The Power of Evil in Macbeth

Shakespeare's play Macbeth shows the roots of all evil, our own human nature. The play is centered on the coexistence of good and evil. Macbeth, unlike any other Shakespeare play has the protagonist convert to evil. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is shown as a hero in the Scottish army, that is ironic because Macbeth defeats a traitor and he himself becomes one later. Macbeth knows his place in the world. He is fully capable of distinguishing between right and wrong. Macbeth purposely disregards his own moral judgment to rise to power which is again ironic and goes against his own beliefs. Macbeth stands as a symbol for Satan's sin of ambition. Like Satan, Macbeth's thirst for power and ambition drives him to commit evil.Contrary to

Coincidentally, Duncan, honoring the hero, decides to stay at Macbeth’s castle overnight. Lady Macbeth believes that this is a perfect opportunity given by fate to kill Duncan and usurp his power. Exhibiting extreme ambition and masculinity, Lady Macbeth orchestrates the entire scheme and persuades her husband into committing evil deeds, chiding him for behaving like a feminine and coward. Macbeth eventually yields to his wife’s pressure and manipulation. After the murder is discovered, Malcolm and Donalbain, Duncan’s sons, flee to England and Ireland, respectively, while Macbeth assumes a dictatorial sovereignty of Scotland. Macbeth, however, becomes insecure about his power, for the witches have prophesied that Banquo’s descendants will be kings and Macduff, another Scottish nobleman in England, may threaten him. Hence, the vicious tyrant assassinates Banquo and Macduff’s family. As a result, Macduff, with aids from Malcolm and England, vows to retaliate against Macbeth. Meanwhile, Lady Macbeth is greatly agonized by guilt, sleepwalking, rubbing her hands as if trying to wash away the bloodstains, and finally committing suicide. The downfall of Macbeth immediately succeeds when the English army invades his castle and is marked by Macduff outplaying Macbeth in a fierce

Goaded by his wife, Macbeth murders Duncan for the throne, yielding to his “vaulting ambition”. Once the king, Macbeth desperately attempts to prevent his fate, killing those who threaten his position in power. First, he attempts to murder Banquo and his son as he believes that Banquo suspects that he has “played’st most foully” for the kingship. Then, upon hearing news of Macduff’s betrayal, he sends murderers to kill both Lady Macduff and her child.

Evil is a deceiving force. It can help you reach your goals but evil's gains are always bitter and two-faced. In Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth, the character of Lady Macbeth chooses the path of evil to fulfill her unscrupulous ambition; nevertheless, all that evil brings to her is madness and restlessness. Evil is a powerful force throughout the play; it influences the two main characters, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, to commit heinous crimes in order to achieve power. The idea of evil is presented even at the beginning of the play, since the play starts with witches. Witches have always been servants of the Devil, planning their malicious schemes against Macbeth.

Duncan is a guest in his home at the time and he realizes how substantial this is. Macbeth decides to commit the murder of King Duncan who was once a dear friend of his. As a result of this murder Macbeth decides that his main goal is to become king and he will take all necessary actions to get there. Macbeth’s final despicable act was the murder of Banquo because he became suspicious of Macbeth. Our fears in Banquo Stick deep; and in his royalty of nature Reigns that which would be fear'd: 'tis much he dares; And, to that dauntless temper of his mind, he hath a wisdom that doth guide his valour to act in safety.

“Nearly all men can stand the power of adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power” (Abraham Lincoln). Someone can come off as a good person until they are given power. When someone has power, they may abuse it or treat others unfairly. Giving someone power and seeing how they act can show their true character. Macbeth is the most responsible for the events that occur in the play because he misconstrued the witches prophecies and was overcome by greed.

Macbeth murders many to gain power. He causes the suffering of families and murders former friends. The violence starts with the murder of the king, Duncan, who’d trusted and honored Macbeth; Macbeth kills him to gain the position of king. Duncan’s death is the catalyst; Macbeth subsequently begins to use violence as a regular way to attain power. He murders his former friend, Banquo, refusing to accept that Banquo’s sons will be kings as prophesized by the witches. He says in regard to the prophecy, “Rather than so, come fate into the list, / And champion me to th' utterance.” Instead of accepting fate, he challenges the prophecy and orders Banquo’s death. His final homicide is the massacre of Lord Macduff’s family. When Macduff hears of the brutal slaughter, he cries, “That were most precious to me. Did heaven look on, / And would not take their

