Discuss the sources of evil in "Macbeth", in detail.

Essay by rmeodprps2High School, 11th gradeA, February 2006

download word file, 4 pages 4.3

Downloaded 17 times

Macbeth is a tragic play, evoking the gradual deterioration of the hero, from good to evil, inevitably resulting Macbeth to lose his political supremacy and die; a great catastrophic end. A source of evil present in the play is Macbeth himself, with boundless ambition to usurp the throne, yet it seems that these desires are left as a mere dream. However, two other external sources of evil - the Three Witches and Lady Macbeth - ignites Macbeth, and manipulates the hero to execute immoral and iniquity actions, against his ethical consciences. Throughout the play, the humane sides of Macbeth are also revealed; allowing the audience to feel sympathetic for the sudden downfall of the hero; thus classifying the play as 'tragedy'. It seems that although many forms of evil exist in the external world - macrocosm -, it is the individual's own ambitions and desires that drive the victim to create personal "hell".

Originally, Macbeth is not presented as a figure of evil and malevolence, but introduced as the guardian of the weak and the symbol of justice, "milk of human kindness..." But when the Three Witches appear to Macbeth and Banquo and deliver their prophecy, that they would be kings "Thou shalt be kings..." Macbeth is incapable of resisting the temptation, and the desires deep within him begins to sprout. When the time of King Duncan's murder draws near, Macbeth struggles and finds his emotions in huge conflict, evoking his humane qualities. However, when the assassination is complete, Macbeth finds it hard to show conviction in his bond between God; "One cried 'God bless us!' and Amen the other... I could not say 'Amen'". This is a personal confession that he has performed an act of injustice and evil, inevitably aligning himself with the forces of evil. As the...