Macbeth was basically a good man lead into evil ways Essay

The statement Macbeth was basically a penny-pinching military personnel led into brutal ways is one and only(a) I agree with, to a certain extent. His fiendishness certainly progressed throughout the play, to a greater extentover his influences from the witches and gentlewoman Macbeth and academic degree of goodness at the demoralize is debatable. I shall likewise discuss the reasons for his destruction, which ties in the plays themes for example ambition, order and disorder and guilt and conscience.The play opens with a facial expression of disorder lightning and a coven of witches. This rattling represents the mise en ikon for the rest of the play. The disorder in the end reflects on Macbeth, therefore leading to his destruction. When we watch the archetypal-year scene we rarity how big a part the witches exit play and how influential they will be. At the end of the scene we greet that they are going to replete Macbeth and we are anxious to populate what is going to happen to him. We also know that they are black creatures and they intend to play around, their final words die us with a feeling of uncertainty and disbeliefFair is shitty, and foul is fair,Hover through the fog and filthy air.The audience asks themselves what does this mean? tolerate good be bad? These words sum up a lot of the play the good can be bad and vice versa. Hover through the fog and filthy air tell us that the play will be evil and full of cunning schemes and stinky tricks. It is also wondered why Shakespeare didnt introduce Macbeth in the first scene, as the play is entitled after his name. However, Shakespeares use of the witches in the first scene emphasises how influential they are. By going against the expected, the audience switchs more acrophobic of what will happen. The witches are unexpected and so add counterbalance more to the feeling of uncertainty and anxiousness.But was Macbeth good from the start? Firstly, in his defence, the fag thou ght highly of him. Regarding the treason committed by the Thane of Cawdor, he hypothecatesWhat he hath lost noble Macbeth hath won.By referring to Macbeth as noble it gives him a good impression, that he is loyal and just, but in what sense it is direct is un convinced(predicate). Is he referring to the book of facts of Macbeth, or the military skills? As this scene is set on the battlefield and Macbeth is one of his best soldiers, he whitethorn present been referring to his military skills. But as the play commences we learn that Duncan and Macbeth are socially connected, as they dine at each otherwises homes.So it does seem that Macbeth was seen as a good man at the start of the play. If this is true, what made Macbeth turn to evil ways? Firstly ambition vie a part to start his destruction. In Act 1 scene 3 we first meet Macbeth, who has his first encounter with the witches, which has immediate effects. The first thing the witches say to Macbeth isAll announce Macbeth, hail to thee, Thane of Glamis.All hail Macbeth, hail to thee Thane of Cawdor.All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter.By axiom these things the witches immediately have the attention of Macbeth. In these times, the 15th and 16th centuries, many an(prenominal) people believed in witchcraft. Between 1560 and 1603 hundreds of people (nearly all women) were convicted as witches and executed. So it is no surprise Macbeth believed theses things said to him, but maybe partly because he wanted to believe. Also the witches predict that Banquos son will become king and at the end of the play he does. However Macbeth does no know this. The audience c formerlyive of that the witches intend to earn evil but they are not sure where, when and with whom. So they are not sure what to make of the predictions. We also learn in act 1 scene 3 more near the witchs military units. One of the witches saysAlthough the clamber cannot be lost, yet it can be tempest tossed.She is declareing about a sa ilors wife who would not share her chestnuts so the witch will create a storm to sink the sauceboat he is sailing in. This tells us that the witches have enough power to create a situation that could destroy, but not to physically destroy. So this is other argument to say that Macbeth was good from the start the witches had him in their power.On the other hand Banquo did not believe what the witches said showing he was more level headed. But when Macbeth finds out that Duncan appointed him as Thane of Cawdor, he really does believe in what the witches say. The witchs power is considerably illustrated in this scene because they put Macbeth in the situation in which he could think of murder, but they do not suggest it directly. If they were trying to led Macbeth on then this scene tells us he is an easily lead person, as he seems deeply affected by the witches words this weakness is also sh testify later in the play concerning peeress Macbeth and the plotting of a murder.This sc ene sprucely portrays the difference between how Macbeth and Banquo reacted to the witchs predictions. Banquo is also impinge onered great anticipate that his sons will be kings but he does not believe that good news can come from voices of Satan and does not trust them even though they could become true.Were such things here as we do speak about?Or have we eaten on the insane root,Banquo was used by Shakespheare to show that Macbeth must make the choice between good and evil. From the organise of this scene we are fairly sure he will make out evil.Yet Macbeths degree of evil is not yet shown, it is exclusively at its potential stage. None of his bad thoughts about Malcolm being the switch to Duncan have not been taken into action. madam Macbeth is partly to blame for this. In Act 1 scene 5 wench Macbeth receives a garner from Macbeth, telling of his experience. She too believes that the witches are true. Her power and strongbeliefs are briefly shown when she saysCome, you spiritsThat tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me hereAnd gormandize me from the crown to the toe topfullOf direst cruelty make thick my blood.Come to my cleaning womans breastsAnd take my milk for gall, you murdring ministers.This really shows the power and saturation Lady Macbeth has. It also relates to the latter part of the play where it is clear that Lady Macbeth is the dominant person in their relationship. An argument brought forth by nearly is that this speech is a spell. We are led to believe further in the play that Lady Macbeth has witch qualities when she thinks she has blood on her. This is another peculiarity of these times people believed that this was a sign of a witch.So we cannot say that Macbeth was forced to murder King Duncan by the witches as the encouragement of Lady Macbeth is shown greatly in scene 7. The witches did not put the idea into Banquos head that he should murder Macbeth to ensure his son would become king, so therefore we cannot say that they p ut the idea into the head of Macbeth. Critics argue that Lady Macbeth was the one who forced Macbeth into killing Duncan. However, it was Macbeth who had the first thoughts of murder, In act 1 scene 5 Macbeth writes a letter to Lady Macbeth telling her about his meeting with the witchesI have learned by the perfectest report they have more inthem then mortal knowledge.This is untrue because Macbeth does not know that they were telling the truth and Banquo did not believe them in the same way. indeed he does not know anything by the perfectest report. This shows us that Macbeth may have been trying to tempt Lady Macbeth into thinking the first thoughts of murder, loss the blame lying with her, whilst attempting to clear his own conscience. Lady Macbeths character takes blame for the murder as she shows no sign of repent once the crime has been committed, until the end of the play when she becomes insane. Before the murder takes place she takes matters into her own hands, criticisin g her husbandIt (Macbeths nature) is too full othmilk of human kindness.She then says at the end of scene 5To diverge favour is to fear, leave the rest to me.So the actual influence of Lady Macbeth is uncertain she is either subconsciencly persuaded by Macbeth to persuade him, or she has an actual evil inside her. Macbeths evil really comes to its zenith when he becomes king. He has murdered, and be just to gain power. Ambition over took him, fired on by the powers of the witches.It is debatable whether Macbeth was originally a good man who was led into evil ways, or if he was evil from the outset, but I believe that evil is made not born. The ethics and morals of people are created at childhood, through the observations of others, being told by parents what is right and what is wrong. This belief brings me to the conclusion that the witches had almost uncontrollable force over him, whether this was a mental forced sparked off by Macbeths great ambition or whether they had actua l power I am uncertain. But for Macbeth to be so changed and affected by these creatures when his friend was encountered the same and not affected at all leads one to believe that he has a weakness in his character. So it is well argued to say that yes, Macbeth was a good man led into evil ways.