Preview

Is Macbeth Good Or Bad

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
308 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Is Macbeth Good Or Bad
Based on evidence from the play, Duncan at this point cannot be described as completely good or bad.

In the first act of Macbeth, Macbeth himself fights bravely in a battle and wins against the enemy. The king is told about this victory and congratulates him on being a brave man. He then appoints people, making Macbeth think that he would get a higher ranking. Instead, Duncan makes Malcolm the Prince of Cumberland, putting him in the way of Macbeth and the king. Macbeth then says just serving for him was rewarding enough, knowing it is not true. The king seems to betray Macbeth, seeing as Macbeth did fight and win in a battle against the enemy.

On the other hand, the King seems to be a nice guy. When he comes to Macbeth’s castle, he and

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Shakespeare’s written work has stood the test of time and Macbeth is an excellent example of his classic literature. At the end of the play the final scene is about who will become the King of Scotland. After the death of Macbeth, Malcolm is declared King. He is declared King since it was his birthright because his father was King before Macbeth killed him. Shortly after he was declared as the new King, Malcolm makes a speech of acceptance. One can look at this passage from many different perspectives. During his speech he talks about rewarding the Thanes and kinsmen that that fought along side him by declaring them the first Earls of Scotland. This demonstrates his honesty, loyalty and it also proves that he is a trustworthy King. Some might argue that this demonstrates that Malcolm is also very trusting of other people. This was one of the traits shown by his father; the trait that led to his downfall. He was too trusting in Macbeth, which gave him the opportunity to kill Duncan. This is not the only item that Malcolm addressed in his speech. He also addresses the state of Scotland. He wants those that were exiled by Macbeth to return home, and for those that supported Macbeth to be exiled. Malcolm wants to exile all of Macbeth’s supporters to ensure that there is not revolt or uprising against him when the nation of Scotland remains in a fragile state. His decisiveness in this regard, is a good quality for a King to have. The most crucial aspect of his speech is when he announces the death of Lady Macbeth. This is critical because Lady Macbeth was the true ruler of Scotland. Macbeth was nothing more than a puppet and Lady Macbeth was the puppeteer. Macbeth was an honorable man turned tyrant by the manipulation of his wife. Lady Macbeth was not evil, but she was driven by greed for power and control. No matter what her status was in the political world, she was not happy with it until she was finally the queen of…

    • 602 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This essay will study and confer the vast number of contradicting ideas of good and bad evident in the play Macbeth.…

    • 645 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The greed he exhibits while trying to become king, preserving his crown, and viewing the apparitions all lead to his death. The effort he exerted to become and maintain the kingship are rendered insignificant because in the end, Duncan’s son, Malcolm, becomes king. Throughout history, the world has experienced tyrannical and oppressive leaders, much like Macbeth. Macbeth is an early, fictional, example of power controlling a person, leading to greedy, paranoid, and obsessive behaviors. The tragedy of Macbeth exemplifies the struggle between oppressive control and innocent…

    • 914 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth filled with morality and respect, is very loyal to king Duncan. When Macbeth is first introduced, his bravery on the battlefield leads Duncan into crowning him with the formal tittle of Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth could not imagine committing treason of any kind because of his profound regard for the king. The encounter and the prophecies of the three witches triggered Macbeth’s ambitious nature. They appear to him with visions into his future saying, “ All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (1.3.52) From this point on, Macbeth begins to think about his desire to be king,…

    • 275 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This is an example of Macbeths fatal flaw, which is of his ambition. “The prince of Cumberland! That is a step on which I must fall down, or else o’erleap, for in my way it lies” This shows how ambitious Macbeth is that he is already thinking about murdering Malcolm directly after the witch’s predictions. Macbeth is also deceitful when he calls himself “A friend” to Macduff even though he will kill him in order to achieve his greatest ambitions. This is also dramatic irony due to the fact in the end of the play it is actually Macduff who kills Macbeth in a swordfight. Macbeth is also deceived himself by the witches who deliberately planned to send Macbeth down a path of murder and treachery. By giving him the idea that he is invincible and guaranteed a “King hereafter” such as when Macbeth is told on how “none a woman born shall harm…

