Macbeth Good Vs Evil

Shakespeare approaches “good” and “evil” within Macbeth a bit differently than King James would have approached the subject. Being a zealous Christian, King James was highly against anything immoral. He also believed that witches sought the devil to obtain powers, seeing things only in “black-and-white categorizations” (“Module Five”). Being good or evil, not both, doesn’t leave much room for Shakespeare’s characters. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have elements of both; therefore, Shakespeare settled the conflict by adding characters that were less deplorable to balance the play. For example, while Banquo also had ambitious thoughts for a moment, he did not consider acting on them. Having less evil in the play seems to compensate for the Macbeth’s being both good and evil.
Macbeth himself believed the prophecy held both good and evil saying, “This supernatural soliciting/Cannot be ill, cannot be good” (1.3.243–44). Macbeth has numerous opportunities to back out of his decision, but he is so blinded by his ambition that he cannot see that he is taking a human life. The witches’ prophecy states, “All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! / All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! / All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter!” (1.3.149-51); however, the witches do not tell Macbeth how he will eventually become king. Perhaps Duncan would have died in a year or so in battle or simply from age, either way it is clear that Macbeth’s choice was just that…a choice. Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth chose to take their political position into their hands, and by doing so, they ruined their lives and the lives of many other individuals, including