Preview

How Does Macbeth Led Into Evil

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1653 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
How Does Macbeth Led Into Evil
The statement 'Macbeth was basically a good man led into evil ways' is one I agree with, to a certain extent. His evilness certainly progressed throughout the play, but his influences from the witches and Lady Macbeth and degree of goodness at the start is debatable. I shall also discuss the reasons for his destruction, which ties in the plays themes - for example ambition, order and disorder and guilt and conscience.

The play opens with a scene of disorder - lightning and a coven of witches. This really sets the scene for the rest of the play. The disorder finally reflects on Macbeth, therefore leading to his destruction. When we watch the first scene we wonder how big a part the witches will play and how influential they will be. At the end of the scene we know that they are going to meet Macbeth and we are anxious to know what is going to happen to him. We also know that they are evil creatures and they intend to play around, their final words leave us with a feeling of uncertainty and disbelief;

'Fair is foul, and foul is fair,

Hover through the fog and filthy air.'
…show more content…
Can good be bad? These words sum up a lot of the play; the good can be bad and vice versa. 'Hover through the fog and filthy air' tell us that the play will be evil and full of cunning schemes and dirty tricks. It is also wondered why Shakespeare didn't introduce Macbeth in the first scene, as the play is entitled after his name. However, Shakespeare's use of the witches in the first scene emphasises how influential they are. By going against the expected, the audience becomes more afraid of what will happen. The witches are unexpected and so add even more to the feeling of uncertainty and

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In ‘Macbeth’ there are many evil characters but the one were going to be talking about is the evil, selfish, ambitious Macbeth. Throughout the play Macbeth causes much pain and suffering for all characters in the text for example, Macbeth kills his wise, respected, leader King Duncan; this action would be taken as regicide, this action is basically a royal murder. In my opinion the evil, tyrant Macbeth links to the themes ambition, greed and selfishness. A quote to support this is: ‘I go, and it is done the bell invites me’ this portrays Macbeth’s more selfish side as his wife’s persuasion left him jumping to take the crown…

    • 263 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    At the start of the play Macbeth is introduced from two different perspectives. He is firstly introduced by the three witches whom are discussing a meeting with him ‘There to meet with Macbeth’. This scene would create immense tension for the audience as the presence of the witches in the play would indicate a series of evil and sinister events occurring later on in the play. King James I was also afraid of witches so this scene would tense the audience even more. Shakespeare uses the supernatural beliefs of the people during that era as it created a dramatic atmosphere and it helped indicate that the plot of the story was going to be full of conspiracies and murder. It also implies that the main character Macbeth is going to be a character which becomes influenced by evil forces. The first scene is set in a battlefield which creates an eerie atmosphere as it links to the prospect of death and danger. The mood of the play is set in the first scene creating suspense and curiosity for the audience.…

    • 1832 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Structurally scene 1 opens with the witches gathered together reciting plans about meeting Macbeth, establishing an occult malevolence which permeates the play. The choice of starting with the witches instantly creates a mood of terror and unearthly evil, setting an unnatural and deceptive atmosphere. The third witch says, ‘There to meet Macbeth’, this intertwining of Macbeth reflects the relationship which will be made between him and the witches, and the evil which is going to be involved in Macbeth’s life. The arrangement of meeting place shows their target for the forces of evil, and their thorough planning of making an appointment to lure Macbeth to destruction. This scene symbolises the witches as a representation for temptation, therefore foreshadowing Macbeth’s potential human weakness to be susceptible to temptation, before we are even introduced to Macbeth himself.…

    • 878 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth Tragic Flaw essay

    • 1489 Words
    • 6 Pages

    However, in concordance with Aristotle’s opinion, Macbeth isn’t all bad. At first glance, it may seem difficult to find redeeming features in a mass-murdering tyrant. But it’s important to remember that, at the beginning of the play, he is lauded as a great and loyal soldier. “For brave Macbeth--well he deserves that name--Disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd steel…”(I.ii)…

    • 1489 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Fatal Influence On Macbeth

    • 1659 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Everyone as a human being has both good and bad characters, and they will also change as they grow old and some people also learn from their mistakes. In the play, “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare, the character of Lady Macbeth depicts both good and evil tendencies, particularly her evil tendencies can be seen at the beginning of the play. Over the course of time, Lady Macbeth changes adequately from the lust of power to more of an anguished person. The consolidation of the fatal influence by the witches and Lady Macbeth on Macbeth is what mustered for a disaster.…

    • 1659 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Role Of Evil In Macbeth

    • 1004 Words
    • 5 Pages

    A mere thought can be a dangerous thing capable of bringing many lives and nations into ruin. When the seed of doubt is planted; it slowly manifests, eating away at one's reasoning eventually blinding them to all logic. If not recognised and treated as what it is it could destroy your life but it will inevitably change you whether for better or worse. William Shakespeare illustrated this in his play Macbeth. Some may say that the weird sisters within the play are responsible for the actions of Macbeth and that his wife, Lady Macbeth, acted as a catalyst to persuade and manipulate Macbeth to commit regicide, but truly all they did was simply put thoughts into his head. They set the play in motion but Macbeth is fully responsible for his own…

