Macbeth

4 Pages 1098 Words

Aristotle defines tragedy as “an imitation of action that is admirable, complete and possesses magnitude.” A tragedy must be preformed by actors and not through narration and, if done correctly, produce a feeling of catharsis at its finale. A tragedy must contain six essential parts to be complete according to Aristotle; plot, character, dictation, thought, spectacle, and song. Macbeth, by William Shakespeare is a perfect example of an Aristotelian tragedy due to into numerous structural parallels to Aristotle’s Poetics. Macbeth, through it use of many principles laid out in Aristotle’s Poetics, is regarded as an Aristotelian tragedy.
The plot is referred to as the “soul of a tragedy” by Aristotle. In the case of Macbeth the plot is complex. In order for a complex plot to be complete it must contain numerous aspects. There must be an instance of suffering, some form of active circumstance and a change in fortune brought about by a reversal, recognition, or both. A reversal is an occurrence when a character produces an opposite effect than originally intended, whereas, recognition is a change from ignorance to knowledge. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth both recognition and a reversal are present. Macbeth experiences a state of recognition when he realizes that which prophesies are unfolding to a fuller extent than he had expected. Macbeth believes that he is invincible because, the witches prophesized that no man born of woman could harm him in any way. However upon meeting Macduff in his final hour he learned that Macduff was not of natural birth because, he was untimely ripped from his mother’s womb. This scene is also an example of a reversal. Macbeth is under the impression that he will defeat Macduff due to the fact that all men are born of woman. However, the opposite effect is produced when he learns of Macduff unnatural birth. Another aspect of Aristotelian thought that is exhibited in Macbeth is that the story is univ...