The Way Shakespeare Portrays Evil in Macbeth

The Way Shakespeare Portrays Evil in Macbeth

Right from the first scene, it is obvious that Macbeth is a story of

evil. The play starts on a moor, with thunder and lightning being the

very first signal that something less than ordinary is going on.

Before the play has even begun, the atmosphere is set for an

intimidating and somewhat frightening scene. Stormy weather is nearly

always seen as frightening, dark and evil, because it is often related

to so much danger and destruction, and Shakespeare uses this well to

give and accurate and striking first impression of the play. The first

people on stage are three weird sisters, making definite this idea of

darkness and supernatural. They meet in a dark cave, which is often

representative of the underworld, and they are described as "secret,

black and midnight hags". This is extremely good use of language, as

four of the five words are all powerful and give a good idea of what

is to come. They speak, not particularly powerful words, but in rhyme,

which gives a rhythmic effect of ritual, and the sisters words seem to

flow on from each other, as if they are not really three, but one.

They say a short speech, claiming that they are going to meet again

"upon the heath" with Macbeth. How they know that Macbeth will be on

the heath, let alone his name, is a scary thought, as it reinforces

the idea that they are not human, and have supernatural powers of some

sort. The most obvious explanation, although not necessarily the most

realistic, is that they are witches. At this point the text does not

use the word "witches" but by now it is quite clear that they are not

human. The next time we see the ...

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... not necessarily evil,

but it is horrifying to the audience as well as Macbeth, for whom it

is the start of a long struggle through insanity. Macbeth and his wife

do become king and queen, but do not remain on the throne long. They

both go mad, and Lady Macbeth ends up committing suicide. This is a

sure sign of evil. Shakespeare presents their insanity very

powerfully, with hallucinations and acts of madness, such as Lady

Macbeth trying to wash "blood" off her hand; blood that isn't there.

At the end of the play, Macduff, whose wife and child Macbeth has had

killed, finds Macbeth at his castle and they fight. It is now an open

fact that Macbeth is evil, and many people, especially Macduff, want

him dead. Macduff wins, beheading Macbeth and finally and evil dies.

Malcolm, the rightful heir to the throne, becomes king.