    • 1004 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth, friend, don’t be lured by the siren’s call. Be neither quick nor slow to believe their words of forbidden fruit. Don’t be tricked by them so easily. Be the man you know you are, and don’t be manipulated by these witches of misery. Surely, that is all to follow if you do. Misery. Misery and the revocation of you ever being a man.…

    • 228 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth Succumb To Evil

    • 402 Words
    • 2 Pages

    There are two opposing traits inside oneself: good and bad. If one walks into a gas station and decides to steal cash from the register after shooting the cashier, one obviously took a turn to evil; however, if one were to simply walk into the gas station and buy items, as well as tip the cashier, one would be considered good. In the fable, “The Two Wolves,” the mentioned traits are given to each wolf which reside within oneself, and it is for them to choose the yin wolf or the yang wolf. Such a fable applies so well to Macbeth as many characters face this inner struggle, causing some of them to succumb to evil. Macbeth faces many inner struggles throughout his story and ultimately succumbs to evil. After his fate is unveiled by the witches, he is consumed by ambition and greed. When he says to Banquo “your children shall be kings,” Macbeth has already been taken by ambition, as he puts all of his faith in the…

    • 402 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Walter Clyde Curry discusses that the witches are demonic spirits, not hallucinations and that their main purpose is to bring the nature of evil into Macbeth. Curry states that the witches are just lost souls that belong to the devil, or perhaps even the devil himself although in the form of witches. Inevitably, the roles of the witches are mostly to cause tragedy and affect the entire play but also to show the good versus the evil. The use of their powers also indicates their connection with the supernatural and coming straight from Satan. Other than arguing about the witches' origin, Curry…

    • 1914 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth Journal

    • 2711 Words
    • 11 Pages

    I was very confused at the beginning of the play. I thought it was weird with the witches, and I was still getting used to the old English language. I thought it started to get interesting when the witches had told Macbeth that he would become the Thane of Cawdor and then he actually did! I think this is what starts Macbeth’s ambition towards the series of events that will happen in the play. I think that the first three scenes in Act 1 set the dark mood for the entire play with the storm and witches ext. Once Lady Macbeth heard of what the witches had predicted I think was when Duncan’s life was officially over. Lady Macbeth kind of took over the play at this point. She is very persuasive, like convincing Macbeth that they were going to kill Duncan. She makes him feel as if he’s stupid and mocks him when he has fears about Duncan. I was surprised by Macbeth’s thoughts about killing Duncan I didn’t think he would do something so great, and I think that something is going to come back around to get him if he goes through with it. I think that he should just wait for his turn to be king. Lady Macbeth offers Macbeth a plan to kill Duncan, and he accepts. ____________________________________________________________…

    • 2711 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    We all know that the three witches gave prophecies. Some are good and some bad, but like I mention there is good violence. The audience know sees Macbeth as a bad man, because of all the murders he has done. Well, one of prophesies they give him is to be aware of…

    • 638 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Due to the escalating power of evil in him, Macbeth takes evil actions to keep his power, causing the natural world and himself to face the consequences in an unnatural way, validating that the power of evil doesn't just affect you but also the world around you.…

    • 478 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Do people commit different acts of evil? Are all acts of evil equal or different? In current time there are different punishments for different crimes committed. If a person commits a murder then they could be put in jail for life. While another person who robbed a bank might only be in prison for ten years. If there were only one form of evil then should the punishment for all crimes be the same? The different types of evil can be caused by different reasons and lead to many different consequences. In the tragedy of Macbeth different forms of evil, starting from the thought of committing the evil act to the impact, is shown through the characters and their actions such as murder, treason, and lying . Within the play, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth commit many evil acts such as murder, treason, and lying. Both of them have different reasons for each crime they commit, either it being greed or the desire for power.…

    • 705 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Obsession In Macbeth

    • 1171 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Evil can be seen everywhere in the play furthermore it originates from specific areas firstly, being an obsession, because of how obsession can force everything out of a mind except the desired. Also, ambition is a root of evil in Macbeth seeing how characters will go great lengths doing something that a sane person wouldn't even consider just because it has consumed them. Finally, there is tragedy and most characters that are meeting a tragedy don't see it coming till it's too late. As a last sentence for you to think about, if you had the chance to take what you believe was your destiny would you attempt to achieve it at someone else's…

    • 1171 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    It is significant that the play begins with a brief meeting of the three witches. A very short prologue is long enough to awaken curiosity, but not to satisfy it. We have come in Act I, Scene I ,where at the end of the witches’ meeting, just as they are arranging their next appointment before their familiar spirits-devils in animal shapes-call them away into the ‘fog and filthy air’. The apparent confusion implied in their words –“Fair is foul, and foul is fair” points to the general upheaval of order to which Scotland is led by Macbeth and that constitutes the main action of the play. “So fair and foul a day I have not seen”—a strange coincidence evidently establishes a connection-a kind of affinity- between Macbeth and the Witches, even before they meet. It also brings out the possibility that Macbeth, who has so far been referred to as a brave general in the heights of glory, has a somewhat tainted soul and is, therefore vulnerable to the Witches’ machinations:…

    • 2208 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Better Essays

Related Topics