Good And Evil In Shakespeare's Macbeth

Let not light see my black and deep desires. Human malevolence and evil is a common theme in many of Shakespeare 's tragedies. In Shakespeare’s Macbeth, this evil grows and flourishes before consuming all that stands in its path. It kills through revenge, ambition, fear. The source is Macbeth himself, who is the evil incarnate in the play. His absolute devotion to sinister powers, heinous acts, and tyranny reflect his true self.

According to medieval superstition, witches collaborate with Satan himself. Macbeth, a Christian man, understands this fully and recognizes the weird sisters as witches. This knowledge is acknolwedged by Banquo “What, can the devil speak true?” (1.3.113) He is astonished that the devil’s mouthpieces were truthful.”

Proceeding numerous murders, Macbeth seizes the crown and becomes King of Scotland. He receives recognition, armies, territory and riches. Naturally, he is found to be too evil to be a ruler. “Fit to govern? No, not to live. O nation miserable! With an untitled tyrant bloody-scepter 'd, When shalt thou see thy wholesome days again, Since that the truest issue of thy throne/By his own interdiction stands accursed, And does blaspheme his breed?”(4.3.116-122) His tyranny makes those who once served him contemplate killing him, and he is unloved by his subordinates. “This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our toungues”(4.3.14) Malcolm, who once respected him and served him, is irritated by Macbeth’s name and bearing of title. He is referred to as “the tyrant”(5.6.8) and as “angry god”(4.3.19) many times until the end of the play. “Those he commands move only in command, Nothing in love”(5.2.22-23) By the end of the play, those who remain with him are those who have no choice in the matter. Furthermore, he cannot control not only his direct servants, but also the kingdom. “He cannot buckle his distemper’d cause, Within the belt of rule”(5.2.17-18) Scotland is compared to a diseased body that cannot be subdued, suggesting Macbeth as an unfit “doctor”. Malcolm also calls him “black Macbeth”(4.3.59) and tyranny is personified to symbolize Macbeth’s rule. “Bleed, bleed, poor country: Great tyranny, lay thou basis sure”(4.3.36-37) After bring crowed King Macbeth is described as lustful, gluttnous, a liar, dieceitful, violent, and hasty. His vices are said to describe every deadly sin and break every commandment. “I grant him bloody, Luxurious, avaricious, false, deceitful, Sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin/That has a name” (4.3.66-69) Finally, Macbeth becomes the devil himself to his former allies. “Not in the legions/Of horrid hell can come a devil more damn’d/In evils to top Macbeth”(4.3.62-65). He is seen as the embodiment of evil with a