How has the Gothic nature of the play been used to heighten tragedy in Macbeth by the end of act three?

The Gothic nature of Macbeth is highlighted in act three and is used to heighten the tragedy. It is argued that Act Three hosts the Gothic centre of the play. I the next following paragraphs, I will be investigating the main themes of the Gothic which are present in Act Three; mainly morality, ambition and insanity.  


Morality:
Morality is a theme which is quite hard to define. The general definition is ‘The concern with the distinction between good and evil or right and wrong; right or good conduct' - but this definition itself depends greatly on the view of good and evil at the time. Shakespeare wrote 'Macbeth' in the early 17th century. At this time Christianity had a major influence over the view of morality, which effects the view you must take when analysing it. Also, the King at the time of writing, James I, was obsessed with witches and hunting them. He wrote the ‘Daemonologie’ which inspired Shakespeare in Macbeth.

Act three is almost the turning point in Macbeth's morality. He performs many 'immoral' actions like consorting with murderers and easily ordering the murder of Banquo and announcing 'Banquo is your enemy' 3,1, 114. Originally Macbeth and Banquo were close friends - we were first introduced to Macbeth with Banquo. This makes his murder particularly immoral on Macbeth's part because of his original attachment with Banquo. However Macbeth sees a ghost of Banquo which suggests that Macbeth's morals are  starting to 'fight back' or perhaps Macbeth is getting a conscience.


However, did Macbeth have moral standards to begin with? True, he is described as ‘brave’ and ‘noble’ by the king in Act 1, but this description is not backed up by his actions. He consorts with the witches, which is against the Christian religion and therefore against his morals. He also considers regicide before he even encounters Lady Macbeth (1.4 lines 49-54) which suggests he is not ‘full o’ the milk of human kindness’ as Lady Macbeth suggests. It is wrong in the eyes of Christianity to kill kings because of the belief in the ‘Divine Right'. This does suggest that Macbeth has been a immoral character from the beginning. 


Both Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are presented to have an understanding of morality as they clearly recognise they are doing wrong. This is shown through the constant portrayal of light and dark 'let light not see my black and deep desires' 1,4, 51. This would mean that they are actively choosing to be immoral, which would make them classic Gothic figures. Macbeth seems to develop a moral conscience after his actions as shown through the apparition of Banquo and his lack of sleep 'you lack the season of all natures; sleep' 3, 5, 140. This is also reflected in the actions of lady Macbeth who starts to sleep walk. Because sleep is almost seen as a 'natural gift', the absence of it in both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's lives reflects there conscience and nature ridding them of this gift because it realises the impact of there moral actions.

Morality is presented in a similar way in other works by Shakespeare. 

• Richard III: Richard is the epitome of immoral character because he aims to ‘prove a villain’. Throughout the play he has not even a scene of morals, which makes his sudden realisation more effective and surprising. In the same way as in Macbeth, Richard develops a conscience a little too late, and, as in Macbeth, this is shown through the apparitions he sees. 
• Hamlet: Hamlet experiences a conflict in moral duties in the play; the need to avenge his father, but the fact that killing a king is against religious views. However, it can be argued that Hamlet’s crime of regicide is more morally correct than Macbeth, who murders Duncan for his own ends. 

Ambition:

Ambition is a common theme in Gothic literature as it evidences the essence of insanity in a person because it can almost guide them to perform immoral actions. It is commonly used as the 'motive' behind the tragedy of the play or even an excuse for it. Ambition is commonly the Hamartia or downfall of the Gothic figure. An example of Ambition in Gothic literature would be in 'Frankenstein' where it could be argues that Victor's ambition to create life and to obtain knowledge goes too far. Shakespeare has also used this before, for example in Richard III where Richards ambition to 'prove a villain' and to gain the throne conquers everything else. It is though gothic that Ambition is presented as a failing rather than a gift. Characters are presented with too much of it, and it is this overbalance which leads to fatal results. perhaps it is the sense of 'overbalance' and how it doesn't fit with nature that creates the tragedy in the Gothic? 

In 'Macbeth', Macbeth's ambition to become king, it could be argued, is the reason for his downfall and therefore it would represent his hamartia. Act three represents his ambition becoming out of control. he orders the death of his friend because he doesn't want his children to take 'his' thrown. This can evidence ambition leading to insanity because Macbeth turns a friend into an 'enemy' and he goes against what is guiding him to do this in the first place - the words of the witches. If they said that Banquo 'shalt get kings' then surely if Macbeth believed what they said to him was true then he is challenging the supernatural, an insane move for a mere mortal. 

Ambition can be evidenced in Macbeth through his actions throughout the play. By killing Duncan and ordering the death of many, including his friend and children, Macbeth goes against the original image we are given of him; the 'brave' and 'noble' solider who fought for his country. This evidences how ambition has corrupted Macbeth and made him lose sight of his morals, his sanity and his self.