The Tragedy Of Macbeth And Macbeth - 1510 Words

Shakespeare is one of the most famous authors in the history of old and modern english texts. While living through the 1500s-1600s, and having very little knowledge of psychological issues, Shakespeare portrayed mental illnesses in Macbeth fairly accurately. The characters in the tragedy of Macbeth show many characteristics and warning signs of mental disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia and depression. Since there is scarce evidence of medical testing and research with the mind during the 1500s and 1600s, Shakespeare most likely didn’t understand that the way he portrayed the character’s actions are characteristics for certain diagnosed mental disorders. The history of mental illness and disorders plays a†¦show more content†¦Do breed unnatural troubles; infected minds, To their deaf pillows, will discharge their secrets. More needs she the divine than the physician.† The doctor is referring to her having a mental illnes s, which can now be defined as depression and post traumatic stress disorder. Depression causes the loss of motivation to do simple tasks in life and can lead to suicide (Mental Health America). Shakespeare accurately portrayed the depression in Act V with Lady Macbeth sleepwalking and talking in her sleep. Shakespeare also included the idea of depression in his work Othello, drawing a parallel to the knowledge he has about depression. Macbeth was also described as having depression directly after the murder of Banquo. â€Å"I am in blood, Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o er. (Act III, Scene IV, Line 139).† Macbeth is hurting after what he has done, and his feelings on the matter have been reassured after he sees the apparitions at the dinner. This dinner in Act III also draws a conclusion on Macbeth having post traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia. The dinner of Act III with Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Ross, and Lennox is a key indicator of Macbeth having post traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia. Post traumatic stress disorder is described as â€Å"an anxiety disorder that can occur following theShow MoreRelatedIs Macbeth a Tragedy?2186 Words   |  9 PagesA tragedy is often thought of as a sad, pitiful event. The factors used to label an event as tragic are the consequences and the lasting effects. For example, the consequences of one or more deaths can be seen as a tragedy. And tragedies are often remembered long after the event, clearly impacting the future for those involved. Many people interpret events such as a natural disaster, a death of a loved one, or a permanent disability as tragic. However, others say that this definition of a tragedyRead More Macbeth - Tragedy Essay1224 Words   |  5 Pageshistories to tragedies. Perhaps one of his most famous in the tragedy genre is Macbeth. Though Shakespeare can be con sidered as a scholar in the sense that he was both a renowned and prolific playwright, look back a few hundred years to find Aristotle, one of the most famous scholars and philosophers of all time. In his treatise titled Poetics, he defends poetry against criticism as well as sets standards for tragedies in quot;The Nature of Tragedy,quot; a section of the Poetics. Is Macbeth fit to beRead MoreMacbeth - Tragedy Essay1351 Words   |  6 Pagesclassical view, tragedy should arouse feelings of pity and fear in the audience. Does Macbeth do this? Tragedy has most definitely influenced the viewers thoughts on Macbeth within this play. 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The most common themes that were introduced to the audience tend to be femininity versus masculinity, pride and honor, the role of supernatural, temptation and evil and a lotRead MoreManhood in The Tragedy of Macbeth1133 Words   |  5 PagesIn Shakespeare’s Macbeth, he uses the theme of manhood to create motives for characters to act like a man. This is seen in many occurrences in Macbeth where characters try to act like men for certain reasons. Characters that apply this action are Macbeth, the first murderer, Macduff, and Young Siward. These actions are seen throughout the play, and play a key role in the development of the performance. Macbeth tells himself to act like a man in the following lines: â€Å"Prithee, peace! / I dare doRead More Macbeth - Tragedy Essay1313 Words   |  6 Pagesthe classical view, tragedy should arouse feelings of pity and fear in the audience. Does Macbeth do this? Tragedy has most definitely influenced the viewer’s thoughts on Macbeth within this play. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the audience sees a gradual breakdown in the character of Macbeth himself, due to the tragic events that unfold during the play. This has a direct effect on the audience’s views and thoughts of Macbeth, thus creating pity and fear within the audience. Macbeth, being a man and aRead MoreThe Tragedy of Macbeth Essay542 Words   |  3 PagesThe Tragedy of Macbeth, written by William Shakespeare in 1604, portrays women in a variety of strengths. In Elizabethan society, women were considered the ‘weaker sex’ but in many of his plays Shakespeare appears to question this patriarchal society. Shakespeare wrote ‘ Macbeth’ intending to flatter King James I, the ruler in this era. James I had very strong opinions regarding women and, particularly, witches. He saw Women as inferior and expected them to be housewives and mothers. Shake speareRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare1052 Words   |  5 PagesEnglish II 2 October, 2015 â€Å"Tragedy† of Macbeth Macbeth, a play written by one of the most influential English writers of all time William Shakespeare. It was created to be a Shakespearean tragedy. A tragedy as Aristotle defines it as: â€Å"Tragedy, then, is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude †¦. through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions† (Aristotle: Poetics). What this is saying for a tragedy is that it should have the audienceRead MoreAristotelian Tragedy Macbeth Essays611 Words   |  3 PagesAristotelian Tragedy: Macbeth Aristotle is known widely for developing his ideas on tragedy. He recorded these ideas in his Poetics in which he comments on the plot, purpose, and effect that a true tragedy must have. The structure of these tragedies has been an example for many writers including Shakespeare himself. Many of Shakespeare’s plays follow Aristotelian ideas of tragedy, for instance Macbeth does a decent job in shadowing Aristotle’s model. Aristotle describes one of the most importantRead MoreThe Tragedy Of Macbeth By William Shakespeare1497 Words   |  6 PagesShakespeare effectively explores and follows the framework of the tragedy, Macbeth; a tale of systematic suffering, which foreshadows and imminently leads to the death of a great man. Essentially, it is Macbeth’s flaw – his growing ambition – which leads to these harsh repercussions. Shakespeare demonstrates his tragedy, through Aristotle’s elements and definition of tragedy, which ultimately concerns the reversal of good fortune to bad. In â€Å"Macbeth†, ambition conspires with supernatural forces to commit evil