What was Macbeth's catharsis?

Answer 1

Catharsis for Macbeth is the purging of emotions for the tragic hero. The play helps us feel a chain of emotions usually leading with love and ending in pity.

In the beginning, he is portrayed as a brave soldier on the battlefield and a respectable man. As the play goes on, we feel less love for the character, but more pity for the rough situation he is in, and anger for the poor choices he made. Eventually, as his actions begin to spiral downwards, we feel hatred for the evil deeds Macbeth has committed. In the end, when he is finally slain, the audience feels pity for the man, as if everything happened the wrong way.

This is what makes a tragic play, the course of emotions that the audience feels for the protagonist.