CC - IV: The Character of Macbeth | Problem of Evil

            The endless debate as to weather Macbeth is the tragic hero or not owes its origin to the Aristotelian dictum that the overthrow of a bad man is not a tragedy at all because that cannot evoke the emotion of pity and fear. But the question is-Is Macbeth an embodiment of evil? Obviously not. Though Macbeth is every  inch a murderer, a butcher, a criminal to the core, yet he is not altogether devoid of some goodness in him. He is not only 'brave warrior' but also 'Nobel' enough to distinguish between good and evil.

            Why does Macbeth fall then? Obviously, his is a tragedy of ambition. "vaulting ambition" and he adopts a Machiavellian means to fulfil it. But then to say that "character is destiny" would be a lopsided view. Macbeth alone is not responsible for his downfall. His tragedy is a joint product of character and circumstances. Macbeth speaks of "supernatural soliciting"(the prediction of the witches), but the weird sister do not suggest any line of action; they simply announce events. However, the idea of full feeling which ambition by murder is entirely Macbeth's own. In fact, the witches only enkindle the incipient ambition of Macbeth. But the means he decides upon for the realization of which ambition in his own suggestion. After all, Macbeth is a free agent as his own aside makes it clear. If he is tempted at all, it is by himself. Besides, his wife Lady Macbeth constant instigation leads him to fulfill his ambition by foul means. As Dr. Sengupta rightly sums it up-"They(the witches) suggest, she(lady Macbeth) incites but he(Macbeth) solicits himself.

               Two question are raised in this respect. First, Banquo had also been tempted by the witches, why did he then not succumb to it? Secondly, why does not Macbeth stop after the first murder? About the first question it can be safely say that has Banquo could resist his temptation, he could avert his tragedy as well. But Macbeth has to West as per tragic necessity. As regards the second question the scenes of security(of his throne) so seduces him that it appears stronger than any other considerations. He has to commit crime after crime in order to ensure his position fully. So, it is not true to say that Macbeth is utterly a villain. Understandably, Macbeth's evil is manifold-moral, socio-political-moral in the sense that king Duncan is in "double trust" to him ( he is his kinsman as well as his host), political because regicide in the then social ethos was nothing short of  'sacrilege' and cosmic because the murder conduces a great natural disorder ("unnatural") as evident in Lenox's speech ----in Act II, Sce IV.

                Does not then Macbeth retain our sympathy? the answer is in the affirmative. Shakespeare leave a number of measures to do it. For one thing, before and after the murder of Duncan, Macbeth is always haunted by a sense of guilt. His very aside in Act I, sce III. Depicts the terror of Macbeth's sole when the idea of murder fast comes to him. His scruples of conscience are manifest in his successive feelings of horror-he see the vision of dagger, he asks the stars to hide their fires because he thinks that he is unable to stand the sight of the cruel act to be executed by his own hands. After the murder he so losses control over him that he cannot say "Amen" and he bears the cry of "sleep no more". He apprehends that the blood which stains his hands will never be washed clean even if all the seas taken together are poured over it. All these bear ample testimony to the fact that his fair is not just that of "material consequence" but of moral isolation. Thus, he is humanized by fears. Moreover his speeches in verse are the magnificent expression of his tormented soul, and thereby, it elevate his tragedy.

            To crown it all, Macbeth's tragedy leaves a note of glory as well as gloom. Macbeth, though realizes the utter futility of life, can stand his  severe isolation with a splendid courage and heroic strength. Thus, his tragedy truly represents "the sorriness underling the grandest things and the grandeur underlying the sorriest things.

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