Shakespeare’Shakespeare’s Tragediess Tragedies

They are all pretty They are all pretty much the same, much the same,

with slight with slight differences.differences.

DefinitionDefinition

A tragedy is a dramatic play of A tragedy is a dramatic play of human actions that produces human actions that produces exceptional suffering, ending in the exceptional suffering, ending in the death of a tragic hero.death of a tragic hero.

A A tragic herotragic hero is the main character is the main character in a tragedy who makes an error in in a tragedy who makes an error in his actions that leads to his or her his actions that leads to his or her downfall. It can also be a flawed downfall. It can also be a flawed character trait. character trait.

MacbethMacbeth

Macbeth is a tragic Macbeth is a tragic hero because of a hero because of a flawed character: he flawed character: he is ambitious.is ambitious.

His over ambition His over ambition causes him to make causes him to make poor decisions poor decisions which eventually which eventually lead to his death. lead to his death.

Dramatic StructureDramatic Structure

In a Shakespearean drama, each of the In a Shakespearean drama, each of the five acts corresponds with the following five acts corresponds with the following five components.five components.

1.1. IntroductionIntroduction

2.2. ComplicationComplication

3.3. ClimaxClimax

4.4. Falling ActionFalling Action

5.5. CatastropheCatastrophe

IntroductionIntroduction

Provides exposition.Provides exposition. Creates tone.Creates tone. Defines setting.Defines setting. Reveals main conflict.Reveals main conflict. Introduces some characters.Introduces some characters.

ComplicationComplication

Rising action.Rising action.Building of Building of

tension tension caused by caused by conflict of conflict of opposing opposing forces.forces.

ClimaxClimax

The peak of action The peak of action and emotional and emotional intensity.intensity.

From this point on, From this point on, action and action and intensity must intensity must necessarily decline. necessarily decline.

Sometimes Sometimes referred to as the referred to as the turning point.turning point.

Falling ActionFalling Action

Stresses action from the forces Stresses action from the forces opposing the protagonist.opposing the protagonist.

Suspense must be maintained Suspense must be maintained while the action moves swiftly while the action moves swiftly and logically towards the and logically towards the disaster, the tragedy.disaster, the tragedy.

CatastropheCatastrophe

Moment marking the protagonist’s Moment marking the protagonist’s tragic downfall, often culminating in tragic downfall, often culminating in that character’s death.that character’s death.

Order is restored at the end.Order is restored at the end.Audience is satisfies that characters Audience is satisfies that characters

have been suitably rewarded or have been suitably rewarded or punished. punished.

MacbethMacbeth

Based on a true story.Based on a true story. Much of the factual content was altered to Much of the factual content was altered to

please King James I.please King James I. Play is about James’s ancestors, Banquo Play is about James’s ancestors, Banquo

and Fleance, and how they inherited the and Fleance, and how they inherited the throne of Scotland.throne of Scotland.

Shakespeare altered the fact that Banquo Shakespeare altered the fact that Banquo actually helped Macbeth kill Duncan actually helped Macbeth kill Duncan because it would have been a huge insult because it would have been a huge insult to insinuate to James that his ancestors to insinuate to James that his ancestors gained the throne through murder.gained the throne through murder.

MacbethMacbeth

James wrote a book James wrote a book about witchcraft, about witchcraft, DaemonologieDaemonologie, and , and participated in several participated in several trials of witchcraft.trials of witchcraft.

Shakespeare’s inclusion Shakespeare’s inclusion of the witchcraft motif is of the witchcraft motif is an appeal to James’s an appeal to James’s interests.interests.

The Real MacbethThe Real Macbeth

Duncan was an unpopular king.Duncan was an unpopular king. In 1040, after Duncan’s death, In 1040, after Duncan’s death,

possibly by Macbeth, Macbeth was possibly by Macbeth, Macbeth was elected High-King.elected High-King.

Ruled for 17 years.Ruled for 17 years.Duncan’s son, Malcolm, Duncan’s son, Malcolm, invaded Scotland.invaded Scotland.Macbeth was killed in Macbeth was killed in August of 1057.August of 1057.

Macbeth and LanguageMacbeth and Language

Written in Written in blank verseblank verse

In general, In general, written in written in iambic iambic pentameterpentameter

Curse of MacbethCurse of Macbeth In 1604 Will Shakespeare in his zeal to please King James I, In 1604 Will Shakespeare in his zeal to please King James I,

an authority on demonology, cast caution and imagination an authority on demonology, cast caution and imagination aside and for the opening scene of Macbeth's Act IV he aside and for the opening scene of Macbeth's Act IV he reproduced a 17th century black-magic ritual, a sort of how-reproduced a 17th century black-magic ritual, a sort of how-to for budding witches. Without changing an ingredient, Old to for budding witches. Without changing an ingredient, Old Will provided his audience with step-by-step instructions in Will provided his audience with step-by-step instructions in the furtive art of spell casting: the furtive art of spell casting:

"Round around the cauldron go;"Round around the cauldron go;In the poison'd entrails throw.In the poison'd entrails throw.Toad, that under cold stoneToad, that under cold stoneDays and nights has thirty-oneDays and nights has thirty-oneSwelter'd venum sleeping got.Swelter'd venum sleeping got.Boil thou first i' the charmed pot"Boil thou first i' the charmed pot"...And so on....And so on.

The ritual's practitioners were not amused by this detailed The ritual's practitioners were not amused by this detailed public exposure of their witchcraft, and it is said that as public exposure of their witchcraft, and it is said that as punishment they cast an everlasting spell on the play, punishment they cast an everlasting spell on the play, turning it into the most ill-starred of all theatrical turning it into the most ill-starred of all theatrical productions. It is so unlucky that by comparison to productions. It is so unlucky that by comparison to Macbeth's nearly 400-year history of unmitigated disaster, Macbeth's nearly 400-year history of unmitigated disaster, Murphy's Law appears exceedingly optimistic. Murphy's Law appears exceedingly optimistic.