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Besides the foregoing general terms which are used 
in analyzing a tragedy, there are a few particular ones 
which need explanation, namely, tragic guilt, tragic 
error, and tragic recklessness. Tragic guilt occurs 
when the hero commits the crime for which he 
should die. Tragic error lies in the performance of 
any act, or succession of acts, which, by their na- 
ture and occurrence, arrest the success of the hero 
after his first act of crime ; i. e., another act which 
will bring about the discovery of the first. Tragic 
recklessness consists in acts done by the hero through 
over-confidence on account of which he seems natur- 
ally to fall into his enemies' power. 



A STUDY OF PLOT 

Every narrative short story or drama has plot; i. e M 
a certain coming together or collision of opposed or 
fighting elements which struggle to overcome each 
other. As the plot in tragedy grows, one of these strug- 
gling forces breaks through and overcomes the other. 

The two forces growing naturally develop the play ; 
in comedy the forces clash, but are amicably adjusted 
and the piece ends happily. In tragedy the forces op- 
posing the hero destroy him and sometimes are them- 
selves destroyed, as in Hamlet, where both the king 
and Hamlet perish. 

Therefore, it is easy to see that the material out of 
which the dramatist builds the tragedy is of serious 
character. It usually consists of the evil passions of 
men which, too little restrained, turn back upon them 
and effect their rUin. 

In the tragedy of Macbeth is shown the develop- 
ment of an overweening ambition. Macbeth has equal 
rights to the throne with Duncan ; he is better loved by 
the people than Duncan ; he is the soldier who dares the 
battle, while Duncan is content to receive in his tent the 
news of the conflict. So that, although the hereditary 
claim of each to the throne of Scotland is the same, the 
voice of the people would undoubtedly have proclaimed 
Macbeth king, since the throne of Scotland was elective 
as well as hereditary. With this knowledge of his 
claims to the throne of Scotland, Macbeth hears with 
alarm the king name his own son, Prince of Cumber- 
land, to succeed him.