Is macbeth totally evil?

Is macbeth totally evil?

1. Macbeth is someone that has a complete character shift from the start till the end

   • Other characters seem to be the ones to unleash his ambition which lead to his character shift
     • This makes us question if he would have turned evil without external pressures

2. First impressions of Mac

   • "Brave" "Noble"
     • These are connotations of someone that is respected and admired
       • Clearly shows he was a person of greatness with greatness set for him

3. Is very quick to jump to the ideas of murder after the witches mention the predictions

   • "My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical"
     • Evil ambition slowly awakened
   • Describes his ambition as being evil
     • 'Black and deep desires"
       • He is aware of his ambition--> he has a conscience and understands murder is wrong

4. Lmac decides to intimidate Mac and pressure him into the murder

   • she knows that deep down he is not able to carry out the murder on his own
     • shows how he is not pure evil on the inside
     • "too full o'th milk of human kindness"

5. Whilst Mac is contemplating the murder he is still disgusted by the thought of it

   • "whose horrid image doth unfix my hair"
     • Is aware that the only reason for him murdering Duncan is his "vaulting ambition"
       • Foreshadows the witches corrupting Mac's morality

6. After the murder, Mac feels instant regret

   • is aware of the consequences he will now face
     • "Macbeth does murder sleep'
       • The theme of sleep links to deeper psychological issues
         • Makes us question if the person Mac becomes is because of the PTSD from this situation
           • is it psychological or is he truly an evil person?

7. Mac gives in to living as a tyrant

   • "I am in blood/ steppd in so far"
     • Believes it is easier to carry on killing people than go back to how he was before
   • The witches apparitions re awaken his ambition and cause him to become an even worse tyrant
     • "The very firstlings of my heart shall be the firstlings of my hand"
       • Decides to immediatley act upon his first thoughts of murder

8. It is clear that it is always other characters such as the witches and lmac that awaken his ambition

   • while his ambition was always there, it is clear that he would not have acted upon his own thougts on his own
     • the tyrant at the end of the play is a result of guilt and not knowing what to do