Good Report About Literary Criticism Report

Miguel.A.Bernard in his article, “ The Five tragedies in Macbeth” writes about how Shakespeare skillfully weaves five distinct tragedies into one play, making it into rich,complex and the reading a delight as well as a discovery. Bernard describes the five tragedies- the physical, psychological, moral, social and theological in detail with excerpts from the play. Although he uses examples from the Bible, King Lear and Hamlet, the article’s main focus remains on Macbeth and the tragedies that befall him. The examples do not take the reader’s attention away from the play itself but rather the reader get a deeper understanding of the play and illuminates it’s finer aspects. Focusing on the tragedies, Bernard brings out the moral and the physical degradation of the main characters in Shakespeare's play and also brings into focus Shakespeare’s flair for drama.
When talking about the physical tragedy, Bernard highlights the instances in the play when the main characters face death or complete ruin. Duncan and Banquo get killed, but Macbeth and Lady Macbeth says Bernard survive only to live as the walking dead. The tragedy for these two says Bernard is that in spite of having got the throne, they are unable to enjoy it. macbeth not only hallucinates but sees visions and ghosts which drive him into madness. He is terrified of the ghosts of the people he has killed and degrades into a man who is no longer in control of his speech or manners. Lady Macbeth on the other hand, wrecked by the enormity of her actions and guilt starts sleep walking. Although she tries to remain strong for her husband, says Bernard, she slowly falls apart when she is left alone. Using instances from the play and comparing the play to a greek tragedy, Bernard details the physical disintegration of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The psychological tragedy is explained by Bernard through lady Macbeth specifically. Although both the husband and the wife suffer from the consequences of their deed, it is Lady Macbeth who becomes pitiable at the end. As Bernard says, Lady Macbeth, who ought to have ruled the world by crushing others, comes closest to it only after her own heart is crushed. Bernard also describes the moral downfall of Macbeth, which is a great tragedy. He is a friend, a confidant and a heir apparent to the throne, but still chooses to betray his friend and king. Nothing can be more deplorable says Bernard than kill a guest in your own house. Form a brave warrior Macbeth slides into a cowardly criminal. Bernard says how Shakespeare uses the banquet to show both what Macbeth has achieved and what he has lost in the process. The article also deals with the social tragedy. Everything in the play is in disorder. Hosts kill the guest, women have beards, Macbeth is made heir apparent even when the King’s sons are alive and the King, God’s representative on earth is also murdered.The plot of the play says Bernard is simple, but Shakespeare brings in much more complexity to it by detailing the wrongs that are committed and how they bring about the downfall of the mighty. The final tragedy that Bernard discusses in the play is the theological tragedy of Macbeth. He uses characters from the Bible to illustrate how Shakespeare shows the gravity of Macbeth’s sins. Unlike peter and Judas from the Bible, Macbeth dies unrepentant. Although he is killed because of what he has done, he does not feel sorry and that says Bernard is the theological tragedy.
Although the article does not focus on the plot of the play but rather talks only about the tragedies that befall the characters, Bernard is successful in letting the reader, even to one who has not read the play, an idea into what the play is about. The plot of the play and the characteristics of the main players are revealed through the discussion of the different tragedies that befall them. Bernard does a great job illuminating the deeper aspects of Shakespeare’s Macbeth.