evil in Macbeth
Can we Hold Macbeth Fully Responsible for the Evil Deeds in the Play? - Planet PapersEssay Can we Hold Macbeth Fully Responsible for the Evil Deeds in the Play? Essay written by: Sprintfellow In the play there are many evil deeds that Macbeth committed. ... Macbeth is also responsible for Scotlands disorder. Macbeth plays the main role in each incident, with the other characters being only minor and undeveloped; acting as vehicles for Macbeths actions. It is possible that it is not entirely Macbeths fault for the evil deeds in the play. In Act II, Scene II Macbeth is patented as a hero, when he defeated Norway in war for his country. O valiant cousin, worthy gentleman Initially, the Elizabethan audience consider Macbeth as a respectable and well like character. ... This theme is first introduced in Act I, Scene I where the witches foretell the struggle between the forces of evil and good in which Macbeth is to be involved. ... FIRST WITCH: All hail Macbeth, hail to thee Thane of Glamis SECOND WITCH: All hail Macbeth, hail to thee Thane of Cawdor. THIRD WITCH: All hail Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter. Macbeth is startled when he hears this prophecy. ... The witches plant the idea of being King into Macbeths mind, which has encourages Macbeth to consider his future. ... Macbeth sent a letter to Lady Macbeth outlining the witches prophecy. ... This is how Macbeth reduces some of the responsibility of the incident of the murder by accepting her guidance and advice. It becomes apparent that Macbeth is somewhat of a moral coward. This could be seen as a positive attribute as it shows the weaknesses of Macbeth, and asks could Macbeth be fully responsible if he is not totally independent? ... Macbeth intends to destroy this. Macbeth has a change of heart before he reaches home until his wife persuades him that it can be done safely. Macbeth leaves the banquet that is to be Duncans last, deciding not to do it. Finally Lady Macbeth questions Macbeths manhood and persuades him to go through with the murder. ... This is a recurrent theme in the play as Macbeths masculinity is undermined on several occasions by Lady Macbeth. Macbeth is brave when it comes to thought but when he is faced with the action, he hesitates and has to be persuaded into action by his wife. ... All hail Macbeth, that shalt be King hereafter. During this intense time, Macbeth is hesitant and his weakness is shown in the way he seeks to put off the murder. ... Macbeth came under constant pressure from Lady Macbeth. ... This shows that Macbeth is not purely evil and that he has a conscience. This could make it easier for Macbeth by reducing some of the blame that could be placed on him for the evil deeds, when we have seen that Macbeth did not commit this crime acting under his own intentions; but rather Lady Macbeths.