Evil in Macbeth Macbeth is a play by the renowned playwright William Shakespeare that is based on a character named Macbeth, a courageous general turned villainous king of Scotland due to a flaw in his character that leads him to committing evil deeds. In this play, Macbeth runs into three witches that predict that, against all seemingly impossible odds, he will become king of Scotland. Once provoked by his wife, Lady Macbeth, Macbeth goes on to kill or become responsible for the death of a number of characters in the play including the king of Scotland. In the beginning of the play, there’s a predominance of virtuous characters such as Macbeth and his best friend Banquo. Yet, this Shakespearean play is unique in how the main character
…show more content…
Shakespeare juxtaposes Macbeth’s goodness with the immediate ideas of evil such as the traitorous Thane of Cawdor and the iniquitous witches. He’s thought of as “brave Macbeth” for going against the Thane of Cawdor and sticking his head on Scotland’s castle walls (1.2.16). This earns him the admiration of many, especially the king, as he is later appointed the new Thane of Cawdor. Moreover, the praise Macbeth received for his morally right acts juxtaposes the dialogue amongst the three witches in the opening of Scene Three of Act One about their evil deeds. After talk of the fearless Macbeth, Shakespeare depicts a conversation where one of the witches promises to “drain him [a sailorman] dry as hay” and that “he shall live a man forbid” all because the sailorman’s wife wouldn’t give her some cashews (1.3.19-21). Shakespeare includes this dialogue so to highlight the differences between Macbeth and the witches to have Macbeth look even more of a hero. But, it’s when the witches predict the futures of good Macbeth and Banquo that Macbeth’s morality is …show more content…
Macbeth’s evil actions that were once in the name of his “vaulting ambition” are then only for the sake of maintaining his stature and are based on the decisions of a man driven by his paranoia (1.7.27). Once Macbeth had seized the throne, he wonders “How is ’t with me when every noise appalls me?“ (2.2.62). He begins to suspect the people around him and feels the need to get rid of them, like with his own friend Banquo. After Duncan’s death became known, Macbeth began to worry that Banquo would discover the truth. Moreover, he was intimidated by Banquo. In another one of his soliloquies he says, “To be thus is nothing, / But to be safely thus.- Our fears in Banquo / Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature / Reigns that which would be feared” (3.1.49-51). Macbeth realizes that his rise to the throne is practically useless if Banquo’s children will take the throne from his family eventually. Having already killed Duncan, Macbeth feels no remorse in having Banquo killed later on so to ensure the throne is not taken from him. Moreover, after the witches warn him of Macduff as a possible threat, Macbeth doesn’t even think twice when he decides to kill Macduff’s family. Macbeth’s madness due to his paranoia is evident when he says, “The castle of Macduff I will surprise, / Seize upon Fife, give to th' edge o' th' sword / His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate
Shakespeare juxtaposes Macbeth’s goodness with the immediate ideas of evil such as the traitorous Thane of Cawdor and the iniquitous witches. He’s thought of as “brave Macbeth” for going against the Thane of Cawdor and sticking his head on Scotland’s castle walls (1.2.16). This earns him the admiration of many, especially the king, as he is later appointed the new Thane of Cawdor. Moreover, the praise Macbeth received for his morally right acts juxtaposes the dialogue amongst the three witches in the opening of Scene Three of Act One about their evil deeds. After talk of the fearless Macbeth, Shakespeare depicts a conversation where one of the witches promises to “drain him [a sailorman] dry as hay” and that “he shall live a man forbid” all because the sailorman’s wife wouldn’t give her some cashews (1.3.19-21). Shakespeare includes this dialogue so to highlight the differences between Macbeth and the witches to have Macbeth look even more of a hero. But, it’s when the witches predict the futures of good Macbeth and Banquo that Macbeth’s morality is …show more content…
Macbeth’s evil actions that were once in the name of his “vaulting ambition” are then only for the sake of maintaining his stature and are based on the decisions of a man driven by his paranoia (1.7.27). Once Macbeth had seized the throne, he wonders “How is ’t with me when every noise appalls me?“ (2.2.62). He begins to suspect the people around him and feels the need to get rid of them, like with his own friend Banquo. After Duncan’s death became known, Macbeth began to worry that Banquo would discover the truth. Moreover, he was intimidated by Banquo. In another one of his soliloquies he says, “To be thus is nothing, / But to be safely thus.- Our fears in Banquo / Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature / Reigns that which would be feared” (3.1.49-51). Macbeth realizes that his rise to the throne is practically useless if Banquo’s children will take the throne from his family eventually. Having already killed Duncan, Macbeth feels no remorse in having Banquo killed later on so to ensure the throne is not taken from him. Moreover, after the witches warn him of Macduff as a possible threat, Macbeth doesn’t even think twice when he decides to kill Macduff’s family. Macbeth’s madness due to his paranoia is evident when he says, “The castle of Macduff I will surprise, / Seize upon Fife, give to th' edge o' th' sword / His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate