Macbeth: The Force of Evil

587 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: witches impact on macbeth

In Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth”, Macbeth was once a loyal knight in his king’s army, but he transforms into a greedy felon. Shakespeare shows that greed can be a person’s demise. Macbeth is true to this statement because he lets the greed to be king engulf him; he blatantly executes malicious deeds to make true his fate foretold by the three witches. Macbeth is gullible/naïve for the witch’s prophecies, ambitious to be king, and is influenced by external forces. Macbeth hears that he is prophesied to be king, and lets his bad judgment take over. Macbeth relies on the witches’ prophecies to tell him of his future and what danger is to come. Macbeth is naïve because he takes the prophecies as he hears them: “All hail Macbeth! You’ll be king one day” (Macbeth, Act I, Scene III, 50). Macbeth takes it into his own hands and kills the king. After Macbeth is crowned he heads back to the witches to make sure his title is secure. The witches give him four apparitions: “Beware Macduff!”(Macbeth, Act IV, scene I, 72), “Nobody born of woman shall harm Macbeth” (Macbeth, Act IV, scene I, 80),”...

Show More
Related

  • Macbeth Blind Ambition Analysis

    1580 Words  | 4 Pages

    First they gain his confidence by making predictions that come true, then the underlying true is seen through. In Act I, Scene 3 they refer to Macbeth as "Thane of Glamis," which he is, and as "Thane of Cawdor," which as far as he knows, he is not. When he is later given the news that the king has made him Thane of Cawdor, he naturally believes that the witches know the future and that he can trust them. His thoughts then move to the other prediction the witches made: that he will be king. Macbeth seeks out the witches for more information and assurance. Then, once coming across the Three Witches, Macbeth then asks them to give him some clarification on his future to hold. The Witches then show Macbeth three apparitions. The second apparition that Macbeth is shown, the bloody child, tells Macbeth that "...none of woman born shall harm Macbeth"(Shakespeare 4.1.81-82).This apparition brings confidence into Macbeth by giving him this security that he basically should have no fear about men because he cannot be killed. Unfortunately, where the false part comes into play from the false security, is the man not born of woman turns out to be Macduff, whose mother delivered by him by what we now call a C-section he was born out of a body. Thus, he was not born of woman. The third apparition appears and tells Macbeth to take courage, as well giving Macbeth

    Read More

  • Macbeth: The Evolution of Corruption

    1423 Words  | 3 Pages

    Perhaps the most fundamental theme of Shakespeare’s Macbeth is the inherent corruptibility of even a seemingly good man when ambition turns to greed, and Macbeth himself exemplifies this concept throughout the play. While at the outset he is seen to be loyal to his king, generally considered trustworthy, and displaying numerous other laudable qualities, Macbeth ultimately succumbs to the influence of those around him and becomes unequivocally evil, setting aside all his previously held morals and coming to be driven only by his lust for power. This transition is brought about by a wide variety of factors and plays an integral role in the development of the plot. In his tragedy Macbeth, William Shakespeare employs

    Read More

  • Comparing Evil In Shakespeare's Macbeth And The Bible

    554 Words  | 2 Pages

    In conclusion, Macbeth is a victim of external forces. In this story you would learn the negative things about greed. Why you should not be greedy, and the consequences you would face. Shakespeare uses Macbeth to show terrible effects that ambition and guilt can have on a man who lacks strength of characters. Bravery, self-doubt, and ambition was the mastery of Macbeth throughout the play. In my opinion, this was very explainable of what greed exactly means. In the beginning, shows a brave and capable warrior; Macbeth, and things just fall apart for him at the end of the play. You should really read this, because it gives examples of greed and the consequences they

    Read More

  • Macbeth’s Deteriorating Mental State

    1648 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...two apparitions make Macbeth feel like his title as king is safe. He thinks this because Macbeth takes all of what the apparitions say literally and straightforward. Macbeth feels that it is impossible for Birnam wood to move towards the castle, this is ironic because the audience knows that the bark and branches from trees from Birnam wood have been used to camouflage the number of soldiers heading towards Macbeth’s castle. Macbeth does not think of it in this point of view, therefore making him feel very safe and confident about the war. The apparitions told warned Macbeth that Macduff is a threat to his title as king, and Macbeth took action by hiring murderers to kill Macduff’s whole family. Macbeth lies to the murderers and makes them believe that Macduff has been unfaithful to them just so that the murderers would go through with his plan.

    Read More

  • The Lure of Evil in Shakespeare's Macbeth

    1375 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the play, Macbeth started out as an extremely brave and loyal solider. However, after the three witches told him he was to be king one day, he changed completely, being wholly consumed by his greed. He turned his back on his friends, betrayed them, and murdered innocent people. All of this can be linked back to the predictions made by the witches.

    Read More

  • Macbeth: Queens of Evil

    866 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout history, the role of women in society was infinitesimal. They were considered to have few jobs and often did not play any major part in political and social matters. However in the story of Macbeth, women play a few very influential and negative roles. The only women who appear in the play are the witches, Lady Macbeth, and Lady Macduff. All of these characters can be openly seen as hateful. Numerous times throughout the play women perform menacing acts and it can be argued that women are the cause of Macbeth’s transformation from a revered warrior to an evil tyrant. In the Shakespeare’s Macbeth, women are depicted as manipulative, insane, and distrustful.

    Read More

  • Macbeth: Degress of Evil

    814 Words  | 2 Pages

    Biography: William Shakespeare's Macbeth tells the story of a man who would be king. And he is the king, because he murders. Him and his wife murder to get their way. This works greatly for them, until they are questioned, and their guilt sets in. The task for this paper was to compare the Macbeth's to two people who did great evil to accomplish good. IE: Adolf Hitler and Osama bin Laden, whom were used in this essay.

