Engaging in evil leads to further evil; “Violence begets violence.” Shakespeare’s 17th century play, Macbeth, exemplifies this ubiquitous theme. One act of violence escalates into many others, ultimately leading to the protagonist’s demise. Lady Macbeth and the three witches strengthen Macbeth’s initial thought to kill Duncan, which later provokes him to continue committing more acts of evil.
Influential people often shape our experiences. Although Macbeth initially hesitates to commit evil by killing King Duncan, he becomes more comfortable with the idea through the influence of the three witches’ prophecies and the persuasion of his wife, Lady Macbeth. After hearing the “Weird Sisters” tell him that he will replace Duncan, Macbeth thinks to himself “Why do I yield to that suggestion / Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair” (I,I,247-248) as he …show more content…
He believes the only way to extinguish his inner moral voice is to continue killing those who he feels threaten him because “To be thus is nothing; / But to be safely thus.” (III,I,1057-1058) Macbeth craves the safety he knew before becoming king. Yet he still goes on to murder Macduff’s family once the two biggest threats, the guards and Banquo, are eliminated. However, they do not pose a threat to Macbeth or his position as king since the witches specifically stated that he would not be killed by any man born of woman. He has them murdered simply because there is no turning back once the pattern of evil has begun. Macbeth does not have the power within himself to stop the evil movement he started. He believes, “I am in blood / Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more, / returning were as tedious as go o'er” (III,IV,1440-1442) Ironically, by the end of Shakespeare's play, murder manifests itself as a quest for relief from Macbeth’s conscience rather than one solely for the power of
Influential people often shape our experiences. Although Macbeth initially hesitates to commit evil by killing King Duncan, he becomes more comfortable with the idea through the influence of the three witches’ prophecies and the persuasion of his wife, Lady Macbeth. After hearing the “Weird Sisters” tell him that he will replace Duncan, Macbeth thinks to himself “Why do I yield to that suggestion / Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair” (I,I,247-248) as he …show more content…
He believes the only way to extinguish his inner moral voice is to continue killing those who he feels threaten him because “To be thus is nothing; / But to be safely thus.” (III,I,1057-1058) Macbeth craves the safety he knew before becoming king. Yet he still goes on to murder Macduff’s family once the two biggest threats, the guards and Banquo, are eliminated. However, they do not pose a threat to Macbeth or his position as king since the witches specifically stated that he would not be killed by any man born of woman. He has them murdered simply because there is no turning back once the pattern of evil has begun. Macbeth does not have the power within himself to stop the evil movement he started. He believes, “I am in blood / Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more, / returning were as tedious as go o'er” (III,IV,1440-1442) Ironically, by the end of Shakespeare's play, murder manifests itself as a quest for relief from Macbeth’s conscience rather than one solely for the power of