"Tragedy is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitute; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not of narrative; through pity and fear effecting the proper purgation of these emotions."" This complex yet important sentence is the definition of a tragedy, according to Aristotle. The question of whether Macbeth is a tragedy is a highly debatable issue, because many things can constitue a tragedy "for example, Aristotle's teaching that a tragedy must consist of six parts: plot, character, diction, thought, spectacle, and sons. Macbeth, however, is not a tragedy because we can neither love Macbeth nor believe that he comes to any recognition of his own responsibility for his own downfall.
Because of Macbeth's violent, volatile nature, it is very difficult for one to like him. It is fairly evident that Macbeth will stop at nothing to obtain the kingship, even if it involves murdering Duncan, which he eventually does. In II, i, Macbeth even admits that his desire for the throne is in fact a rather sinister one: "Stars, hide your fires;/Let not light see my black and deep desires."" He also proceeds to say immediately after, "The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be/Which the eye fears, when it is done, to see,"" which means that Macbeth is concerned with what will become of his soul once the evil deed of murdering Duncan is committed. We also learn, however, from this quote that Macbeth still intends to execute his plan and shows no signs of wavering. Later in the play, however, specifically in II, i, Macbeth begins to show some signs of concern for the fate of his soul after he commits the murder: " Hear not my steps, which (way they) walk, for fear/They very stones prate of my whereabouts/And take the present horror from the time,/Which now suits with it.
