ABSTRACT
The picture of blood in the night is not only the shortest but also the simplest of the great tragedies. From the general view of the world in Lear, it again narrows its focus, like Othello, to the scrutiny of individual destiny. The general order of the world, therefore, must be found in the dramatic structure itself. The play is not rich in generalized statements, and favorite quotations from Macbeth, which usually spring from the particular mental state of the hero, are as easily misapplied as the famous "One touch of nature makes the whole world kin" from Troilus and Cressida, which merely points out our common weakness for novelty. Macbeth and his wife struggle pitifully to enhearten each other, but their joint terrible deed has condemned them each to expiate his crime in solitude, each one keeping alone and making companions of his sorriest fancies.
