Evoking Sympathy for Macbeth

Evoking Sympathy for Macbeth        Within Macbeth the tragedy and demise of Macbeth is an important factor in determining his character as a tragic hero.  However in order to elucidate on this point we need to define what is a tragedy.  Aristotle within ‘Poetics’ highlighted what characteristics he believed to define tragedy these being;  ’…Imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself...in a dramatic, not narrative form; with incidents arising pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish its catharsis of such emotions’  And immediately we are brought to tragedy and what the concept of a hero is. In Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, the character of Macbeth murders his king, Duncan, for personal motives, there appears to be little subjective reasoning for the murder.  This perhaps encapsulates the notion of an incident which has the potential to arise pity from an audience. The reader begins to pity Macbeth despite the obvious character flaws of greed and corruption.  Shakespeare manipulates the audience to react sympathetically towards Macbeth through the use of Macbeth's actions, dialogue, and passion.   Throughout the story, there is a feeling of animosity toward Macbeth in response to his deleterious actions.  However, scenes revealing Macbeth's more admirable side balance and even abet that negative feeling.   One particular instance where the reader has the potential to feel pity for Macbeth appears in the dialogue immediately before Macbeth decides whether or not to kill King Duncan.  Macbeth is unsure of the morality of the murder.  During much self-deliberation, he agonizes in the monologue,  "I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed" (I.vii.14-15).   While Macbeth contemplates whether murdering Duncan is feasible, Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth that he would murder Duncan if he were truly brave and masculine.  Lady Macbeth goes on to remark that if he murders Duncan, Macbeth  "would be so much more the man" (I.vii.58).  A weak Macbeth gives in to his wife's badgering and manipulation and reluctantly agrees to participate in the murder. The audience feels sympathy for an insecure Macbeth as he begins his spiral into ultimate destruction. It appears that without the push of Lady Macbeth the deed would have been unlikely to have taken place.   Another instance in which Macbeth seems weak and pitiable is at the banquet held in his honor.  Before the dinner party begins, Macbeth orders the assassination of his friend Banquo.  After Banquo is killed, his ghost attends Macbeth's banquet, visible only to Macbeth.  The chain of events that occurs at the party lends sympathy to Macbeth.  His deteriorating mental state becomes known to all when he first beholds the ghost.  He cries out to the guests, inquiring who has played the cruel trick.  Macbeth, in horror, yells to the ghost,  "Thou canst say I did it.  Never shake thy gory locks at me" (III.iv.65-66).   Eventually, Macbeth goes into a rage and cowers before the ghost of Banquo, begging it:  "to quit my sight!  Let the earth hide thee!" (III.iv.116-117).  Meanwhile, the guests, oblivious to the ghost, watch Macbeth's tantrum and his recoil.  The reader feels pity for a defenseless Macbeth as it becomes evident that his mental balance is diminishing and this ghost is a direct result of Macbeth's guilty conscience.  Macbeth, who was once a strong, righteous character, has turned into a paranoid shell of a man.  Possibly Macbeth's most hopeless moment occurs an instant before he is slain by Macduff, a man of stronger constitution.  The desperation Macbeth exhibits in this final act allows the audience to sympathize with him.  Until the last moment, Macbeth clings to a hope that he will somehow survive the siege of his castle.  Macduff crushes Macbeth's last hope when he informs Macbeth that he, Macduff, was  "from his mother's womb untimely ripped’ (V.viii.19-20)  Obviously referring to a birth via caesarean section.  This revelation fulfills the prophecy of Macbeth's doom.  Though Macbeth understands that he will be butchered, he  "will not yield" or surrender to Macduff (V.viii.32-39).     Macbeth shows that he is still very human and vows he "will try to the last" (V.viii.37).  The reader feels sympathy for Macbeth because of his brave display of conviction and pursuit of honorable death.  Macbeth dies with dignity by not trying to fight his fate, also invoking pity from the reader.   Judging Macbeth superficially by his actions alone leaves the reader no choice but to consider him evil and immoral; yet, when one examines the full presentation of the character and understands his mental anguish, a feeling of sympathy is evoked.  Macbeth, a victim of his own ambition, breaks down mentally, becoming overly paranoid.  At the end of the play, Macbeth attempts to regain some dignity by dying with courage and not fighting his fate.  Indeed, when one examines the presentation of Macbeth and not just his actions, one feels sympathy for the tragic hero. 

