... several kinds being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not of narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions."" This complex yet important sentence is the definition of a tragedy, according to Aristotle. The question of whether Macbeth is a tragedy is a highly debatable issue, because many things can constitue a tragedy " ... ;for example, Aristotle's teaching that a tragedy must consist of six parts: plot, character, diction, thought, spectacle, and sons. Macbeth, however, is not a tragedy because we can neither love Macbet...

• Word Count: 1270
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

As is only expected in traditional tragedy, Shakespeare's dark tale Macbeth, concludes with a righteous character, Malcolm, the heir to the Throne of Scotland, commenting on what has passed. He magnanimously invites all present to join him at Scone, the customary venue for coronations in mediaeval ... murderer. In fact, Lady Macbeth's ultimate demise is also an indication that she is more than purely a 'fiend', a woman driven to desperate measures in a society that privileges her husband. Complex and intriguing, the two protagonists of the play are far more than Malcolm conceives, and t...

• Word Count: 1419
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... to support many different viewpoints and it was probably Shakespeare's intention to make it this way. The characters in Macbeth are so complex that their conflicting traits leave the readers no choice but to decide for themselves how a character would be portrayed. The questions that arise from reading the play cause each reader to think more deeply about each scene and make ... ...

• Word Count: 979
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate