How far does Shakespeare present good and evil? [PLAN]

How far does Shakespeare present good and evil? [PLAN]

1. SHAKESPEARE PRESENTS THESE CHARACTERS AS GOOD

   • BANQUO
     • GOOD
       • Makes constant reference to nature in a world where nature's actions are due to turmoil
         • 'If you can see into the seeds of time and say which grain will grow'
       • 'Noble Banquo, that hast no less deserv'd'
       • He is a general representation of 'hope'
     • BAD
       • Real life Banquo took part in the murder plot to kill the king, earning King James VI his heritage
       • He was loyal, yes, but didn't expose Macbeth following the witch encounter OR his suspicions
         • 'but hush, no more'
       • Knows Macbeth would have to 'play most foully' to get king, yet admits he thinks it as 'fair'
       • He is also tempted by the witches' prophecies
         • 'I dream't of the weird sisters'
         • 'May they not be my oracles as well and set me up in hope?'
         • 'To me you speak not [...] Speak then, to me'
   • MALCOLM
     • GOOD
       • Good and valiant in battle - determind to fight for his country
         • He is actively building and army to make it happen
       • Accepts Macduff as his equal, not inferior (which he is in rank)
         • 'Now we'll together'
         • 'Let us' and 'our'
       • Recognises and accepts his responsibilty to reclaim Scotland and the throne
       • Intelligent - Malcolm is doing what is right by his army by interviewing Macduff
         • 'But mine own safeties'
     • BAD
       • He lies very convincingly
         • We cannot be sure of everything he says
       • Becomes quite arrogant
         • Instantly unlikable to audience
         • 'My first false speaking was this upon myself'
         • 'Here abjure the taints and blames i laid upon myself'
       • Abandons his country when it is in dire need
         • Something he critises Macduff for doing
           • 'Why in that rawness you left your wife and child'
       • Women are in the forefront of his mind
         • 'I am yet unknown to women'
   • MACDUFF
     • GOOD
       • Has deep emotional responses to malcolm's test and the news of his family's murder
         • 'All my pretty ones? Did you say all?'
           • Interogatives show he's in shock and in denial
         • He laments and cries out 'O Scotland, Scotland!'
       • Flees to aid Malcolm's army, not out of fear
         • 'out of 'his wisdom'
     • BAD
       • He abadons his wife and children, leavind them with no defence
         • They are subsiquently killed
         • 'To leave his wife?To leave his babes? [...] He loves us not'
           • 'Traitor'
         • (The wren metaphor)

2. SHAKESPEARE PRESENTS THESE CHARCTERS AS EVIL

   • MACBETH
     • BAD
       • Murders a close friend and the family of another friend
       • He is allignment with the unnatural
         • Twice confides in the witches (act 1 scene 3, act 4 scene 1)
         • Infertile
       • Regicide
         • Against God's will - Kings were chosen by God
       • 'Smacking of every sin that has a name'
       • (Tried to) kill Macduff even though he knew he didnt have to
         • 'Then live, Macduff, what need I fear thee? But yet I'll make assurance double sure'
       • Kills Macduff's wife and child(ren)
         • More tragic since women and children are more vunerable
     • GOOD
       • He was heavily manipulated by Lady Macbeth
       • Tries to pull out
         • 'We will proceed to further in this business'
       • Could be being controlled by the witches
         • 'Rapt withal'
         • Such a sudden change in character doesn't feel right
       • Felt guilty after killing Duncan
         • 'Macbeth shall sleep no more'
         • 'I could not say Amen'
       • Haunted by the guilt - literally by Banquo's ghost
     • Adjectives used to describe him
       • 'Tyrant'
       • 'Black Macbeth'
       • 'Bloody, luxurious, avarcious, false, deceitful, sudden, malicious
       • 'Devilish Macbeth'
       • 'Noble Macbeth'
       • 'Valliant'
       • 'O worthiest cousin!'
       • 'Brave Macbeth, well he deserves that name'
       • 'Worthy gentleman'
       • 'O valliant cousin'
   • LADY MACBETH
     • GOOD
       • Guilt stricken, so much so she would sleep walk
       • Her infertility may have goded her actions
       • Fighting for less gender stereotyping - she is a strong women trying to make her own way
     • BAD
       • Was persuasive and manipulative to control her husband
         • Questioning of his masculinity
           • 'too full o'th'milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way'
           • 'When you durst do it, then you were a man'
           • 'You would be so much more the man'
         • Actively convinces him this is a good idea
           • 'Look like th'innocent flower but be the serpent under't'
       • Helps and actively plans in the killings
         • 'Leave the rest to me'
         • 'And chastise with the valour of my tongue all that impedes thee from the golden round'
         • 'Smear the sleepy grooms'
       • Unhinged and unnatural
         • Against nature
           • Like the witches??
           • 'Dashed the brains out' etc
           • Her sleep walking
         • Lack of femininity
           • 'Unsex me here'

3. THE ONLY FULLY EVIL CHARACTERS ARE THE WITCHES/HECATE

   • (EVIDENCE)
     • Supernatural beings (not earthly) so therefore, not of God
       • Hecate IS Satan, the opposite of God
         • 'Can the devil speak true?
       • 'look not like th'inhabitants o'th'earth'
     • People in Jaccobian times were highly superstitious and believed in witches and their pure evil
     • Have questionable motives to why they would 'help' Macbeth'
       • 'To what extent is Macbeth under the Witches' control'
         • Macbeth is 'Rapt withall'
         • Macbeth mirrors the witches: 'so fair and foul a day I have not seen'
     • The witches constantly use antithesis and oxymorons; 'fair is foul and foul is fair','when the battle's lost and won' etc
       • Sounds unnatural and illogical

4. THE ONLY FULLY GOOD CHARACTER IS DUNCAN

   • (EVIDENCE)
     • Won war against Norwegian forces
       • Gave his commanders honours
         • 'He hath honoured me of late'
         • 'With former title greet Macbeth'
           • 'What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won'
     • Rewarded the noble and well deserving
     • Kind and fair
       • 'So noble in his great office'
   • 'I have begun to plant thee and will labour to make thee full of growing'