The Nature of Good and Evil in Macbeth
The Nature of Good and Evil in Macbeth
Macbeth is a story of the very nature of good and evil and how ambition can sway the alignment of ‘Worthy Macbeth’. We are first shocked when we see that Macbeth gives serious thought to the witches ‘supernatural soliciting’ asking himself ‘why has it given me the earnest of success?’ In passage 1 we see perhaps the greatest contrast as worthy, loyal and freshly valoured Macbeth is completely absorbed in the witches prophecy and ambitiously considering killing the model of innocence and goodness, Duncan.
This immediate ‘earnest of success commencing in a truth’ causes Macbeth to consider the extent of his ambition. He focus’s on the truths commenced and weighs these against the
‘Horrid image doth unfix my hair
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs,
Against the use of nature’.
Such a contrast builds an intrigue into whether or not Macbeth will “yield to that suggestion’. It is of immense importance to realize how quickly Macbeth begins to even contemplate killing Duncan, ‘whose murder is yet but fantastical’, and dwell seriously on such an issue that should be immediately dismissed by such a loyal, honorable and ‘worthy Macbeth’. Macbeth’s response to these seemingly uncontrollable, ambitiously driven ‘horrible imaginings’ is; ‘If chance will have me King, why, chance may crown me, without my stir’. In this he tries to negate his ambition, leaving such thoughts alone however this, ‘without my stir’, is soon dismissed by the lovely Lady Macbeth who pressures Macbeth with attacks on his manhood and reminders of their feelings for each other to take part and responsibility in killing Duncan.
It is important to also take into consideration the tone and mood of this passage. In its entirety Macbeth is tranced and seemingly unaware of his comrades waiting. It is Banquo that responds to this situation by passing over a comment to the rest of the group to lose the focus on Macbeth in what is to us a very ironic comment; ‘Look, how our partner’s rapt’. From this we feel that Banquo is aware of the thoughts that run through Macbeth’s mind and his control of the situation implies that he is somewhat skeptical of the ‘supernatural soliciting’ which Macbeth is absorbed by. Hence there is an uneasy, distant...