-scale turmoil, disturbance, and chaos throughout the land. When Hamlet takes revenge for the death of his father, he is not only killing his uncle but inviting his own death at the hands of Laertes. And as a direct result of his death, the army of Fortinbras enters Denmark to take control.

2. Good vs Evil

Shakespearean tragedies play out the struggle between good and evil. Most of them deal with the supremacy of evil and suppression of good. According to Edward Dowden, a 19th-century noted poet and literary critic, “Tragedy as conceived by Shakespeare is concerned with the ruin or restoration of the soul and of the life of man. In other words, its subject is the struggle of Good and Evil in the world.”

Evil is presented in Shakespearean tragedies in a way that suggests its existence is indispensable and ever-enduring. For example, in Hamlet, the reader is given the impression that something rotten will definitely happen to Denmark (foreshadowing). Though the reader gets an inkling, typically, the common people of the play are unaware of the impending evil.

In Julius Caesar, the mob is unaware of the struggle between good and evil within King Caesar. They are also ignorant of the furtive and sneaky motives of Cassius. Goodness never beats evil in the tragedies of Shakespeare. Evil conquers goodness.

The reason for this is that the evil element is always disguised, while goodness is open and freely visible to all. The main character (the most pious and honest person in the tragedy) is assigned the task of defeating the supreme evil because of his goodness. As a result, he suffers terribly and ultimately fails due to his fatal flaw.

3. Hamartia

Hamartia is the Greek word for “sin” or “error”, which derives from the verb hamatanein, meaning “to err” or “to miss the mark”. In other words, hamartia refers to the hero's tragic flaw. It is another absolutely critical element of a Shakespearean tragedy.

Every hero falls due to some flaw in his or her character. Here I will once again reference A. C. Bradley, who asserts, “The calamities and catastrophe follow inevitably from the deeds of men and the main source of these deeds is character.” As a result of the fatal flaw, the hero falls from a high position, which usually leads to his/her unavoidable death.

A good example of hamartia can be found in Hamlet when Hamlet's faltering judgment and failure to act led him to his untimely death. He suffers from procrastination. He finds a number of opportunities to kill his uncle, but he fails because of his indecisive and procrastinating nature. Every time, he delays taking action.

In one case, he finds an opportunity to kill Claudius while Claudius is praying. Still, Hamlet forgoes the excellent opportunity to achieve his goal with the excuse that he doesn’t want to kill a man while he is praying. He wants to kill Claudius when he is in the act of committing a sin.

4. Tragic Waste

In Shakespearean tragedies, the hero usually dies along with his opponent. The death of a hero is not an ordinary death; it encompasses the loss of an exceptionally intellectual, honest, intelligent, noble, and virtuous person. In a tragedy, when good is destroyed along with evil, the loss is known as a "tragic waste".

Shakespearean tragedy always includes a tragic waste of goodness. Hamlet is a perfect example of tragic waste. Even though Hamlet succeeds in uprooting the evil from Denmark, he does so at the cost of his death. In this case, the good (Hamlet) gets destroyed along with evil (Claudius). Neither of them wins. Instead, they fail together.

5. Conflict

Conflict is another important element of a Shakespearean tragedy. There are two types of conflicts:

External Conflict

External conflict plays a vital role in the tragedies of Shakespeare. External conflict causes internal conflict in the mind of the tragic hero. Every tragic hero in a Shakespearean play is confronted with external conflicts that must be addressed. Hamlet, for example, is confronted with external conflict in the shape of his uncle, Claudius.

He has to take revenge, but as a result of his uncle's craftiness and effective security, Hamlet isn’t able to translate his ideas into action. This external conflict gives rise to internal conflict, which hinders Hamlet from taking any action.

Internal Conflict

Internal conflict is one of the most essential elements in a Shakespearean tragedy. It refers to the confusion in the mind of the hero. Internal conflict is responsible for the hero's fall, along with fate or destiny. The tragic hero always faces a critical dilemma. Often, he cannot make a decision, which results in his ultimate failure. Again, Hamlet is a perfect example.

