Examine Themes Of Good And Evil Within Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ - page 1
Keywords: Shakespeare, Macbeth, English, GCSE, Good, Evil, Themes
By Richard on 26/09/2008
Level: GCSE Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)
Page Number: 1 of 4 pages: 1 2 3 4
In the very beginning of ‘Macbeth’ the theme is of evil, as the witches are evil, this is shown with the thunder and lightening that the witches are talking in. Also by the way that the witches talk about bad things such as the “Fog and filthy air.” The witches bring about the evil in most of the play by there manipulating of innocent characters such as Macbeth, by twisting Macbeths mind to think that he will firstly become the thane of Cawdor. Then by chance he becomes this position and the possibilities forming in his mind are that if these witches are right once about himself becoming a Thane then why can’t they be right about him being king. Already the ideas are forming in his mind, the idea of becoming king is a very tempting one to anyone and if egged on by some prophecy then it seems even more tempting.
The witches seem to represent the evil in Macbeth’s mind that will slowly overpower him and destroy him. The word “Hail to thee thane of Cawdor” and later in that line “that shalt be king hereafter.” Help show the temptation that Macbeth is going through, and the greed that he possesses which will help the witches overpowering of him.
When the witches meet Macbeth later on in the play, they start there tempting, which gives an atmosphere of evil as we can start to see the evil side of Macbeth, which is very resonant in this part of the play. Again Shakespeare uses language to help us see this. For in stance MacBeth’s cross-reference with the witches when he says “So foul and fair a day I have not seen.” Which is what the witches were talking of at the beginning of the play. In addition when the witches tell Macbeth and Banquo what will happen in the future Macbeth becomes agitated and keen to learn more as he says, “Stay you imperfect speakers. Tell me more.” Which shows how desperate he is to hear that he will become powerful, which hints at him being evil and obsessed with power. Whereas Banquo is not as interested and merely thinks the witches to be teasing, he does not take them seriously, which helps us see him as a good person because he is not distracted by temptations. Also he is shown as the real hero in the beginning of
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