Macbeth Fair And Foul Is Fair Essay

"Fair is foul and foul is fair." In Macbeth, a play written by William Shakespeare, a mighty warrior named Macbeth receives a prophecy from three witches telling him that he will become King of Scotland. Obsessed by his ambition and influenced by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan and steals the throne and is then tormented by paranoia and guilt. Through the supernatural elements in Macbeth, William Shakespeare demonstrates the idea of evil; although driven by the supernatural, ambition plays a key role in Macbeth’s actions. Despite the fact that Macbeth was one to commit many murders, he soon realizes in order to survive he must execute anyone who disagrees with him. When Macbeth first encounters the witches his consumed ambition drives him to assassinate the King. Just before he is about to kill Duncan, he notices a dagger which encourages his ambition further; however after executing the King, Macbeth takes great measures to murder Banquo in order to retain the crown. Once Macbeth realizes that Scotland is in chaos he pays the witches another visit and discovers his fate through the prophecies in which he chooses to ignore.

During the 1600’s in England, many people believed in witchcraft which led to the assumption that some type of evil was going to occur during the play Macbeth because the first
Because of a driven ambition; fighting and sacrificing is essential in order to live. Shakespeare determines that evil arises through supernatural but one must take responsibility for the actions they perform. He also portrays the idea of evil in many different forms, such as creating disorder to initiate suspense, being there as a reminder of guilt, and foreshadowing sinful events. The audience learns that evilness and ambition drive one to go mad and commit many sins; however evil cannot exist without