The Struggle between Good and Evil in Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Shakespeare was born in 1564. He became rich, famous and successful by
writing many plays such as comedies, romantic-love stories and also
tragic and bitter plays. Shakespeare also wrote poems and sonnets, he
then died in 1616. ‘Macbeth’ is a story of witchcraft, murder and
there is an element of evil that can be seen. Here Shakespeare has
written a tragedy.
In the beginning in Act 1 Scene 2, Macbeth has fought against King
Duncan’s enemies. Macbeth is portrayed with a brutal, strong and
courageous image. He is the good Macbeth, honoring his King and
performing a duty to his country.
‘For brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name -’
However Shakespeare quickly changes the atmosphere with the three
witches (a sign of evil). In Elizabethan times, the audience would
believe in witchcraft and the prophecies of the witches. Their
prophecies make him believe he can become King Of Scotland, his mind
rapidly becomes corrupt and he starts to think about the power he will
have on the land. ‘If chance will have me king, why chance may crown
me without my stir.’
Later on in the play, Macbeth becomes distorted and he hesitates as he
does not have any children to carry on the name, so he is wondering is
there any point him actually becoming king.
‘Upon my head they plac’d a fruitless crown and put a barren scepter
in my gripe.’
He expresses his feelings in a soliloquy. Here Macbeth has mixed
emotions, as a murder is on his mind however he is extremely
frightened. Here is an example when Macbeth is struggling between good
and evil, he tries to reject the impulse of committing the murder, as
he believes he can leave everything to chance.
‘If chance will have me King, why chance may crown me without my
stir.’
Shakespeare’s language is strong to convey the image of intense
emotions here in Macbeth’s soliloquy. There are examples of
alliteration ‘supernatural soliciting’ and an example of a paradox
He does not appreciate the usage of money to gain power, or to be used in negative ways. He would rather have friendships and relationships based on personality
not have control of his life is because he is married to Zeena, and he is not
not want to give up his good name; he would rather give up his life,
It is possible that by having a woman take his name, he is subjugating her to him so he is elevated in importance in a way that will translate professionally. If you notice, many women in positions of fame resist this by keeping their maiden names after marriage. Look at Beyonce Knowles for one, or Sarah Michelle Gellar. They have both maintained their identities. Many women will also hyphenate their name as a way to maintain their professional
wife have no blood relation, yet the son is of the same blood as his parents.
no more. "Had I but died an hour before this chance, I had lived a blessed time; for from
Evil. It is a word that has been used for hundreds of years, yet the
The Tragedy of Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays to ever have been written. Takes place back in the Elizabethan age back when kings and queens ruled certain countries and people did not have much freedom. The Tragedy of Macbeth has to do with a couple madly in love with one another. Where Macbeth would do anything for his wife lady Macbeth; in ACT I Macbeth and Banquo return from battle, he and Banquo meet three witches who predict that not only will Macbeth be rewarded by King Duncan but that he will become king himself. This is when Macbeth actually starts to consider the assassination of King Duncan. However for Banquo the witches greet him as a father of kings. When Lady Macbeth hears of the witch’s predictions she comes to the conclusion that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth will kill King Duncan. On the night Lady Macbeth tries to kill King Duncan she hesitates on completing the task and she urges her Husband Macbeth to do the killing instead. In Act II Lady Macbeth drugs Duncan’s guards to make Macbeths task; on killing King Duncan much easier. Macbeth kills the guard...
Macbeth is a tragedy written by Shakespeare roughly between the years 1603 and 1606. It was a play written following the death of Queen Elizabeth. The king at the time - James I of England/King James VI of Scotland was known to be a big supporter of theatre, witchcraft and demonology. Shakespeare and his associates soon into their career became known as the King’s men. The Kings ancestry was traced back to Banquo, a character from the play.
What would the world be like if no one felt guilt? If no one ever caught caught for their crimes? In Shakespeare's novel, Macbeth, the main characters commit crimes driven by their ambition. After committing the first crime Macbeth, the main antagonist is overwhelmed with guilt. His wife, Lady Macbeth plotted the first crime and was the main force pushing Macbeth to kill. In the end Macbeth is charged with the truth and Lady Macbeth kills herself both brought down equally from guilt. Guilt and fear of being found out causes anxiety and slow disintegration of the subconscious which leads to psychosis and therefore, because of insanity causes confession of crimes or suicidal thoughts.
is very eager for one of her daughters to marry him, as he is single,
Good vs. Evil in Macbeth The good characters in Macbeth are less interesting than the evil ones. Everybody has an evil seed planted in them. Only the really evil person acts on them and commits something morally wrong. Like a Macbeth. When Macbeth first received the prophecies, he actually considered them.
The character Macbeth in the story of Shakespeare’s Macbeth faces decisions that affect his morals. He begins as an innocent soul, dedicated to serve his kingdom and its king, Duncan. As time passes and opportunities present themselves combined with the deception of the evil witches, Macbeth begins his descent into madness. Macbeth’s innocence and loyalty are completely corrupted due to his over confidence, guilty conscience, and the inevitability of human nature. Macbeth looses sight of what is morally right to do in life because his logical choices are changed by these factors.
Evil is a destructive force; it causes harm to those who embrace it and their victims. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the protagonist Macbeth and Lady Macbeth fall into the hands of evil. Evil is what drives people to commit unnatural actions of destruction. Macbeth succumbs to evil through his fatal flaw, greed, and it causes him to disrupt the chain of being. When Macbeth willingly murders, massacres, lies and deceives, he loses his heath and sanity. Evil corrupts everything it touches, and Macbeth decides to be evil's servant. But, when Macbeth embraces evil, it corrupts him, and it ultimately destroys him as well. Lady Macbeth is a victim of Macbeth's fatal flaw, since she is drawn in, and becomes greedy for power herself. She pushes Macbeth into destruction when she adds the small touch that plunges Macbeth into a chain of murder, destruction, and lying followed by the loss of their sanity and health. After Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are well into the depths of corruption and greed, it is clearly seen that their guilt will haunt them for the rest of their lives. The harm they have caused others will be returned to them as revenge and they have lost their sanity in order to gain power. The fate of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth clearly illustrates that to embrace evil is to negate our own need for order and well being.
nobody can do anything about it until he is six months behind in his support.