Literary Criticism- Interpretation of Text: Macbeth

1. Tragedy and Its Effects
MA & Research Scholars-English
(How to Interpret Text-3)
Department of English
Sanchi University of Buddhist-Indic
Studies, Barla, Raisen (MP)
Prof. O. P. Budholia
Dean & Head
Dr. Naveen K Mehta

2. Introduction
Tragedy is a form of drama based on
human suffering that invokes an
accompanying catharsis or pleasure in audiences.
The term is Greek in origin, dating back to the 5th
century BC, when it was assigned by the Greeks to a
specific form of plays performed at festivals in Greece.
Aristotle defines Tragedy in his famous work Poetics as:
“Tragedy is an imitation of an action that is admirable,
complete and possesses magnitude; in language made
pleasurable, each of its species separated in different
parts; performed by actors, not through narration;
effecting through pity and fear the purification of such
emotions.”

3. How the Concept of Tragedy Evolves?
 The concept of tragedy occurs in society when a
person loses his integration from the following
forces:
 Integration from society, from nature outside, and
integration from his own Self.
 The study of various tragedies from Greek
tragedies to the tragedy of the Mahabharata
brings this fact into being.
 Since discussion of tragedy is related to the
tragedy of Macbeth, some definitive comparisons
in this context can be made.
 In human psyche the sense organs are being
carried away by the sense objects and the mind
also follows in the wake of the sensory system
towards the sensory objects.

4. Tragedy: Losing Control?
 Now, the question arises, when the mind
does like that what happens to human being?
 By it man destroys whatever little wisdom he
has in his life. (Tadasya Harti Prajnam-The
Gita)
 It can be exampled by a ship being carried
away by the wind in the sea.
 This is tragedy, and all types of tragedy have
this common characteristics of losing control
being overwhelmed by forces around the
concerned

5. Macbeth: Victim of Inordinate Ambitions
 Macbeth is a tragedy of inordinate ambitions and in
order to fulfill his ambitions, he has both the forces
around him: external and internal.
 The witches are the projections of inner thought
process and he gets his projections sealed by the
outer force--Lady Macbeth.
 After it he does the things which he should not have
done such as even committing the crime of murder.
 He murders his father-king, Duncan but it is the
quality of tragedy that it purges the evil by which one
becomes free from tragic situation; it is called the
cathartic theory of tragedy

6. Macbeth- Realization of Essence of Life
 Macbeth finally associates himself from his inner
being cries loudly, not in frustration but in
realization:
 “Life is a tale told by an idiot full of sound and
fury Signifying nothing “
 Prima-facie, it appears that Macbeth has lost his
faith in man and God and develops the feelings
of despair futility and hopelessness.
 In fact, Macbeth with theory of existentialism and
the motifs of his life with the association of his
Self--the Essence that sees truth of life and
Macbeth chooses the Metaphor of life as story-
the Upanishadic Shruti. Thus, dying he realizes

7. Assignment
Dear Students,
 Points given in the previous slides are
open for discussion, for these points bring
in to being suggestive pattern only.
 The mutual discussion, suggestions, and
questioning will bring the real purpose of
online learning……..

8. THANKS
For Any Doubt
Contact on Mobile/E-mail to:
Prof. O. P. Budholia
or
Dr. Naveen K Mehta