Macbeth : The Tragedy Essay, Research Paper
Many people believe that Shakespeare’s plays all have a tragedy to them. There are very good arguments that support this theory. Macbeth is one of the many tragic plays that Shakespeare has written. There are many incidents that take place in the play of Macbeth, which prove that this is a tragic play. There are the murders of many innocent people. There is the murder of King Duncan, who is killed by Macbeth. There is the murder of Banquo, which is set up by Macbeth. There is the murder of Macduff’s wife and son, which is also set up by Macbeth. These meaningless killings are what make Macbeth a tragic story.
The first tragic murder in the play was that of King Duncan. Duncan was a respected man by all in Scotland. Duncan had no enemies within his kingdom. He was a good leader and good father to his sons and to Macbeth as well. People were shocked to discover the murder of Duncan had taken place. Duncan was liked by everyone in Scotland, which made it hard for the people of Scotland to come up with a conclusion as to why Duncan was murdered. This is best summarized by Banquo’s reaction towards Duncan’s death,”? Fears and scruples shake us. In the great hand of God I stand, and thence against the undivulged pretense I fight?” here Banquo is saying that no one person can be suspected for committing this crime and that this murder has a hidden purpose (II, iii, l. 131-133). Duncan was killed for a very terrible reason. Macbeth killed Duncan because Macbeth was greedy and was desperate to be become king. Macbeth wanted to be in control and knew that if he killed Duncan he would be able to receive it. An innocent man is killed because of the greed of another man. Such a tragedy is inhuman. Others have also been killed because of Macbeth.
The second tragic murder in the play was the brutal killing of Banquo. Banquo was an innocent man that had no flaws whatsoever. Banquo was always kind to everyone and respectful to Macbeth, even though he knew Macbeth killed Duncan. Banquo was also a loving father. Banquo had a son named Fleance whom he loved very much. When Macbeth sent the murderers out to kill Banquo and Fleance, Banquo sacrificed his own life so that Fleance could get away. Banquo never suspected that Macbeth would do such a cruel thing, to try to kill him and his son. Macbeth tried to kill them because the witches had told him that Banquo’s sons would become kings. Macbeth was scared of losing the kingdom and the power. Therefore, he had sent murderers to kill both of them, but Fleance escaped. We know Fleance
escapes when the third murder recites, “There’s but one down; the son is fled.” (III, iii, l. 20). Macbeth felt Banquo was a threat. The only reason Macbeth had Banquo killed was because Macbeth felt Banquo was very smart and thought he might have been a threat to him and his power. Macbeth was afraid that Banquo had learned his bloody secret and was going to tell everyone about it. However, Banquo was too loyal to do such a thing. Another innocent man is killed because of the apprehension of another man. A tragedy such as this can only be the result of a rash decision. Yet, this is not the only imprudent decision made by Macbeth.
The third tragic murder in the play was the infuriated assassination of Macduff’s wife and son. They were the most innocent characters in the play. Macduff’s wife and son did not have a major part in the play but were related to a character that did. In addition, because of their relation with Macduff they were killed. They had not done anything wrong and were not disrespectful to the king. They were completely noble people who were killed without any explicable reason. Macbeth’s power is the source of what made him do such a horrific deed. Macduff suspected Macbeth of killing Duncan. Macbeth knew that Macduff was going to proclaim how Duncan really died. Macbeth wanting to still be king declared that he would not step down from his royal position. Macbeth instead sent a message to Macduff, which he reveals in these lines, “The flight purpose never is o’ertook
Unless the deed go with it?” (IV, I, l. 145-146). Macbeth was ready to do battle, and because of what the witches told him, he was positive that he was going to win. Here an enemy of the child’s father assassinates an innocent women and her child. A tragedy of this nature can only be described as a ruthless act of a demon.
This play is a tragedy because of all the pointless killings that take place in the story of Macbeth. Duncan was an innocent man who was killed because of Macbeth’s greediness to become king. Banquo was another innocent man who was murdered because of Macbeth’s fear of what might happen to him if Banquo told everyone who really killed Duncan. Lady Macduff and her son were two very insignificant characters in the play and did not deserve to die because they were not at fault. The killings that take place in the play, with a doubt, were entirely unnecessary. Therefore making Macbeth a tragedy. Nevertheless, if this play was not to have these, redundant killings take place; Macbeth would have been a very boring play that the people in Shakespeare’s time would have not enjoyed. So Shakespeare included these killings into the play for a reason, and that was to make this one of the greatest tragic plays ever written.