He is usually a doer, but over the course of the play, his indecision and frequent philosophical hangups create a barrier to action. Internal conflict is what causes Hamlet to spare the life of Claudius while he is praying.

6. Catharsis

Catharsis is another important feature of a Shakespearean tragedy. It refers to the cleansing of the audience's pent-up emotions. In other words, Shakespearean tragedies help the audience to feel and release emotions through the aid of tragedy. When we watch a tragedy, we identify with the characters and take their losses personally.

A Shakespearean tragedy gives us an opportunity to feel pity for a certain character and fear for another, almost as if we are playing the roles ourselves. The hero's hardships compel us to empathize with him. The villain's cruel deeds cause us to feel wrath toward him. Tears flow freely when a hero like Hamlet dies. At the same time, we feel both sorry for Hamlet and happy that Claudius has received his proper punishment.

7. Supernatural elements

Supernatural elements are one of the key characteristics of a Shakespearean tragedy. They play an important role in creating an atmosphere of awe, wonder, and sometimes fear. Supernatural elements are typically used to advance the story and drive the plot.

The ghost Hamlet sees plays an important role in stirring up internal conflict. The ghost tells Hamlet his father was killed by his uncle Claudius and assigns him the duty of taking revenge.

Similarly, the witches in Macbeth play a significant role in the plot. These witches are responsible for motivating Macbeth to resort to murder in order to ascend the throne of Scotland.

8. Absence of poetic justice

Poetic justice means good is rewarded and evil is punished; it refers to a situation in which everything comes to a fitting and just end.

There is no poetic justice in the tragedies of Shakespeare, rather, these plays contain only partial justice. Shakespeare understood that poetic justice rarely occurs outside of fiction.

Good deeds often go without reward, and immoral people are often free to enjoy life to its fullest. “Do good and have good” was considered an outdated ethos in the time of Shakespeare, which is why we don’t find any poetic justice in his tragedies. Good is crushed along with evil. Hamlet dies along with Claudius.

9. Comic Relief

Comic relief is our final key element. Shakespeare didn’t follow in the footsteps of his classical predecessors when writing tragedies. Greek and Roman writers didn’t use comic relief, but Shakespeare wanted to relieve the tension for the reader and lighten up the mood here and there.

Macbeth as a Shakespearean tragedy:-

Macbeth by William Shakespeare is one of his most compelling tragedies, fitting the characteristics of a Shakespearean tragedy influenced by Aristotle’s ideas. A key aspect of Macbeth as a tragedy is its tragic hero, Macbeth himself. In the beginning, he is portrayed as a loyal, brave soldier, respected by his peers and his king. However, Macbeth’s fatal flaw—his overwhelming ambition—leads him to make terrible choices, beginning with his decision to murder King Duncan to seize the throne. This ambition transforms Macbeth from a hero into a tyrant, causing him to lose his integrity and humanity. His fall is not only personal; it brings chaos to the entire kingdom, illustrating the impact of a tragic hero’s downfall on society.

The struggle between good and evil is also central to Macbeth, where the forces of darkness are embodied by Macbeth’s ambition, the witches’ influence, and Lady Macbeth’s manipulation. These dark forces contrast with the play’s representations of loyalty, represented by King Duncan and characters like Macduff and Malcolm. As Macbeth’s ambition grows, he increasingly aligns with evil, ultimately sacrificing his morality. Shakespeare presents this conflict as inevitable, with Macbeth caught in a downward spiral as he tries to secure his power. The struggle between good and evil reflects the play’s exploration of the corrupting influence of unchecked ambition.

