The Balance Between Good And Evil In Macbeth

At the beginning of the play, the three witches proclaim, “ Fair is foul, and foul is fair, / Hover through the fog and filthy air” ( Shakespeare 1.1.11-12). This quote shows the motifs of good versus evil and light versus dark are a focus point of this play. The three witches try to flip other people’s morals, so people would believe that bad is good and good is bad. In Shakespeare’s play The Tragedy of Macbeth, the main character Macbeth learns of three prophecies by three witches at the beginning of the novel. These three prophecies lead Macbeth and his wife Lady Macbeth to make some very risky and dangerous choices that change the course of their lives. The couple tries to manage their guilt and what is considered good for them. Light is

Macbeth is known for being very brave on the battlefield. The Captain is very complimentary of Macbeth saying, “ As whence the sun ’gins his reflection Shipwracking storms and direful thunders break, So from that spring whence comfort seemed to come Discomfort swells. Mark, King of Scotland, mark: No sooner justice had, with valor armed,” (Skeakepeare 1.2.25-28 ). In this quote, the sun stands for goodness and hope, while the thunderstorms represent evil and darkness. Early in the play when Malcolm gets awarded the title of Prince of Cumberland, Macbeth must try to contain his

The three witches' prophecies tell him that he will gain the titles of Thane of Cawdor and King of Scotland. Once Macbeth is aware of these prophecies, they consume him and he desires the power that comes with the titles. In the beginning, he already has the position of Thane of Glamis, but only wanted his power to increase. This is the start of Macbeth’s greed and his need for power. On the other hand, Macbeth also has some very positive moments which can help him go after his destiny. According to the author of The Gunpowder Plot and Macbeth, "Yet, in any discussion of Macbeth himself, the concept of darkness is not required. He is the most vital and energetic character within the play, a natural force, surpassing any conventional notion of good and evil. He partakes of the sublime. Like many of Shakespeare's tragic protagonists, he seems actively to seek out his fate " (Ackroyd 37). He has his up-and-down moments trying to find the right balance between light and dark. He is responsible for the murders of King Duncan, his servants, Banquo, the young Siward, and Macduff’s wife and kids. While he did not physically commit all of these terrible acts, he is responsible for all of them. Macbeth is not the only individual to have struggles with light versus