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According to the definition a tragedy is a form of drama in which the protagonist passes through a series of misfortunes towards his or her downfall. Aristotle adds that the tragedy centers around a tragic hero who because of his or her hamartia suffers a reversal of fortune from happiness to misery. The question whether MACBETH is a tragedy can be answered if you take a closer look at the play.
In the beginning of Shakespeare's MACBETH the protagonist, a Scotish lord called MacBeth is a famous warrior who has defeated a rebellion. Therefore Duncan, the Scotish king, gives him the title Thane of Cawdor. At first sight MacBeth does not have problems, but he has a weakness in his character: his ambition. This tragic flaw, which is essential to a tragedy, is promoted by three witches and Lady MacBeth. If it had not been for the witches telling him that he was to be King of Scotland, MacBeth would still be his ordinary self. They arouse the protagonists curiosity how to become King of Scotland. Lady MacBeth then introduces the concept of murder to her husband and intensifies his ambition. MacBeth does not have a chance to escape fate.
After the murder some of MacBeth's supporters like Banquo and MacDuff turn away, when MacBeth is crowned and therefore the new king realizes that he has to kill more people to keep his position. Here MacBeth downfall begins and when Feance can escape his murderers it is for sure that MacBeth has to loose his power again. Finally everybody turns away and MacBeth dies when he is fighting MacDuff's and Malcom's army. You can clearly see MacBeth's reversal of fortune after he broke a moral law. In the beginning he was a hero, but after his downfall he is hated by almost everybody. MacBeth's tragedy is partly of his own making and influenced by his hamartia. This is another indication for a tragedy which Elizabethan dramatists often used.
If you now compare MACBETH with the definition of a tragedy, you will realize that there is a certain conformity which leads to the conclusion that Shakespeare's play has to be a tragedy. MacBeth's reversal of fortune, his downfall and his flaw in character are only a few indications.
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