Is He Good Or Is He Bad? :: essays research papers

"Is He Good or Is He Bad?" In Macbeth, William Shakespeare portrays a particular kind of evil. As the character of Macbeth grows into darkness, he searches for more power. Every time Macbeth completes a battle for power, he lusts for more. In Act I, the witches state, "Fair is foul, and foul is fair." This foreshadows the disorder and moral darkness in which Macbeth will plunge himself. Macbeth begins with a bright light of what he wants in his life; later on, he is persuaded by his wife and the witches to yearn for more power. Macbeth turns from an essentially good character toward evil by giving into: his need for power, his insecurities about his relationship with his wife, and vengeance. First of all, Macbeth is easily persuaded into the idea of being king. The witches previously told the truth of Macbeth becoming Thane of Cawdor, now why not move forward and become king. Yet, he knows the only way to become king is to have Duncan die first. In the beginning of Act I, Macbeth is satisfied with his status of living. He doesn't yearn for more, but it is implanted in his head that he wants more. In Act I, Scene IV Macbeth takes one giant step towards evil. He states, "Stars, hide your fires; / Let not light see my black and deep desires." He tries not to express his desires for he knows they are wrong. Macbeth rather hide what he wants then to do harm against others. Before returning home, Macbeth writes a letter to his wife telling her of all the predictions made by the witches. Lady Macbeth definitely wants her husband to be king for selfish reasons. She knows that Macbeth will not cheat to get anything even if he wants something badly, so she Stipanov 2 drills in his head that she will leave him if he doesn't kill Duncan. Within Act I, Scene IV, Lady Macbeth states, "Come, thick night, / And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell." In other words, if Macbeth takes a giant step towards evil, Lady Macbeth makes an even greater leap. Once Macbeth returns home, Lady Macbeth takes charge and starts making plans for Duncan's murder immediately. Even when Macbeth tells his wife he cannot go through with the murder, she begins to mock him and tells him that he is a coward.