Tragedy
Tragedies were prominent among William Shakespeare's works. Macbeth is one of the most famous tragic plays he wrote along with Hamlet, King Lear, Julius Caesar. Thus, we researched the definition and origin of "tragedy". As well, we found a textual reference that we believe clearly shows the elements of a tragedy present in Macbeth.
Definition of Tragedy
- A dramatic composition (representation), often in verse, dealing with a serious or somber theme, typically that of a great person destined through a flaw of character or conflict with some overpowering force, as fate or society, to downfall or destruction.
- Any literary composition, as a novel, dealing with a somber theme carried to a tragic conclusion. Often, tragedy also involves a reversal of fortune.
- Tragedies commonly follow a “Tragic Pattern”Origin of the Word
- Phrynichus is said to be one of the earliest of Greek tragedians, although August Wilhelm von Schlegel says that Aeschylus was the inventor of tragedy.
- Later, tragedy meant any non-comedic drama.
- Tragedy may have been traced to "dithyrambs", the celebrations honouring Dionysus. It was said to have been created by satyrs, half-goat beings who were sponsored by Dionysus.
- The word “tragedy” originated from Greek tragōidiā (Classical Greek τραγωδία).
o Tragōidiā means “goat song” (tragos means "goat", aeidein means "to sing").
o This meaning might have referred to:
§ The goat-like costumes the actors wore when playing satyrs.
§ The actors being paid a goat for being on stage.The “tragic” sound of the goats that were being sacrificed on festival days.
§ Another possibility for the root of the beginning of the word “tragedy” would not be tragos (meaning "goat"), but trageîn, the 2nd aorist infinitive of trōgein (meaning "to gnaw").
Textual Reference Tragedy
When the witches proclaim him that he will become king; they set his expectations high to fall later, and spur him into taking action.(1.3.49)
THIRD WITCH All hail Macbeth, that shall be king hereafterMacbeth foreshadows his own downfall
(1.7.59)
MACBETH If we should fail?
LADY MACBETH We fail?
But screw your courage to the sticking place
And we’ll not fail. […]
References
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tragedy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedy
Oxford Version of Macbeth
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Tragedy
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Assignment #2
We were asked to research one of Shakespeare's sources for the creation of Macbeth, and the one that our group was assigned was Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland, Part 5. This is our interpretation of the similarity and differences between Holinshed's history and Shakespeare's story, and why Shakespeare edited what he believed to be history.
Holinshed's Chronicles
Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, was based on the Chronicles of Scotland by Holinshed, there having been real people by the names of Duncan, Macbeth, and Banquo, all characters well known in this play.
In the chronicles, the story commences with Malcome, the old king, passing his throne onto Duncan, his grandson. He has another grandson, named Macbeth, and it is said that "if he had not been somewhat cruel of nature" he would have been a very suitable option for the throne.
Duncan was a very soft king, and had a very relaxed attitude toward punishing criminals, creating a stir in Scotland. One of the rebels against Duncan was named Macdownald, who is later defeated by Banquo and Macbeth.
Following this comes an invasion of the Norwegian king, Sweno, who is also defeated by Macbeth's army and subsequently chased back to their homeland.
It is at this time that a "strange and uncouth wonder" happens, namely, the meeting with three women "in strange and wild apparell" with Banquo and Macbeth as they go towards Fores. There, they make their statements: Macbeth, thane of Glammis, thane of Cawdor, and "that hereafter shall be king". As well, Banquo would not become king, but will be granted with a long line of kings of descent. Upon their vanishing, the two take this as somewhat of a joke, but Macbeth kills Duncan and becomes king. Malcome and Donalbain flee, Malcome to England and Donalbain to Ireland.
At first, Macbeth’s reign is very prosperous and peaceful, as he makes very good laws and statutes for the people and rules well. However, remembering that Banquo's sons would become kings, he attempts to kill Banquo and his son. Banquo is successfully killed, but his son lives and escapes to Wales.
From this point on, Macbeth's rule only spirals downward, in a tragic fashion.He becomes very distrusting of others, and begins to kill his nobles and loyal subjects, out of blood-thirst, out of a fear driven by paranoia, and out of greed.
Out of his distrust of Macduff, another one of his subjects, Macbeth seeks to kill him. However, at this time, a certain witch with "whom he [has] in great trust" tells him he will not be killed by a man born of any woman or until the wood of Birnane came to the castle. Through this, he believes that he will never need to fear for his life. He does, though, go to Macduff's castle, intending to kill him, but not finding him there, kills instead all others in the castle.