Macbeth’s unwillingness to give up his power and selfishness corrupts himself to the point where he becomes a tyrannical ruler. At first, Macbeth feels guilt for the murder of Duncan and claims that his sins and the blood on his hands will never wash away. As he realizes that Banquo and his

Near the end of the play Macbeths true evilness comes out. Macbeth paranoia leads him to believe that everyone is out to get him. “ So is he mine, and in such bloody distance that every minute of his thrusts against my hear’st life” (3.1 128-130) Macbeth grows suspicious of Banquo. The witch’s predictions of Banquo’s kids becoming king engulfed all thoughts in Macbeth’s head. “I’ll make assurance double sure.” (4.1 93) Macbeth is making sure Banquo and his son fleance are murdered. Macbeth felt the it was best to hire murders to handle fleance and Banquo. Macbeth is overcome with evil. “From this moment the very firstling of my heart shall be the firstling of my mind” (4.1 165-168) Macbeth’s mind no

Macbeth is of a brave and capable warrior initially the first time that we see him. However, once we see Macbeth and the three witches together, we begin to realize that his physical courage is joined by a consuming mind boggling ambition and a tendency to self-doubt. The crusade’s mission is to place the rightful king, Malcolm, on the throne, but Macduff also desires vengeance for Macbeth’s murder of Macduff’s wife and young son. Macbeth is easily tempted into murder to fulfill his ambitions to the throne. Once he commits his first crime and is crowned King of Scotland. When Macduff finds out that Macbeth killed Duncan he plans to kill Macbeth and take his head to Malcolm. Banquo helped Duncan to claim victory over Norway and to become the Thane of Cawdor. They all are loyal to Duncan at some point, although Macduff and Banquo are doing the right things for Duncan, Macbeth is thinking of himself and is doing things so he will be the new King of Scotland. Macbeth is the play’s villain because he is betraying Duncan and trying to hide everything so he will be king.

In a tragedy, there is always one noble character, in this case Macbeth, whose nobility is represented by birth and through action. When Sinel, Macbeth’s father, dies, Macbeth inherits his throne because “By Sinel’s death, he knows he is thane of

Shakespeare’s Macbeth portrays evil as a perversion of human nature through Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s betrayal of Duncan and the repercussions of their actions. Murdering Duncan is not the best way for Macbeth to gain the power promised to him, he and his wife fall into a downward spiral that ends in death.

In Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, the main character’s goal is to become the king. Macbeth seeks to gain as much power as he possibly can and this ultimately leads to his demise. He hears the prophecy of the witches and becomes so obsessed with fulfilling the prophecy because it states that he will eventually become king. Having this information, Macbeth goes out of his way to force the prophecy to come true. He becomes so power hungry that he tries to force fate leaving him with an undeniable guilt for his actions, the loss of love from the people who once loved him, and a harsh death in the end.

Before killing Duncan, it is Macbeth’s insecurity that led him to being persuaded into ultimately killing Duncan. Lady Macbeth influenced him, but he was also ratified on the idea that she is right and that if he does not act fast, he may never get the throne. The announcement of Malcolm (Duncan’s son) to be the one to succeed Duncan as King led to Macbeth becoming more worried and he claims, “It is a step/On which [he] must fall down or else o'erleap,/For in [his] way it lies.” (Act 1, Scene 4) Macbeth was also very insecure and anxious after the killing of Duncan, as there were many people who challenged his authority. His blind ambition once again overpowered him and due to his insecurities about certain people, he was persuaded to kill those who came in his way of becoming King, and he did not pay attention to the consequences that may result from his acts. Macbeth was so fortified in becoming king that he even killed his good friend Banquo. This is because Banquo, being the only one besides Lady Macbeth to know about the prophecies, may suspect Macbeth of the crimes he has committed, and may just hold suspicion in general against him. Therefore Macbeth plots the assassination of Banquo by hiring murderers, and this is evident when Macbeth says, “Fleance, his son, that keeps him company, whose absence is no less material to me than is his

Good and evil are symbolized by light and darkness in the play Macbeth, by William Shakespeare. When there is peace and good, Shakespeare mentions light; whether if it is the sun shining brightly or merely a candle giving light. On the other hand, when there is evil and disorder, he mentions darkness; a shadow or a horrible thunderstorm. Witches are known for evil, chaos, and conflict. Since Witches are known to be evil, whenever they appear, the weather is usually horrible. Shakespeare utilizes light and darkness in order to portray when good or evil will take place.