Macbeth Evil Question free essay sample

In Macbeth, Shakespeare wished to create a dark and evil world inhabited by malevolent characters who performed dastardly deeds upon one another. The particular use of language, imagery and pathetic fallacy, to an enormous extent, assisted in the creation of a powerfully evil, violent atmosphere which permeated the entire play. We are first introduced to evil in the form of the supernatural. The witches conduct evil for evils sake. It is not for personal gain. Although this supernatural evil cannot be committed by the witches directly, they do exert an influence on the characters, Macbeth in particular, through temptation. The witches are utterly wicked characters, although their dialogue sometimes seems almost comical, like a malevolent nursery rhyme perhaps; Double, double, toil and trouble. The presence of the witches alone is an embodiment of instinctive evil. There is a great deal of violent language present throughout the play. In Act 1, Scene 2, we observe a graphic discussion of battle by the Scottish King and his attendants; till he unseamed him from the nave to thchops and fixed his head upon our battlements. We will write a custom essay sample on Macbeth Evil Question or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Not only does this create a general atmosphere of evil, but it also assists in depicting he character of Macbeth. He is simply bound to be evil Judging by these references. Another strikingly evil character is presented to us in Act 1, Scene 5. Lady Macbeths language serves a similar purpose to that of the Kings attendants. It is especially horrifying coming from a woman. Being the main female character, we expect her to possess an air of femininity but what we perceive puts those assumptions to rest. It is not long before we realize that the power of her evil is in fact greater than that of her husbands. She fears Macbeth is too full of the milk of human kindness and herefore must guide him in order to go ahead with the horrific assassination of King Duncan. To emphasize her point, Lady Macbeth illustrates it with an action she would take on her own flesh and blood had she been stopped while being as determined to succeed as she is now; l would, while it was smiling at my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums, and dashed the brains out. Although this is a metaphor, Shakespeare presented us with an immense perception of evil. Lady Macbeth is a truly magnificent representation of evil, as well as being one of Shakespeares most famous and frightening female characters. In creating an evil atmosphere, Shakespeare used the power of imagery; darkness playing a defining role. The use of dark colours is vital in creating a prevalent sense of evil, notably characters being referred to as Black Hecate along with Nights black angels. The frequent referrals to darkness and night-time heighten the atmosphere of evil. It is always at night-time that the witches show their faces and act as instruments of darkness. The audience automatically know that the witches are the embodiment of evil, temptation, and betrayal. Night-time also serves as the cover for Macbeths crimes as he pleads; Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires. Lady Macbeth echoes this as she calls on the night for help; Come, thick night, and pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell, that my keen knife see not the wound it makes. Throughout the play, it is only bright twice Duncans arrival at Inverness and when Macbeth is about to die. Both are events that antagonise Macbeth s evil plot. Shakespeare also reters to blood throughout the play which plays a key role in the morbid tone of Macbeth. The feature of blood assists in showcasing the malignant minds and evil deeds of the characters. After Lady Macbeth becomes a somnambulist, wracked with guilt over what she has done, we see her obsess about the metaphorical blood on her hands, leading to one of Shakespeares most famous lines; Out, damned spot! Out, out, I say. The multiple references of blood aid the powerful vision of evil. Pathetic fallacy plays a part in the continuous aspects of evil. The natural world mimics the real world when Macbeth ruthlessly murders Duncan; Theres husbandry in heaven, their candles are all out. This unnatural darkness symbolises the unnatural killing of a decent, well-liked King. Pathetic fallacies are used to reflect the events that happen during the night of Duncans murder. The unruliness of the night, the strange screams of death heard in the air, the feverous and shaking nature of the earth; these sinister personifications are all symbolic of the evil murder. Mastering the use of language, imagery and pathetic fallacy, Shakespeare presents us with a powerful vision of evil that is demonstrated from the beginning of Macbeth right up until the very end.