At this time, Macduff escapes to England to Malcome, who promises to help. Malcome, who has become one of King Edward’s favourite subjects, is promised an army of ten thousand to fight Macbeth.
Malcome, at Birnane wood, commands his army to each take a bough of some tree and then to advance, fulfilling the second part of the witch's prophecy.Seeing the numbers of Malcom and Macduff's troops, Macbeth wishes to flee, but is pursued by Macduff who then fights with Macbeth. Macbeth doesn't believe Macduff can win, however, Macduff tells him how he was "ripped out of [his mother's] wombe" and then kills him. This fulfills the first part of the prophecy.Macbeth dies after 17 years of reign, in the year 1057.
Overall, the general plot of Macbeth remains unchanged with the history as documented by Holinshed, although a few notable details are present. One is that in both, the appearance of the three witches and their prophecies still play a very important role. Another is the absence of Lady Macbeth. Since she doesn’t appear in the Chronicles, although she may, or may not have existed in her role, she would have been Shakespeare’s own creation, which is an important fact to note with women’s roles during that time period.
Since the role of women in the time when the chronicles were written was not very large or spoken about, Shakespeare created a female character to either change people's opinions, or to make a point of women's roles in society. The other reason that he might have done it is because he believes that it enhances the storyline for Macbeth to have a better half, and for part of his historic gall to be laid with her. Historically, the killing of Duncan and the others was Macbeth’s own wishes, and he wasn’t pushed to it, so it was quite interesting to see that Shakespeare edited this part of history. While Macbeth may have been justified in killing Duncan, since he did bring Scotland back under order, the others weren’t as justified perhaps, and Shakespeare might not have wanted the great Macbeth to take fault for this, so that is the role of Lady Macbeth.
Holinshed, Raphael. Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland, 5.
Shakespeare Navigators at clicknotes.com. Jan. 25, 2006
<http://www.clicknotes.com/macbeth/Holinshed/Holin265.html>
Holinshed's Chronicles
Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, was based on the Chronicles of Scotland by Holinshed, there having been real people by the names of Duncan, Macbeth, and Banquo, all characters well known in this play.
In the chronicles, the story commences with Malcome, the old king, passing his throne onto Duncan, his grandson. He has another grandson, named Macbeth, and it is said that "if he had not been somewhat cruel of nature" he would have been a very suitable option for the throne.
Duncan was a very soft king, and had a very relaxed attitude toward punishing criminals, creating a stir in Scotland. One of the rebels against Duncan was named Macdownald, who is later defeated by Banquo and Macbeth.
Following this comes an invasion of the Norwegian king, Sweno, who is also defeated by Macbeth's army and subsequently chased back to their homeland.
It is at this time that a "strange and uncouth wonder" happens, namely, the meeting with three women "in strange and wild apparell" with Banquo and Macbeth as they go towards Fores. There, they make their statements: Macbeth, thane of Glammis, thane of Cawdor, and "that hereafter shall be king". As well, Banquo would not become king, but will be granted with a long line of kings of descent. Upon their vanishing, the two take this as somewhat of a joke, but Macbeth kills Duncan and becomes king. Malcome and Donalbain flee, Malcome to England and Donalbain to Ireland.
At first, Macbeth’s reign is very prosperous and peaceful, as he makes very good laws and statutes for the people and rules well. However, remembering that Banquo's sons would become kings, he attempts to kill Banquo and his son. Banquo is successfully killed, but his son lives and escapes to Wales.
From this point on, Macbeth's rule only spirals downward, in a tragic fashion.He becomes very distrusting of others, and begins to kill his nobles and loyal subjects, out of blood-thirst, out of a fear driven by paranoia, and out of greed.
Out of his distrust of Macduff, another one of his subjects, Macbeth seeks to kill him. However, at this time, a certain witch with "whom he [has] in great trust" tells him he will not be killed by a man born of any woman or until the wood of Birnane came to the castle. Through this, he believes that he will never need to fear for his life. He does, though, go to Macduff's castle, intending to kill him, but not finding him there, kills instead all others in the castle.
At this time, Macduff escapes to England to Malcome, who promises to help. Malcome, who has become one of King Edward’s favourite subjects, is promised an army of ten thousand to fight Macbeth.
