Analyzing Macbeth's Expectations Of A Tragedy

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In Professor Franklin’s General Literature Spring semester class, there is a Drama module. In this module, the class must analyze Macbeth; this is a play, more specifically a tragedy, written by William Shakespeare. In this essay, I will go over many things. First, I will explain what a tragedy is: I will recount the basic expectations in a tragedy and what gives a tragedy its name. I will also explain how the events in Macbeth make it a tragedy. Second, I will write three paragraphs per act in the play. In paragraph one, I will name the character who dies and describe them (side note: for Act IV paragraphs I will describe two characters). In paragraph two, I will give a quote from the act and include the scene and character that they …show more content…

Lastly, I will make a conclusion of my essay by going over what I have talked about. I will talk about tragedies and how Macbeth classifies as one. I will explain Macbeth’s actions and how it ultimately leads to the bane of his existence and reign as King. To begin, I would like to give the general expectations of a tragedy. According to Professor Franklin’s “Tragedy for non-English Majors”, a character “falling” from a “high place” and character(s) death can be expected in a tragedy. Tragedies are usually named after characters that go through tragic events (i.e. Macbeth). In Macbeth many characters die--at least one per Act. The first act I am going to talk about is Act I. Macdonwald was the leader of the rebel forces and a traitor. To quote Shakespeare, “But all’s too weak, for brave Macbeth--well he deserves that name-- disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution, like valor’s minion carved out his passage till he faced the slave; which ne’er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, till he unseamed him from the nave to th’ chops, and fixed his head upon our battlements.” (Act I, Scene II). This scene that this quote is found in described the beginning of the fight, and either Macbeth or Macdonwald could have defeated the other. For a while, it started to seem like Macdonwald would win, but then Macbeth pulled through …show more content…

Macbeth, the main character who has killed so many for his own sake, dies. He said, “Why should I play the Roman fool and die on mine own sword? Whiles I see lives, the gashes do better upon them.” (Act V, Scene VIII). This translates to “I am not going to kill myself; I would rather use my sword to kill my enemies than myself.” In this scene, which is a fighting scene, Macbeth intended to kill Macduff. The witches told Macbeth that he should fear “no man born of woman”. Macbeth did not understand very well what they meant; he thought it meant he should fear no man. Things changed when Macduff told him he was born via C-section. It was a loophole. Macduff cut off Macbeth’s head for murdering his Lady and son. In conclusion, Macbeth was a tragedy. This play was a tragedy because many characters died, including the main character which is where the name comes from. In the end, Macbeth paid for his consequences. His own greediness caused him the loss of his best friend, Banquo. It caused him the loss of any friends he had--anyone on his side, for that matter. He killed so many others to protect himself that he lost the only thing he cared about: the throne. He lost his

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