Macbeth Background

Genre

Written during the early 1600s, Macbeth is considered one of the finest examples of Shakespearean tragedy. Macbeth, the protagonist, is a good man at the beginning of the play who is aware of what comprises good and evil. However, he is gradually seduced by power and treads a path of violence and treachery that ultimately leads to his fall. As is the case with other classic tragedies, such as Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra, Macbeth’s protagonist is also a political figure. However, unlike the other tragedies, Macbeth is unique in that the protagonist is also the antagonist of the play.

The story revolves around Macbeth. After committing one murder, Macbeth has to repeat the act several times to try and conceal the original sin. This leads to an interesting contradiction: how can the reader empathize with a hero who has turned villainous? How can the play be tragic if the protagonist clearly deserves his fate? Further, is ambition a tragic flaw, or does the hero become the villain only because his ambition is achieved through treachery? Although Macbeth eventually dies for his sins, he remains an unusual tragic figure in that he willingly embraces darkness despite knowing that he will be damned for doing so.