Macbeth Is Not an Aristotlean Essay
The missing elements of an Aristotelian Tragedy in Shakespeare's Macbeth
Ashley B.
Eng3D
May 9th 2010
Aristotle was a philosopher who used to think about the world and how things happen. Aristotle came up with a theory for what a tragedy should be. Aristotle's theory for the perfect tragedy was that it should create fear and pity in the reader, and end in the purging of those emotions. Macbeth does not full fill the requirements of an Aristotelian tragedy. The elements of plot, character, and katharsis are a huge part of his definition of a tragedy yet those elements are very lacking in the play Macbeth.
Macbeth does not have a cause-and-effect chain because the witches play the part of deus ex machina. Deus ex machina is an outside force that moves the play along and with out it would not have a plot or would be unable to continue the plot. Aristotle says that his definition of a tragedy cannot include deus ex machina, 'The plot must be “complete,” having “unity of action.” ... bound together by internal necessity, each action leading inevitably to the next with no outside intervention, no deus ex machina' (McManus) Without deus ex machina it would be impossible for Macbeth to have anything of a plot. In the play Macbeth the witches say prophecy and foreshadow the rest of the play, this causes Macbeth to act in ways that cause an effect. The witches have a prophecy that Macbeth will become king, 'All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Glamis' (Shakespeare 11). They also have a prophecy that Banquo will not become a king, but his son will, 'Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none' (Shakespeare 13). Because of the witches prophecy about Macbeth and Banquo it causes Macbeth to be proud and happy, and Banquo to be jealous and confused. The witches have a ruler, Hecate, Hecate is the 'god' of the underworld and with her in the play, it is definite that Macbeth has deus ex machina old of the elements that was made a play non-Aristotelian and didn't find
Ashley B.
Eng3D
May 9th 2010
Aristotle was a philosopher who used to think about the world and how things happen. Aristotle came up with a theory for what a tragedy should be. Aristotle's theory for the perfect tragedy was that it should create fear and pity in the reader, and end in the purging of those emotions. Macbeth does not full fill the requirements of an Aristotelian tragedy. The elements of plot, character, and katharsis are a huge part of his definition of a tragedy yet those elements are very lacking in the play Macbeth.
Macbeth does not have a cause-and-effect chain because the witches play the part of deus ex machina. Deus ex machina is an outside force that moves the play along and with out it would not have a plot or would be unable to continue the plot. Aristotle says that his definition of a tragedy cannot include deus ex machina, 'The plot must be “complete,” having “unity of action.” ... bound together by internal necessity, each action leading inevitably to the next with no outside intervention, no deus ex machina' (McManus) Without deus ex machina it would be impossible for Macbeth to have anything of a plot. In the play Macbeth the witches say prophecy and foreshadow the rest of the play, this causes Macbeth to act in ways that cause an effect. The witches have a prophecy that Macbeth will become king, 'All hail Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Glamis' (Shakespeare 11). They also have a prophecy that Banquo will not become a king, but his son will, 'Thou shalt get kings, though thou be none' (Shakespeare 13). Because of the witches prophecy about Macbeth and Banquo it causes Macbeth to be proud and happy, and Banquo to be jealous and confused. The witches have a ruler, Hecate, Hecate is the 'god' of the underworld and with her in the play, it is definite that Macbeth has deus ex machina old of the elements that was made a play non-Aristotelian and didn't find