Shakespeare’s tragedies
Each of Shakespeare’s tragedies has the followimg features ( caratteristiche):
•Divisions in 5 Acts
•Ends in a catastrophe
•Its characters are fatally flawed ( hanno difetti-debolezze)and this leads them to
self-destruction
•it usually focuses on noble people
•it gives a moral lesson to the audience
MACBETH
Macbeth is the shortest of Shakespeare’s tragedies divided in 5 acts. Its plot is
very simple. What is complex is the psychological analysis of what takes
place in the mind of Macbeth ( we should really say “a criminal mind”)
It is the tragic story of Macbeth, who at the beginning of the play (First Act) is
a respected and heroic warrior/soldier/general in King Duncan’s army until he,
returning home from a victorious battle with his friend Banquo, meets 3
Witches 0 2
C 8
0 2
5 2
0 2
6 A
0 2
C C
0 2
6 A
who prophesy/ pr f sa / that Macbeth will become king of
Scotland and that future kings of Scotland will discend from Banquo’s family,
not from Macbeth’s ( it’s clear that this prophecy is ambiguous). Macbeth
invites king Duncan to his castle and informs his wife with a message ( it was
a letter, not a watsapp or messenger message!!!) of the prophecies. It was she
who carried out a plan to kill Duncan in order to become king ( It is always
said that women are the ruin/failure of men…..but it is also said that a
succesful woman makes a successful man!!!).
Second Act: That same night Macbeth kills Duncan while he is sleeping and
also the two guards accused later of the murder. Macbeth is now the king while
Duncan’s sons leave Scotland fearing for their lives.
Third Act: Machbeth doesn’t feel safe because the second prophecy is that the
the future heirs to the throne are Banquo’s sons so Macbeth decide to kill them
and Banquo’s ghost haunts Macbeth
Fourth Act : The 3 Witches warn Macbeth to beware of Macduff, a lord, and he
kills his wife and children
Fifth Act: Lady Macbeth, tormented by her sense of guilt, is driven to madness
( she sleepwalks trying to wash Duncan’s blood from her hands) . The play
ends with Lady’s Macbeth death (she committs suicide by drowning herself)
while Macbeth, isolated because all the lords have allied with Malcolm
