How Effectively Does Shakespeare Explore the Aspects of Tragedy in Macbeth?

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no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er.’ Macbeth conjures the image of a river of blood, the blood representing his murderous deeds in order to become, and remain, king. This gruesome metaphor indicates to the audience how Macbeth is resigned to his need to continue murdering in order to maintain power. This is an indication of the fundamental development in his character as initially Macbeth was horrified with the thought of turning traitor, and though guilt still plagues him, he knows there is no avoiding the truth of who he now is- a treacherous murderer. The audience witnesses each point at which Macbeth acts to being about his own downfall, and this foreknowledge serves to heighten the final tragedy in the play. “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood, clean from my hands?” Blood, specifically Duncan’s blood is a symbol of Macbeth’s guilt, and his sense that ‘all great Neptune’s ocean’ cannot cleanse him- that there is enough blood on his hands to turn the entire sea red and they eventually be his death. Lady Macbeth replies, “a little water clears us of this deed,” she believes that something as basic as “a little water” will cleanse their conscience. From the audience’s perspective it is naïve to think that washing up is the same is forgetting what has been down; however, Lady Macbeth thinks that this is possible for both her and Macbeth. Macbeth’s fatal flaw, ambition will ultimately destroy the noble character.

Macbeth is a play which has horrified and fascinated audiences throughout the ages. Shakespeare’s brilliantly complex characters, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, are simultaneously terrifying and sympathetic. It forces us to look at the dark aspects of our own souls. In this way Shakespeare successfully portrays the downfall and the destruction of the noble character and vaulting ambition of Macbeth.