Shakespeares Macbeth - Aristotelian Tragedy :: Macbeth essays

Macbeth Aristotelian Tragedy                  The  definition of tragedy in an excerpt from Aristotles Poetics isthe re-creation, complete within itself, of an important moral action.  Therelevance of Aristotles Poetics to Shakespeares play Macbeth defines themaking of a dramatic tragedy and presents the general principles of theconstruction of this genre.      Aristotles attention throughout most of his Poetics is directed towardsthe requirements and expectations of the plot.  Plot, the soul of tragedy,Aristotle says, must, be an imitation of a noble and complete action.    InMacbeth, Shakespear provides a complete action, that is it has what Aristotleidentifies as a beginning, a middle, and an end.  These divisible sections must,and do in the case of Macbeth, meet the criterion of their respective placement.In an excerpt from Aristotles Poetics it states   &n bsp       The classify breachs into which tragedy is divided are Prologue,Episode, Exodus, Choric songs, this last being divided into Parodos and Stasimon.The prologos is that entire fiber of a tragedy which precedes the Parodos of theChorus.  The Episode is that entire part of a tragedy which is between completechoric songs.  The Exodos is that entire part of a tragedy which has no choricsong after it.  Of the Choric part the Parodos is the first undivided utteranceof the Chorus. Shakespeare follows this precise assemblement of parts to tellhis story of Macbeth.  Macbeth is divided into five acts.  It contains aPrologue, Episode, Exodus, Parodos and Stasimon, but is the only one ofShakespeares plays that does not include Choric songs.  This does not dismissMacbeth as a tragedy in the Aristotelian sense, because it still followsAristotles fundamental component of a plot.  That the arrangement of actionsand episodes arrange them selves into a causally connected, seamless whole.The ideal arrangement of action into a plot is Exposition, Inciting Action,Rising Action, Turning Point(Climax), Falling Action, and Denouement.  Macbethfollows each of these steps while introducing a cutting question every moment thatkeeps our interest.  That is called dramatic tension, a very important part of atragedy to keep the audiences attention at all times.         To own Macbeths plot a complete action, according to Aristotle, thestory must contain an activating circumstance, a disclosure, and a reversal ofaction.  The activating circumstance in Macbeth is the ternion witches.  Macbethand Banqou meet three witches that posses supernatural powers and predict thetwo mens futures.  It is part of the wicked sisters role in the play to act asthe forces of fate.  These hags lead Macbeth on to destroy himself.  Their