Feelings Of Pity And Fear In Macbeth example essay topic

According to the classical view, tragedy should arouse feelings of pity and fear in the audience. Does macbeth do this? Shakespeare's Macbeth is definitely a tragedy in the sense that it arouses feelings of pity and fear in the audience. Macbeth is a weak minded man who, if sees an opportunity for power follows his ambitions and takes it, even if this is not the rightful thing to do. He is easily persuaded and suffers great guilt.

Macbeth the character on his own creates the feeling of pity and fear in the audience. This added to the abundance of other developed characters creates a great tragedy. Pity is felt by the audience at many times. These feeling of pity are quite strong in some instances. The first example of pity is the general feeling for Duncan, Banquo and Macduff and his family after being slaughtered by Macbeth for the only reason of his personal ambition. Duncan was a fair and good king, and had even shown gratitude to Macbeth and Banquo after the battle in Act I. Also there is pity towards Macduff, who after leaving the country returns to find his wife and child murdered.

The audience can relate to this by the unfairness in which they were killed in cold blood by Macbeth. The second example of pity in Macbeth is for Macbeth. Even though he had just assassinated Duncan he regretted it and realised what he had done wrong. He realised that Lady Macbeth had encouraged him incorrectly and he was sincerely scared for what he had done:" I am afraid to think what I have done. Look on't again I dare not " Act II Scene ii The audience feels pitiful for Macbeth because he knows he has made a mistake and he is suffering for it through the guilt and his conscience. Thirdly the audience feels pity for Macbeth when he sees the vision.

Macbeth's mental state deteriorates severely after killing Duncan, and seeing the ghost of Banquo at his own dinner party in front of the lords do not help his cause. "If trembling I inhabit then, protest me The baby of a girl. Hence, horrible shadow! Unreal mockery, hence!" Act Scene iv Macbeth is scared at this point. For a great warrior king to be scared is a big deal in the eyes of the lords and the audience. The audience feels pity for him because he is at a time of weakness which at this stage is uncharacteristic for Macbeth.

The final emotion of pity that the audience feels is at the main characters point of realisation, which comes in all Shakespeare's tragedies about Act V. Macbeth finally thinks that what he has been doing is wrong, and that with no wife to spur him on any further, he should reflect on his life". It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing". Act V Scene vs. The whole of that speech by Macbeth is just like the quote above, depressing, regretful and deep down sad. This speech makes the audience feel more pity than any other point in Macbeth.

The fear that is felt by the audience is created mainly by Macbeth and his murders. Macbeth ends up to be a wildly unpredictable man who, by the slightest of encouragement and a motive can be persuaded into anything. This in itself inserts fear into the audience, but when mixed with the ambition of getting somewhere by killing off all who might pose a threat it amounts to a very dangerous character, who is feared. The way the all his murders are out of cold blood with no reason portray him as a monster. He hires murderers to slaughter women and children, the only compensation for the audience are his sorrowful speeches that make the audience feel sorry for him. He is a very cunning man indeed, which is what puts that initial fear into the audience and hence the other characters.

The last piece of fear for the audience is created by the witches. The witches appear four times in total, and in reality are not a necessity in the play. Shakespeare has added them for other reasons that may help the themes or symbolism. In addition to this it creates fear in the audience.

It does this by absolute force. The witches are always in desolate places, always rhyming and chanting giving the impression that they are a force not to be reckoned with. When the first witch asks the second where she has been she replies:" Killing swine " Act I Scene This is not the most encouraging response for the audience as it shows the potential for death. The witches are definitely a source of fear for the audience. It is for the above reasons that Macbeth arose feelings of pity and fear in the audience, and therefore complies with the classical view of a tragedy. Shakespeare has finely crafted Macbeth as a character that the audience feels pity for and fear of.

Macbeth brought so much tragedy, but yet inside his evil heart, the audience finds room for forgiveness. The audience sees a noble officer turn into a tyrant, full of guilt for his actions and full of regret. The audience could not help but feel sorry for him. Macbeth is a character who arouses much pity and fear through the tragedies that he is involved in..