Evil In Macbeth Essay

“Fair is foul, and foul is fair”. Equivocation. Equivocation is the use of deliberately misleading words to mislead people. The use of such equivocation is frequent in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, being integral to its plot by driving much of the action. The vile witches manage to cultivate the subconscious desire to be king in Macbeth.

In his book, William Shakespeare, Terry Eagleton offers a controversial insight to the role of the Witches in Macbeth. Eagleton views the Witches as the heroines of the drama for exposing the truth about the hierarchal social order describing it as, the pious self-deception of a society based on routine oppression and incessant warfare (Eagleton 1986:2). This essay will explore the implications of Eagleton’s insights, showing that even though they are controversial and original, they can very well be accurate. This will be done taking into consideration the historical context of the play, the role of the Witches as agents of fate and darkness, as well as the influence of masculinity and a hierarchal social order in the play. William Shakespeare wrote Macbeth during the early 1600s.

Importance of control elsewhere in the play • How control is shown • Reasons for control within the play Control is a recurring theme in the play "Macbeth" as it warns the audience of the repercussions of trying to control your fate. The first key event where control features in a significant way is the witches' prophecies. They tell Macbeth that he will become Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland which establishes the importance of fate. Shakespeare conveys the witches as agents of evil that are deceptive and dangerous, "oftentimes to win us to our harm/the instruments of darkness tell us truths," showing that they use truth itself to influence a horrible outcome (Macbeth's tragic demise.) Their message is compelling and attractive and we

This is evident in soliloquy of Macbeth, ‘My thought… hakes so my single state of man that function is smother’d in surmise…’ His ‘thought’, which is about good and bad of witches’ prophecies, makes him to deceive himself. Also, since it is soliloquy, no one can stop him to think excessively, so it makes him to lose his mind. As he starts to manipulate himself that the prophecies from witches ‘cannot be ill’, the dramatic irony makes the audiences feel anxiety because they know the deception leads him to destruct his life. Another great example of this is ‘a dagger of mind, a false creation…’ in soliloquy of Macbeth.

The evil actions of Macbeth throughout the play are a result of external

From the beginning of Macbeth to the end, the influences of evil have tremendous effects on the characters of the play. Some characters such as Banquo recognize and are terrified by the the dangers of these evil influences and keep away from them, while others give into the evil’s supposed, promising rewards and lead themselves down a path of villainy. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth exhibit characteristics of villainy, however one proves worse through murderous actions and internal state of heart prior to death.

Macbeth is the unquestionably the main character in the book Macbeth by William Shakespeare, however we can question whether or not Macbeth’s free will is legitimate, and I say he is tied by fate and/or chance throughout the play. This essay will expose how outside forces influence and destroy the nature of self-determinism in Macbeth by looking at how the words the witches say relate to the words Macbeth speaks verbally, the witches’ predictions and the fulfilling of the witches’ prophecies. Elements before the first encounter between Macbeth and the witches show that the mind that Macbeth has, is not his. Before even seeing Macbeth, the witches mutter his words before we see him saying them, the two words said by both parties are “foul”

Witches philosophy on life affects the play greatly. “Fair is foul, and foul is fair.” is spoken in unison by the witches and describes the way the play can be interpreted. Macbeth’s downfall can be thought of as foul but also fair because justice had been served. Sanity can be a two-sided argument with Macbeth. The focused role of Macbeth expresses thoughts to himself throughout and can be portrayed as a loss of sanity.

Nature revolves around an innate balance. Everything has a respective place in the natural order, therein contributing to universal harmony. However, in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, this idea is corrupted to suit a different theme: “fair is foul, and foul is fair.” In essence, everything that is thought of as good is actually evil, and vice versa. This theme is evident through the switched roles of the protagonist, Macbeth, and his wife, Lady Macbeth, and their respective levels of responsibility for the murder of King Duncan.

Macbeth is a noble man but he chooses disloyalty and crime, he was totally aware that he is doing evil. Evil is determined in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth who are influenced by the Weird Sisters (Witches). The play examines the potential of evil and centers on the villain-hero. We find good only in King Duncan or Malcolm. Macduff is the honorable character.

Evil stands for profoundly immoral and malevolent which is exactly what the character Macbeth represents in Shakespeare ’s play Macbeth. Macbeth is a warrior who gains the title Thane of Cawdor for killing the rebel Macdonwald and the previous Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth confronts three witches who foretell Macbeth’s ascension to the throne of Scotland. Unbeknownst to Macbeth, the witches actually will “drain him dry as hay.

When first introduced to Macbeth, the witches give off an unearthly aura and are portrayed as such. Banquo describes the witches as “[…] That look not like the inhabitants ó the earth […] Upon her skinny lips lips: you should be women, and yet your beards forbid me to interpret that you are so” (1.3.40 – 49). This immediately sets a dark and ominous tone before the witches reveal the prophecy which sets the play in motion: “All hail, Macbeth!

“Fair is foul and foul is fair.” A popular quote addressing what appears to beautiful is actually ugly. This quote comes from The Tragedy of Macbeth written by William Shakespeare and is referenced all throughout the play. It was written in the year 1606 during the Elizabethan Era. Based off true events, William Shakespeare writes about the reign of Macbeth, who ruled in Scotland during the eleventh century.