Summary: Aristotelian Tractation Of Macbeth

The play consists of five acts. The first act is prologue where we learn about the situation in Scotland, meet the main characters, and learn about the witches’ evil plot involving Macbeth. During the second act, we learn about conflict when Macbeth and his wife kill the king and take the throne. They go on a tyrannical killing spree. The action increases when we see how ambitious Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have become. In the third act, the plot reaches its climax when Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo whom he killed and Lady Macbeth becomes mentally unstable.

It is time when the couple begins to fear the consequences of their murderous actions. The fourth act represents falling action when Macduff incited mutiny, and Macbeth learns another prophecy. The denouement in the fifth act shows that the predictions of the three witches come true, and the castle is stormed. In the end, Macbeth is slain.

Macbeth is the protagonist of the play.

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He is not just a tyrant and usurper of the throne who has received his retribution, but at the same time, he is a truly tragic character, torn by the contradictions of his human nature. Interestingly, Macbeth does not have an obvious antagonist. He combines hero and antihero, protagonist, and antagonist. As a man who has made a mistake and is suffering the pangs of conscience, Macbeth is a tragic hero. As a person who persists in choosing the path of evil, Macbeth is a tragic villain and, therefore, his antagonist.

During the play, Macbeth’s tragic flaw grows. This flaw is uncontrolled ambitions. In the beginning, Macbeth seems loyal enough to his king, but the prophecy to become a king takes out his initial loyalty. Because of the greatness of his ambitions, Macbeth does not stop to consider the possible consequences of the witches ' prophecy. Convinced by his equally ambitious wife, Macbeth decides that his destiny is to become king immediately, and he commits terrible crimes to get there. If he wasn't too ambitious, he could either ignore the prophecy or think of it as a distant future that he could wait for. Since his behavior was determined by his ambitions, he started a chain of events that got out of his control. Convinced that everyone is ambitious like he, Macbeth becomes paranoid and violent. His ambitions make him a king but they destroy his life and the lives of others.

In the play, the main conflict is in the nature of man. Shakespeare tries to explore a lot of questions. Is it possible to betray for the sake of a high idea? Does fate exist and is it possible to resist it? He focuses on critical and crisis states of consciousness and the causes of spiritual crisis. The author also raises the question of the pernicious influence of individual power, and especially of the struggle for power, which turns the brave man, a valiant and illustrious hero, into a detested villain. The play reflects eternal things and reminds humanity of what people can be and what they should not be.

Shakespeare set his play in blank verse what enhances the drama and move play along. Word as the main tool should be as meaningful as possible that a few lines give the reader an idea of what is happening. Blank verse gave Shakespeare enough space to expressive means without focusing on special rhyme. The metaphorical manner in play creates a disturbing and sorrowful mood. For example, on the eve of battle, Macbeth compares his life to a withered, yellow leaf. He is deprived of everything: honor, obedience, love, friends are not for him, he will only get curses. He says, referring to his life: ' Out, out, brief candle! '.

This scene shows Lady Macbeth’s payback for her crime. We see that an ambitious and strong person is broken. After reading this dialog, you got the feeling that she is doomed. At the same time, you feel that it is a fair punishment. The most beautiful thing that we associate with femininity – love and motherhood – is betrayed by her in the name of the power and illusory greatness. Her love is only intended to encourage Macbeth to commit a crime, and she admits that she would have broken the head of her child, rather than break a criminal oath to kill the king.