Macbeth Essay Essay

Module B: Critical Study of Text

Shakespeare’s tragedy ‘Macbeth’ explores the evil nature of human beings and the deed which they commit that brings upon their downfall in society. In Shakespeare’s production of Macbeth many aspects of evil over-ride the play. Themes, issues and certain characters express the nature of evil, present in the play.

The evil in the play ‘Macbeth’ can be identified from the first Act in Scene One, from the very point where the audience gets introduced to the weird sisters (The three witches) In the middle of a thunderstorm. As the line ‘foul is fair and fair is foul’ is said the stability and calmness of the scene has been shaken. If labels were accurately labelled a secure sense of calmness and stability would be present. The incorrect labelling brings upon a dark atmosphere where a threat of mass destruction and high confusion is created this is evident in ‘Macbeth: ‘the frame of Things Disjoint’ essay by Victoria Stec.   The purpose of the poor weather of Scene One is to impact upon the viewers to feel the political crisis that is coming around in the play. There is a definite theme of evil present in the following acts to come.

The evil present in Act One can be explained through the characterisation of the tragic hero Macbeth. At the beginning of the Act the audience gets the impression of Macbeth as known to be a revered individual in society, a patriotic military hero, a loyal friend of Banquo and respected by the King. Soon after his involvement with consulting supernatural soliciting in Scene Three, he realises the fact that he can be the next future king of Scotland, Macbeth’s deadly flaw greed and ambition suddenly emerges and takes over his mind and his actions. This possession of the mind leads Macbeth to plan evil despicable acts towards his own community for his own benefit. The audience sees Macbeth’s evil is progressing as his ambition grows.

The evil in Act Two is heavily influenced by Lady Macbeth, the...