Malcome, at Birnane wood, commands his army to each take a bough of some tree and then to advance, fulfilling the second part of the witch's prophecy.Seeing the numbers of Malcom and Macduff's troops, Macbeth wishes to flee, but is pursued by Macduff who then fights with Macbeth. Macbeth doesn't believe Macduff can win, however, Macduff tells him how he was "ripped out of [his mother's] wombe" and then kills him. This fulfills the first part of the prophecy.Macbeth dies after 17 years of reign, in the year 1057.
Overall, the general plot of Macbeth remains unchanged with the history as documented by Holinshed, although a few notable details are present. One is that in both, the appearance of the three witches and their prophecies still play a very important role. Another is the absence of Lady Macbeth. Since she doesn’t appear in the Chronicles, although she may, or may not have existed in her role, she would have been Shakespeare’s own creation, which is an important fact to note with women’s roles during that time period.
Since the role of women in the time when the chronicles were written was not very large or spoken about, Shakespeare created a female character to either change people's opinions, or to make a point of women's roles in society. The other reason that he might have done it is because he believes that it enhances the storyline for Macbeth to have a better half, and for part of his historic gall to be laid with her. Historically, the killing of Duncan and the others was Macbeth’s own wishes, and he wasn’t pushed to it, so it was quite interesting to see that Shakespeare edited this part of history. While Macbeth may have been justified in killing Duncan, since he did bring Scotland back under order, the others weren’t as justified perhaps, and Shakespeare might not have wanted the great Macbeth to take fault for this, so that is the role of Lady Macbeth.
Holinshed, Raphael. Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland, 5.
Shakespeare Navigators at clicknotes.com. Jan. 25, 2006
<http://www.clicknotes.com/macbeth/Holinshed/Holin265.html>
Sunday, January 21, 2007
The First Assignment
Comparing the SparkNotes version of Macbeth with the Oxford University Press version, one can see that it is less sophisticated and meaningful. It is also a much less entertaining and worthwhile read than the original version. The SparkNotes version seems like it is meant for a less educated reader, perhaps a student of a foreign language, or someone who does not want to spend the time reading into the subplots and subtleties of Shakespearean writing, but merely wants to understand the basics of the text. The Sparknotes version is still, however, a useful and lasting text because it provides a basic understanding to those who are not looking for an in-depth study.
On the whole, language in the Sparknotes version of Macbeth, remains unchanged from that of the Oxford version, although there are a few exceptions. The most notable of these is the frequent contraction of a -ed ending to -'d (eg. fixed to fix'd). While none of these changes majorly affect reliability or relevancy, they do affect the general feel of the play.
Both versions of the text contain a page at the beginning listing the characters that appear in the play. However, where the descriptions of the characters in the Oxford version are detailed, the page in the Sparknotes version is much more simpler. For example, Macbeth is a “General in the King’s Army”, whereas in the Oxford text he is “Thane of Glamis, then of Cawdor, later King”. The men who are “thanes (Scottish lords)” in the Oxford text are simply “Noblemen of Scotland”. Seyton is “an Officer attending on Macbeth”, but in the Oxford text he is “Macbeth’s armourer”. In general, the Oxford text is simpler to allow for vocabulary that is more easily understood to the general public. However, this means that some important details are lost.
The SparkNotes version of Macbeth is inferior to the
The Stage Directions are separated into two distinct sections in the SparkNotes version, setting, and action, clearly shown in the first stage direction, where there is the Setting stage direction of "An open Place. Thunder and Lightning." in bold grey letters, followed by the Action stage direction of Enter three Witches, in the classic square bracket. Again in the second scene it follows this model and starts with a Setting stage direction in grey bold letters, followed by a smaller action stage direction. As well, the soldier does not have an exiting stage direction in the oxford university press version, whereas in the SparkNotes version, he exits where Ross and Angus enter in the OUP version, and Ross alone enters a few lines later in the SparkNotes Version. The other anomaly is that the witches vanish at the end of scene I instead of Exitting. The Stage Direction [Witches vanish.] is given in the SparkNotes version in place of Exeunt
All of these things contribute to the general lack of excellence in this version, however, it remains a useful version because the although parts are compromised, the general impact of the text is enhanced for the glancing reader, and though it is a downgrade for the intense reader it makes it a useful tool for those who are looking to understand the fundamental concepts of Macbeth.
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