Macbeth as a Play About the Conflict Between Good and Evil Essay

Shakespeare presents Macbeth more extensively as a villain using methods which would be more understood in the era the play was composed, which was the Jacobean period, but influenced by the reign of Elizabeth. During the Elizabethan period people were preoccupied with the supernatural, which is one of the main topics in Shakespeare’s play. In my opinion Shakespeare structures the play to make the audience see Macbeth transforming from a hero into a villain, we can also see how Macbeth’s character transfigures from a valiant, noble soldier to a deceitful traitor.

The first impression of Macbeth portrays him as a war hero who, ironically, has a strong distaste in traitors and disloyalty in the dialogue spoken by Captain “For brave Macbeth – well he deserves that name – disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution, like a valour’s minion carved out his passage till he faced the slave, which ne’er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him, till he unseamed him from the navel to th’chaps and fixed his head upon our battlements.” His violent and graphic actions which shows his allegiance to the king, ironically, also shows the readers that he is merciless and bloodthirsty when he is ambitious. This reveals a latent murderous aspect to his personality.

Macbeth is very faithful and honorable general in the beginning of the play. However, once he rebels to king due to three witches plot, his character and personality changes completely. He becomes an atrocious and tyrannical ruler. Furthermore, his understanding of kingly rule is exposed in his words in act 4 scene 1: “Time, thou anticipatest my dread exploits: / The flighty purpose never is o'ertook / Unless the deed go with it; from this moment / The very firstlings of my heart shall be / The firstlings of my hand.” (Shakespeare 4.1.162-166). His evil character, which changed after becoming a king, matches with his understanding of kingly rule – he believes that king can do anything even though it is a dread exploit.

Just as the character spectrum flows from hero to villain, Macbeth also gradually makes his way down the line. In the very beginning of the play (before making his appearance), Macbeth’s fellow Scots and lords praise him for his loyalty and noble deeds. Here, it is made clear that the public initially views him as a heroic figure who is loyal to Scotland; “for brave Macbeth, (well he deserves that name)”(9) Admittedly, Macbeth does unseam a man “from the nave to th’ chops”(9), however this is considered an act of valor in the service of his country and his king. However, Macbeth’s loyalties soon become questionable, as he plots to and then commits the murder of his honored king, Duncan. At this point, the audience

In the play Macbeth by Shakespeare I found at the beginning the character Macbeth was a portrayed as a noble, honest and brave man. As said by the captain in the second scene, ‘For brave Macbeth – well he deserves that title’ (I.2.16). This gives the audience an indication that Macbeth was highly respected by the king’s men and the king himself. His desire for power grew throughout the play from when he had his first encounter with the witches.

    William Shakespeare's tragic play, Macbeth shows the gradual descent of the character Macbeth into the moral abyss.   Macbeth's yearning for power draws him to the murder of King Duncan, Banquo, and Macduff's family. It is difficult to understand how a courageous, gentle man such as Macbeth, could be involved in such villainous activities. In truth, it was the witches and Lady Macbeth that transformed into evil Macbeth's natural desire for control and authority.  The play, Macbeth clearly illustrates that wicked intention must, in the end, produce wicked action.

In the tragedy Macbeth, William Shakespeare shows his character Macbeth as a man with an ambition to become king of Scotland. The reason why Macbeth had discovered this ambition is because three bearded witches had told him so and he chose to believe them. His ambition to become king had led to his own downfall at the end because he changed his image as an honest man into one of a selfish murderer. At the beginning of the story Macbeth’s friends would describe him as an incredibly good man.

Macbeth, Thane of Glamis, was once a good man. He was a loyal vassal to the kind King Duncan, a hero on the battlefield, and a comrade of Banquos. Never, even in his wildest thoughts, did he consider murdering his gracious king and his honorable friend. Until he met the witches, who planted the seed of betrayal into his mind, but he pushed those evil thoughts out of his mind. Just the thought of Macbeth murdering the king make him sick “ why do I yield to that suggestion whose horrid image doth unfix my hair and make my seated heart knock on my ribs.” (1, iii, 357) This quote is proof that Macbeth is a decent man.

    Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's more popular plays, and nearly everyone knows about the abundant blood and gore, the witches, Lady Macbeth's ambition, and the ghost of Banquo. However, not as many people know about the superstitions that surround this play.  There's a long-standing belief that the play is jinxed, than any company that produces it is courting disaster, and that quoting from the play (or even saying the title) leads to serious bad luck.

At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is seen as a brave soldier who is loyal to the King (“For brave Macbeth—well he deserves that name—Disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd steel, Which smoked with bloody execution, Like valor's minion carved out his passage Till he faced the slave (Act 1, Scene 2)”) but is corrupted by the witches prophecies and by his and Lady Macbeth's ambition. This is because of the weakness of Macbeth's character, the strong power of Lady Macbeth and how she is easily able to influence him.

Macbeth is a Scottish play by William Shakespeare. It is a classic, tragic play of power, ambition, loyalty, honor, greed, murders, and guilt. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a loyal and honorable soldier to king Duncan of Scotland. Later in the play, Macbeth is led by the ambition of power after the predictions of three witches him being the king. Macbeth is also influenced by his wife, lady Macbeth’s ambition and greed of power to make the predictions come true. To make the predictions come true Macbeth turns evil and tyrant from a loyal and honorable soldier, committing murders for his greed of power. Macbeth commits all the murders although he had second thoughts of not doing all this and felt guilty, but his greed of power has

Macbeth is a strong character who, before the events of Macbeth, was a honorable and good guy because of his previous deeds of being great in battle and honorable outside of the battlefield. Up until he heard the prophecy from the witches he change his ways. Macbeth started to do anything necessary to get what he wants or thinks he needs. His wife during this time was able to manipulate him into becoming someone he normally is not. He has changed into a dishonorable, traitorous, deceiving, shell of a man who has killed his way into power.

  “At the heart of William Shakespeare's Macbeth is an examination of the nature of evil and it's many faces and facets”(Cathell 119). The principal evil characters in the play, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, are both evil, but the manifestation of evil is different in each.

In the beginning of the play Macbeth is known as good, he is a noble man and does what he is told. The townspeople all have great things to say about him they state, “Conduct me to mine host: we love him highly and shall continue our graces towards him” (18, Act 1, scene 6). He is known for being loyal to King Duncan. Macbeth is then forced by his wife to kill Duncan and his decision changes him. Macbeth has an internal battle over whether he should listen to his wife or do what is morally right. When Macbeth decides that he has to

Great evil is demonstrated in Macbeth’s character due to his vicious ambition and ruthless attitude. Macbeth was able to murder such a generous person, especially someone that gave you many blessings so it can be inferred that he is capable of much worse. In fact, he later exclaims “That I did kill them” claiming to have killed the men who “killed” Duncan (2.3.104). Macbeth blames two innocent men for his immoral actions, yet it is once again seen as a decision made by his wife or as a way to protect her. The fact that Macbeth easily shrugs off his actions and pretends he has no knowledge of the event depicts an evil side of him that is coming out into the light.