Macbeth, Aristotilean Tragedy?

According to Aristotle, there are certain rules which make a tragedy what it is. After discussing the rules of an Aristotelian tragedy, we will try to learn whether Shakespeare's Macbeth is classified as such. We will find that although Macbeth is considered a tragedy among many people, it does not meet the requirements of an Aristotelian tragedy.

Aristotle's definition of a tragedy consists of several points. "A tragedy, then is the imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself; in language with pleasurable accessories, each kind brought in separately in the parts of the work; in a dramatic, not in a narrative form; with incidents arousing pity and fear, where-with to accomplish its catharsis of such emotions." (Introduction to Aristotle p 631) Aristotle also claims that a tragedy must have six parts, in order of importance: plot, character, thought, diction, melody, and spectacle. Aristotle goes on to say that a tragedy is imitation not of persons, but of action, life, misery and happiness. The action should be a continuous whole. A tragedy must also contain peripety which is defined by Aristotle as "the change of the kind described from one state of things within the play to its opposite..." (Introduction to Aristotle p 637)

Aristotle also says that in order to have the finest tragedy the plot must be complex and must imitate actions arousing fear and pity - the distinctive function of this sort of imitation. He reasons that there are three kinds of plot to avoid. First, to be avoided is that a good man must not be seen going from happiness to misery because it is repellant. Second, a bad man cannot go from misery to happiness because it does not appeal to our human...

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..., "is the greatest of the pleasurable accessories of Tragedy" (Introduction to Aristotle p. 633).

According to the guidelines set by Aristotle, Macbeth is not a tragedy. Many unfortunate incidents does not make an Aristotelian tragedy. Macbeth is a good tragic story; but it does not evoke feelings of pity and fear and does not begin with an exceptionally good character. The peripety in the play is evident, and finally leads to Macbeth's death. The melody is a subject that can be argued, but not obvious. Meeting only one or two of the requirements for Aristotle's definition of a tragedy does not make Macbeth an Aristotelian tragedy, just a sad story.

Works Cited

Introduction to Aristotle, Poetics. Editor: McKeon, Richard. New York: Random House, Inc.,1947.

Macbeth. Shakespeare, William. Editor: Orgel, Stephen. New York: Penguin Putnam, Inc., 2000.