Macbeth Essay:

                  One of the recurring themes about Shakespeare's plays is tragedy and death. It is shown in "Romeo and Juliet", "Julius Caesar", "Hamlet", and now "Macbeth." Death is different than incarceration and exile because, its final, irreversible, and it's the end of a character in a play. In "Macbeth", the actions of the protagonist, Macbeth has a ripple effect on all the other characters with the exception of Lady Macbeth. In order for Macbeth to seize the throne, he has to bring suffering to others. He murders many people on the way, and rules as a tyrant. The theme of this play is "fair is foul and foul is fair" and can be applied to many aspects of the play. This concept also explains the suffering of others at the hands of Macbeth.

                     In the beginning, Macbeth wanted the throne, but was reluctant to take it. Lady Macbeth convinced him to take it by killing Duncan the current king. Killing another man in cold blood isn't the easiest endeavor, and any person with a conscious can't do it without remorse. But to Lady Macbeth, it is fair to take out the king, and assume his position, when in reality, it is foul. When Macbeth executes his plan, he takes the throne. Then he goes on a rampage and kills other men to keep his secret, which contributes to others suffering. Not only are the people he's killing are suffering, but so are his citizens, because he's being such a tyrant and ruthless leader. Towards the end of the play, Macbeth engages in a battle with what it seems like the whole world, he ends up dying at the hands of Macduff. It seems like decapitation is a foul punishment, but to them it was fair for what Macbeth had done. 

                      In the end, Macbeth is completely responsible for all the suffering that went on during the play. He is seen as an alpha male, but lack morals and remorse. A tragedy is a play where there is an event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress, which is caused by Macbeth by his selfish and incompetent actions, in which he only gained success, at the hands of others suffering.