    Read More

  • Macbeth: The Tragic Hero

    1040 Words  | 3 Pages

    In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth is a classic example of a tragic hero who is constantly struggling with his fate. In the opening scene of the play Macbeth receives a prophecy from three witches. They proclaim that he will be the thane of Cawdor. He responds by saying, “By Sinel’s death I know that I am thane of Glamis/ but how of Cawdor”(I, iii, 70-73)? At first, he does not realize to earn this title what he must do, but when he realizes he is taken aback. His bewilderment prefigures his perpetual struggle with his fate. Macbeth also is excessively ambitious which constantly affects him throughout the play. He is too determined to become king and will kill anyone to ensure that this will transpire. Macbeth’s struggle and ambition make him the quintessence of tragic hero.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Arrogance In Macbeth

    843 Words  | 2 Pages

    In fear of losing this power to his friend Banquo or his son Fleance, whom of which the witches said would be king after Macbeth and would yield a long line of kings, Macbeth had them murdered in the woods while they were out horseback riding. This proves that he truly believes in what the witches have to say about him and his future, which leads him to back to seek out more of the witches half truths to see what else would come of his future. The next set of prophecies that the witches had to offer were shown in a set of three apparitions. The first said “Macbeth! Macbeth! Macbeth! Beware Macduff. Beware the thane of Fife,” the second apperition then spoke “none of woman born can harm Macbeth,” the third aperition then said “Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill Shall come against him”(Shakespeare,168-170). Some say it was the witches fault for Macbeth’s actions next, but in reality it was Macbeth’s and Macbeth’s alone. Due to these three prophecies Macbeth’s level of arrogance went up along with his hunger for power as well, his level of common sense was decreasing faster and faster. Macbeth’s lack of common sense caused him to make rash decisions without thinking them through. Such as when he says “From this moment the very firstlings of my

    Read More

  • Macbeth: Tragedy

    906 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to the classical view, tragedy should arouse feelings of pity and fear in the audience. Does macbeth do this?

    Read More

  • macbeths descent into evil

    847 Words  | 2 Pages

    The character Macbeth in the story of Shakespeare’s Macbeth faces decisions that affect his morals. He begins as an innocent soul, dedicated to serve his kingdom and its king, Duncan. As time passes and opportunities present themselves combined with the deception of the evil witches, Macbeth begins his descent into madness. Macbeth’s innocence and loyalty are completely corrupted due to his over confidence, guilty conscience, and the inevitability of human nature. Macbeth looses sight of what is morally right to do in life because his logical choices are changed by these factors.

    Read More

  • The Struggle between Good and Evil in Macbeth by William Shakespeare

    855 Words  | 2 Pages

    does not have any children to carry on the name, so he is wondering is

    Read More

  • The Power of Evil in Macbeth

    1936 Words  | 4 Pages

    Evil is a destructive force; it causes harm to those who embrace it and their victims. In Shakespeare's Macbeth, the protagonist Macbeth and Lady Macbeth fall into the hands of evil. Evil is what drives people to commit unnatural actions of destruction. Macbeth succumbs to evil through his fatal flaw, greed, and it causes him to disrupt the chain of being. When Macbeth willingly murders, massacres, lies and deceives, he loses his heath and sanity. Evil corrupts everything it touches, and Macbeth decides to be evil's servant. But, when Macbeth embraces evil, it corrupts him, and it ultimately destroys him as well. Lady Macbeth is a victim of Macbeth's fatal flaw, since she is drawn in, and becomes greedy for power herself. She pushes Macbeth into destruction when she adds the small touch that plunges Macbeth into a chain of murder, destruction, and lying followed by the loss of their sanity and health. After Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are well into the depths of corruption and greed, it is clearly seen that their guilt will haunt them for the rest of their lives. The harm they have caused others will be returned to them as revenge and they have lost their sanity in order to gain power. The fate of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth clearly illustrates that to embrace evil is to negate our own need for order and well being.

    Read More

  • Macbeth: A Tragic Hero

    1162 Words  | 3 Pages

    Tragic heroes, who destined for a serious downfall, are the protagonist of a dramatic tragedy. A tragic hero is usually a great hero, who gets the most respect from other people; on the other hand, a tragic hero can also lose everything he gained because of his mistakes. His downfall is the result of a wrong judgment, a flaw which might combined with fated and external forces. The downfall can cause the tragic hero to suffer for the rest of his life. In many literary works, the downfall of the tragic heroes usually happen in their highest point. In the same way, Macbeth is a tragic hero in the play called “The Tragedy of Macbeth” which is written by a legendary writer, William Shakespeares. Macbeth is a great general who gained many respect from the people and even the king. In the highest point of his life, because of seeking for greater power, it created Macbeth’s downfall. Macbeth, a tragic hero, causes suffering for himself and others by committing murders and creating distress, which are the negative effects of seeking for a greater power.

    Read More

  • Macbeth - Evil And Darkness

    619 Words  | 2 Pages

    The play "Macbeth" by Shakespeare is jam-packed with malfeasance and darkness. All actions taken by Macbeth, his wife, Lady Macbeth, the witches and Hecate have immoral intentions and/or evil outcomes. An example of such is Lady Macbeth’s dark intentions to quicken Macbeth’s crowning, fuelled Macbeth’s "vaulting ambition[s]" (Act 1 scene 7 line 27) to murder anyone or anything that stood in his path of a long reign.

    Read More

More about Macbeth: The Force of Evil

Open Document