Macbeth is Evil
Uploaded by angie_banana on Dec 02, 2002
The struggle between good and evil is the underlying root of conflict itself and it is which side has the greater grasp of control, which will determine which force will be prosperous. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, this struggle between the gods and the depths of hell is seen throughout the play. The protagonist, Macbeth, is endowed with something less than ordinary intelligence, but with a power of fantasy so enormous that it is almost unbearable. It is due to the overpowering evil in Macbeth that causes his own demise, as many of Shakespeare’s other tragic heroes. Macbeth succeeds in grasping the nature of evil by his deliberate slaughtering of innocent people, associating himself with demonic figures and constantly thinking destructive and immoral thoughts.
Macbeth is a murderous villain that has no remorse and kills needlessly. Firstly, Macbeth reveals that, although he knows it is a great sin to kill Duncan, a noble king, he is going to go through with the deed anyhow. He discloses, “The deep damnation of his taking off; / And pity, like a naked newborn babe, / Striding the blast, or heaven, cherubin hors’d / upon the sightless couriers of the air / Shall blow the horrid deed in every eye/ That tears shall drown the wind”. (Shakespeare 1.7.20-25) Macbeth knowingly fulfills his ambitions when he is clearly aware that the act of murder is both wrong and frowned upon by the heavens. Secondly, Macbeth is talking to the murderers and orders them to kill Fleance, Banquo’s innocent son, as well as Banquo, Macbeths closest friend. He instructs the murderers, “ To leave no rubs nor notches in the work- / Fleance his son, that keeps him company, / Whose absence is no less material to me / Than is his father's, must embrace the fate / Of that dark hour. (3.1.147-151) The preceding quotation shows the reader that Macbeth not only wants to kill Banquo, a dear friend of his, but Fleance, Banquo’s only son, an innocent child, who is in no way a threat to his kingship. Thirdly, Macbeth sends some of his men out to murder Macduffs wife and children in their castle as a warning to Macduff. Macbeth Reveals, “The very firstlings of my heart shall be / The firstling of my hand. And even now / To crown my thoughts with acts, be it thought and done; / The castle of Macduff I...