Evoking Sympathy for Macbeth        Within Macbeth the tragedy and demise of Macbeth is an important factor in determining his character as a tragic hero.  However in order to elucidate on this point we need to define what is a tragedy.  Aristotle within ‘Poetics’ highlighted what characteristics he believed to define tragedy these being;  ’…Imitation of an action that is serious and also, as having magnitude, complete in itself...in a dramatic, not narrative form; with incidents arising pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish its catharsis of such emotions’  And immediately we are brought to tragedy and what the concept of a hero is. In Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, the character of Macbeth murders his king, Duncan, for personal motives, there appears to be little subjective reasoning for the murder.  This perhaps encapsulates the notion of an incident which has the potential to arise pity from an audience. The reader begins to pity Macbeth despite the obvious character flaws of greed and corruption.  Shakespeare manipulates the audience to react sympathetically towards Macbeth through the use of Macbeth's actions, dialogue, and passion.   Throughout the story, there is a feeling of animosity toward Macbeth in response to his deleterious actions.  However, scenes revealing Macbeth's more admirable side balance and even abet that negative feeling.   One particular instance where the reader has the potential to feel pity for Macbeth appears in the dialogue immediately before Macbeth decides whether or not to kill King Duncan.  Macbeth is unsure of the morality of the murder.  During much self-deliberation, he agonizes in the monologue,  "I am his kinsman and his subject, strong both against the deed" (I.vii.14-15).   While Macbeth contemplates whether murdering Duncan is feasible, Lady Macbeth convinces Macbeth that he would murder Duncan if he were truly brave and masculine.  Lady Macbeth goes on to remark that if he murders Duncan, Macbeth  "would be so much more the man" (I.vii.58).  A weak Macbeth gives in to his wife's badgering and manipulation and reluctantly agrees to participate in the murder. The audience feels sympathy for an insecure Macbeth as he begins his spiral into ultimate destruction. It appears that without the push of Lady Macbeth the deed would have been unlikely to have taken place.   Another instance in which Macbeth seems weak and pitiable is at the banquet held in his honor.  Before the dinner party begins, Macbeth orders the assassination of his friend Banquo.  After Banquo is killed, his ghost attends Macbeth's banquet, visible only to Macbeth.  The chain of events that occurs at the party lends sympathy to Macbeth.  His deteriorating mental state becomes known to all when he first beholds the ghost.  He cries out to the guests, inquiring who has played the cruel trick.  Macbeth, in horror, yells to the ghost,  "Thou canst say I did it.  Never shake thy gory locks at me" (III.iv.65-66).   Eventually, Macbeth goes into a rage and cowers before the ghost of Banquo, begging it:  "to quit my sight!  Let the earth hide thee!" (III.iv.116-117).  Meanwhile, the guests, oblivious to the ghost, watch Macbeth's tantrum and his recoil.  The reader feels pity for a defenseless Macbeth as it becomes evident that his mental balance is diminishing and this ghost is a direct result of Macbeth's guilty conscience.  Macbeth, who was once a strong, righteous character, has turned into a paranoid shell of a man.  Possibly Macbeth's most hopeless moment occurs an instant before he is slain by Macduff, a man of stronger constitution.  The desperation Macbeth exhibits in this final act allows the audience to sympathize with him.  Until the last moment, Macbeth clings to a hope that he will somehow survive the siege of his castle.  Macduff crushes Macbeth's last hope when he informs Macbeth that he, Macduff, was  "from his mother's womb untimely ripped’ (V.viii.19-20)  Obviously referring to a birth via caesarean section.  This revelation fulfills the prophecy of Macbeth's doom.  Though Macbeth understands that he will be butchered, he  "will not yield" or surrender to Macduff (V.viii.32-39).     Macbeth shows that he is still very human and vows he "will try to the last" (V.viii.37).  The reader feels sympathy for Macbeth because of his brave display of conviction and pursuit of honorable death.  Macbeth dies with dignity by not trying to fight his fate, also invoking pity from the reader.   Judging Macbeth superficially by his actions alone leaves the reader no choice but to consider him evil and immoral; yet, when one examines the full presentation of the character and understands his mental anguish, a feeling of sympathy is evoked.  Macbeth, a victim of his own ambition, breaks down mentally, becoming overly paranoid.  At the end of the play, Macbeth attempts to regain some dignity by dying with courage and not fighting his fate.  Indeed, when one examines the presentation of Macbeth and not just his actions, one feels sympathy for the tragic hero. 

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