Macbeth Literary Analysis

Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely: A Symbolic Literary Analysis of Shakespeare’s Macbeth Corrupt according to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary means “to change from good to bad in morals, manners, or actions ” (Corrupt). This definition epitomizes exactly what Macbeth evolves into throughout this work with the influence of the witches. The witches in this piece symbolize the evil found in human nature and how it can affect man in many ways. This symbolization is further enforced by the overall theme of choice. A choice always has two sides, for if it did not, then it in fact would not be a choice. There is always a good side and a bad side to everything, a right and wrong. Macbeth, the protagonist, is faced with many choices throughout

The way that they stir the pot as they add things into it is a symbol of how they also are stirring his emotions. With each stir, Macbeth’s soul is slowly broke down and altered. The more they add into the pot, the more the cruelty within him develops and grows. For example, when the second witch adds in the lizard’s leg and owlet’s wing she then says “For a charm of powerful trouble, like a hell-broth boil and bubble” (4.1.18-19). This “hell-broth” represents the evil that these women are creating inside of Macbeth, and the powerful deeds that he is about to take part in. According to Monica Wilson, the reality of witchcraft is “the exercise of an innate power to harm others directly” (308). This is exactly what the witches in the play are doing, they are using their compelling abilities to convince Macbeth to make the horrendous choices that he

They are more than just “secret, black, and midnight hags” (4.1.48). They are a direct representation of the evil within Macbeth soul. Without the witches in the play, Macbeth would more than likely have been a respectable thane whom would’ve worked his way up the ladder to eventually become king, but the weird sisters spoiled that plan from the beginning. They got into Macbeth’s mind and brought out the worst of him. The way that they foretold the glories of the future before they occurred caused Macbeth to become selfish and greedy. The Holy Bible states, “ whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household ” (Prov. 15.27). This statement is very true in Macbeth’s case. He not only troubled his own household, but also consequently put his life into a surreal amount of danger. Macbeth essentially had a choice between life and death. As claimed by Kenneth Muir, “ the opposition between the good and evil supernatural is paralleled by similar contrasts between angel and devil, heaven and hell ” (258). The evil supernatural witches in Macbeth not only hinder Macbeth but they also keep him from what he truly deserves. Macbeth is faced with a lot of different choices during the play, choices that can make or break his destiny. Unfortunately, Macbeth’s poor choices far outweighed his finer choices,