Double Knaves as the Worst Villains in Society

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Recommended: Macbeth as a Renaissance tragedy

Double Knaves as the Worst Villains in Society

Shakespeare believed the worst villain was the two faced person. Not

the person who outright showed they were a villain. The underhanded

villain the villain that hides in the shadows and doesn't show their

true colors were the worst rogue of all. Shakespeare created

characters that were realistic. To do this he received insight from

the world around him. In Shakespeare's time he must have been inspired

by many rouges of his time. In most of Shakespeare's plays you find

the use of double knaves. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, Hamlet, and

Othello you find great examples of the use of double knavery. In

Shakespeare's "Macbeth" Ross a Scottish nobleman was the double knave.

In Shakespeare's "Hamlet" the elderly Lord Chamberlain Polonius was

the double knave and in Shakespeare's "Othello" the double knave was

Iago Othello's ensign, the worst scoundrel of the three plays.

Double Knaves are two-faced. They change sides to who ever they think

they will benefit most from. Double Knaves are the complete opposite

of chivalry-a medieval code which stressed truth, generousness, honor,

and courtesy. Double Knaves are devious villains that will destroy

anyone that gets in there path. In Shakespeare's "Macbeth" the double

knave was Ross. Ross is a very manipulative person and try's to be in

the good graces of all. His aspirations of power begin when Macbeth

kills King Duncan and

"Malcolm, and Donalbain, the King's two sons, Are stol'n away and

fled; which puts upon them Suspicion of the deed." (Shakespeare 25)

Ross now considers this a chance to attain power if he stays by

Macbeth side. "'Gainst nature still Thriftless Ambition, that will

ravin up Thine own life's means!--Then 'tis most like the sovereignty

will fall upon Macbeth". (Shakespeare 30). When Macbeth finds out

Macduff has fled to England he decides to kill his family. Ross has

such a desire for power that he helps in the demise of Macduff family.

In doing so he kills his own relatives also. Macduff's wife is Ross's

cousin.

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