Pathetic Fallacy

Definition

- When referred to in the arts, pathetic fallacy is a presentation of natural events or objects that express human emotions that are controlled by human feelings.

- Pathetic Fallacy is a suggestion that nonhuman objects or events occur from human feelings.

- These nonhuman objects or events are found in nature and can be animals, plants, natural forces etc.

- For example, “the boulder chased me” suggests that the boulder purposely and deliberately chased me. Boulders are nonliving objects and do not “want” to chase people.

- Another aspect of pathetic fallacies is the mirroring of the nonhuman object/event’s state and the character’s feelings.

Background

- The word pathetic in pathetic fallacy comes from the meaning of the Greek words pathEtikos, which means capable of feeling, and pathos, which means something, which conveys an emotion.

- The word fallacy comes from the Latin word fallere, which means to deceive.

- This term came from a Victorian writer named John Ruskin.

Relations to Macbeth

Pathetic Fallacies are used throughout Macbeth and can often be found in other Shakespearian plays. Events that occur are often inexplicable and unnatural. Thus, Shakespeare foreshadows these horrible events by referring to the change in atmosphere and weather. He often uses pathetic fallacies to represent an evil deed that usually occurs at night.

In the opening scene of Macbeth, Shakespeare sets the stage with a desolate landscape. The horrible weather foreshadows the importance of this scene as well as creates an ominous mood. The use of the atmosphere to influence the reader’s view on the witches is considered a pathetic fallacy. Shakespeare seems to do this often in order to better present his characters.

There are also many instances where Shakespeare uses the weather to mirror the emotions and events occurring in the play. In the murder that occurs in Act 3 Scene 3 the victim comments, “it will be rain tonight” (3.3. 18). The rain foreshadows the murder as well as the affect it will have on the people. The rain is seen to be a parallel to the great sadness and despair felt by the family members of the deceased.

Pathetic fallacy is not limited to weather as it also applies to animals. When the mousing owl attacked and killed the hawk, this represented a nobleman attacking and killing another. The situation where the two horses are attacking each other can be used to represent the two noblemen in the same way. The two noblemen are of course Macbeth and King Duncan as this serves as a direct parallel in reference to Macbeth murdering Duncan. Throughout the play, birds are used as a metaphor for various events. They can be seen either as objects of good luck (e.g. the martlets) or as objects of bad luck (e.g. the ravens). The owl which is also called the “fatal bellman” is tolling the death of King Duncan (2.2. 5).

With respect to the death of Duncan, many pathetic fallacies are used, both to foreshadow this event as well as to represent the reaction of the people after his death. Prior to Duncan’s death, Lennox tells Macbeth that "The night has been unruly; where we lay, or chimneys were blown down [...] lamentings head i' the air [...] some say the ear was feverous and did shake" (2.3.59). This pathetic fallacy uses the atmosphere as well as the time of day to foreshadow Duncan’s death.

A later point in the play, Ross says, “By th’ clock ‘tis day, and yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp […]” (2.4. 5-6). This reference to darkness strangling the light is actually a parallel to the death of Duncan who is the light of the Kingdom. It suggests that the Kingdom will be left in darkness once Duncan is gone and foreshadows the uproar and sadness of the people. This use of a pathetic fallacy is meant to both reflect and remind the reader of what has occurred.

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