Another critical element of Macbeth as a Shakespearean tragedy is the concept of hamartia, or the tragic flaw. Macbeth’s fatal flaw—his ambition—leads him to believe he can defy moral laws to achieve his goals. Once he kills Duncan, he is driven by paranoia and feels compelled to continue his crimes to protect his power. This ambition clouds his judgment, resulting in his increasing isolation and guilt. Shakespeare uses Macbeth’s tragic flaw to show how even noble individuals can become corrupt when their desires overpower their sense of right and wrong. Macbeth’s downfall is a direct result of his choices, reinforcing the idea that character, rather than fate alone, leads to tragedy.

The idea of tragic waste is also present in Macbeth, where both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, once capable individuals, lose their nobility and self-respect. Macbeth’s initial virtues as a loyal soldier are destroyed by his ambition, while Lady Macbeth’s strength is eroded by guilt, leading her to madness and death. Their fall symbolizes a waste of potential and goodness. In the end, both good (in the form of the characters’ original virtues) and evil (their ambitions) are destroyed, representing Shakespeare’s view that the pursuit of power often leads to self-destruction.

Conflict, both internal and external, plays a major role in Macbeth’s journey. Externally, he faces enemies like Macduff and Malcolm, who represent the forces of justice and loyalty. Internally, Macbeth’s conscience and guilt clash with his ambition, creating a constant state of tension. His internal conflict is most evident in scenes where he hesitates, feeling remorse for his actions. Shakespeare shows how Macbeth’s inner turmoil reflects his battle between ambition and morality, with his ambition ultimately winning out, leading to his complete downfall.

Macbeth also provides the audience with a sense of catharsis, or emotional cleansing, as they experience feelings of pity and fear through Macbeth’s journey. We feel pity for Macbeth as he becomes trapped by his own choices, and fear as his ambition spirals out of control. Watching Macbeth’s life unravel allows the audience to confront their own fears about the consequences of unchecked desires. This catharsis reminds us of the emotional costs of ambition and the importance of maintaining our values.

Supernatural elements add a layer of mystery to Macbeth, as they influence Macbeth’s choices and foreshadow the tragic events to come. The witches’ prophecies plant the seed of ambition in Macbeth, and their cryptic messages manipulate him further. These supernatural elements, including the visions Macbeth sees and Lady Macbeth’s invocation of dark spirits, create a sense of foreboding and reinforce the dark, fatalistic tone of the play. They also raise questions about fate versus free will, as Macbeth struggles with his own choices within the framework of the prophecies.

The play’s lack of poetic justice, where good is rewarded and evil punished, adds to its tragic nature. While Macbeth faces death as a consequence of his actions, innocent characters like King Duncan and Lady Macduff also suffer due to Macbeth’s ambition. This lack of complete justice reflects Shakespeare’s view that life can be unfair, and that good people sometimes suffer along with the wicked. The absence of poetic justice makes Macbeth feel more realistic and tragic, emphasizing the destructive nature of ambition.

In Macbeth, Shakespeare incorporates brief moments of comic relief, such as the scene with the Porter, who jokes about being the gatekeeper to hell. This moment provides a temporary break from the tension of the play, allowing the audience to catch their breath before the horror resumes. This use of comic relief enhances the emotional depth of the play by contrasting moments of horror with humor, highlighting the tragedy of Macbeth’s descent.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Macbeth exemplifies a Shakespearean tragedy with its tragic hero, exploration of good versus evil, and portrayal of the destructive power of ambition. Macbeth’s journey from noble soldier to tyrant shows the dangers of unchecked desires and moral compromise. The play’s dark themes, combined with supernatural elements and moments of catharsis, make Macbeth a powerful and timeless tragedy that continues to resonate with audiences today.

Reference

- Definition and characteristics of Shakespearean tragedy - owlcation. (n.d.). https://owlcation.com/humanities/Shakespearean-Tragedy-Definition-and-Characteristics-of-Shakespearean-Tragedy 

-  Scribd. (n.d.). Characteristics of shakespearean tragedy. Scribd. https://www.scribd.com/document/536885697/Characteristics-of-Shakespearean-Tragedy