    • 476 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In Shakespeare’s, Macbeth, the character lady Macbeth appears as an innocent woman, when in reality she is corrupt and evil, revealing that things are not always how they seem. As Lady Macbeth says “That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here, and fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full of direst cruelty!” This shows how she is starting to fall apart. By Lady Macbeth wanting to completely change her sex also shows how she doesn’t feel complete being who she is and she feels the need to be more masculine. Lady Macbeth slowly shows how she is becoming more evil through the quote “My hands are of your colour, but I shame to wear a heart so white.” This represents how Lady Macbeth was able to get her hands bloody despite the evil murdering…

    • 157 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    of conscience as to whether or not he should kill Duncan. Throughout the scene he is adamant he…

    • 1551 Words
    • 1 Page
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    William Shakespeare created a play titled The Tragedy of Macbeth, which is set in Scotland. In the tale, Macbeth who is driven by the desire of power goes down a dark, bloody, and destructive path to overcome those he sees as a threat once he becomes king.Macbeth’s malicious actions later lead to his horrific murder. The essential theme is the characteristics of Good vs. Evil shown throughout the kingdom of Scotland.…

    • 936 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth knows that since now Malcolm is now Duncan’s official heir Malcolm will not inherit the the throne not Macbeth and to control the future he chooses to kill all who stand in his…

    • 495 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth was a noble man before he met the three witches and let his ambition take over. After hearing his predictions from the witches, Macbeth is named Thane of Cawdor, and this makes him become too ambitious. At first Macbeth was focused on becoming the king, but his ambition was not enough to make him to want to murder Duncan. When Duncan says that Malcolm will be the next king Macbeth became very upset. He says to himself, “The Prince of Cumberland! That is a step on which I must fall down or else o’erleap, for in my way it lies, Stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires. The eye wink at the hand, yet let that be which the eye fears, when it is down, to see”(Ⅰ.ⅳ.48-53). After learning that Malcolm would be king Macbeth’s ambition went into overdrive. This was the beginning of Macbeth’s tragic…

    • 695 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Due to the escalating power of evil in him, Macbeth takes evil actions to keep his power, causing the natural world and himself to face the consequences in an unnatural way, validating that the power of evil doesn't just affect you but also the world around you.…

    • 478 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth Essay

    • 636 Words
    • 2 Pages

    In the opening act of the play, Macbeth's greed becomes evident, which leads to ambition that causes him to take lethal action. The first example of this ambition is found after King Duncan names Macbeth “Thane of Cawdor”, and names Malcolm the heir to the Scottish throne. "The prince of Cumberland! That is a step / On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap, / For in my way it lies." (1.4.50–53) Macbeth now knows that he must either forfeit his claim to the throne, or he must clear Malcolm out of his way to become heir. Macbeth knows that he will have to resort to foul play to get the crown. Later on, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth discuss whether or not they are to kill Duncan. They decide together that it is worth murdering Duncan to get the crown. This cutthroat ambition is sponsored by their greed, and this leads the Macbeths to perform their first heinous act.…

    • 636 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Is Macbeth Good Or Evil

    • 788 Words
    • 4 Pages

    People that are very nice can turn bad because of their ambition or because someone forces them to do bad things. It is impossible for people to be not selfish, greedy, and wicked because everyone is selfish, greedy, and wicked. In William Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, he shows how dangerous people can become evil because Macbeth’s desire to be King. He is the reason of how perfect this person’s life is until he became the opposite of him. Over the course of the play, power causes Macbeth to change from loyal to cruel which leads to his ambition getting out of hand.At the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a good and a loyal person to everyone. When Angus and Ross appear to tell him that he is going to be the Thane of Cawdor, he states, “The thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me In borrowed robes?” (Shakespeare I.iii.109-110). By asking about the previous Thane of Cawdor, Macbeth reveals that he is concerned about the previous Thane of Cawdor. This is important because he is worried about other people which made him a kind person. Another…

    • 788 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Macbeth Is A Monster

    • 741 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Is anyone legitimately monstrous or are those who drive individual into becoming one who are the true monsters? Within the text “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare this will be implored deeply into the plot. Macbeth isn’t a monster, he’s only a man who succumbs to the will of witches, apparitions, and above all else, his wife. These individuals could be the reasons for which Macbeth falls victim to the temptations in which he pays the ultimate fare. The witches, apparitions and his spouse lead him toward things he would otherwise have had too much dignity to properly execute.…

    • 741 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    task. He is also fully aware of the destructive power of his ambitions. In act…

    • 585 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays