In this paper I am going to analyse the influence of evil on the mainprotagonist of
Shakespeare’s tragedy “Macbeth”. In order to do this it is necessary to point out the
way of analysis I prefer. First I will present some needed background information about
the author himself and the Elizabethan World Picture. The next part introduces the
reader to the play “Macbeth” and its actions. This is in order to lead over to the proper
analysis where I will try to identify the play’s spirit of evil with its personifications in
nature and other protagonists and special regard to its influence on Macbeth until he is
finally destroyed by it. This analysis will be supported by further focus on the imagery
and the language which Shakespeare has used. To understand and to be able to interpret Shakespeare it is necessary to know some
important facts about the way of life and thoughts at Shakespeare’s lifetime.
The Elizabethan Era was characterised by hierarchy and thoughts of extreme order.
People thought that everything in the universe had got its own specific position in their
strict order. You can find this world of ideas in the assemblage of the universe as well.
This cosmological constellation hasn’t told only about the order and the position of the
human being in this cosmos but also about the relations of the interconnected creation
and the relation between cosmos and God (cf. picture 1 on p. 15)
The ideas of this world picture can already be found in the antiquity but it was improved
in all its details by the scholastic philosophy.
In this chapter of my paper I am going to introduce you to one of the three main forms
of the Elizabethan World Pictures: the chain of being.
The whole universe is divided into a ladder. At its ground there are the non-living
elements and at its top there is God. At first you can find the elements, liquids, metals,
then vegetation and the animals. The human beings stand over the animals because
of their reason. The angels follow the human beings as non-materialistic and spiritual
creatures. God is at the top as the creator of this chain. [...]
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Background Information
2.1 Elizabethan World Picture
2.2 Shakespeare’s biography
2.3 Introduction to Shakespeare’s Macbeth
3. Characterisation of Evil with regard to special aspects
3.1 How does the play portray evil as a perversion of human nature?
3.2 How is Macbeth finally destroyed by evil?
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper aims to analyze the influence of evil on the protagonist Macbeth within Shakespeare’s tragedy. It explores how evil manifests, perverts human nature, and ultimately leads to the protagonist's downfall, utilizing an examination of imagery, language, and historical context.
- The role of the "Elizabethan World Picture" and its concept of order.
- The manifestation of evil through supernatural elements and psychological desires.
- The influence of Lady Macbeth on the protagonist's descent into tyranny.
- The use of light and darkness imagery to represent moral states.
- The fatalistic impact of the witches' prophecies on Macbeth's actions.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 How does the play portray evil as a perversion of human nature?
In this part I am going to analyse in which ways evil influences Macbeth’s behaviour. Besides visions and disorder, evil works with a lot of different forms of appearances In this play, for example with the three witches and Lady Macbeth. This means that it is necessary to mention these forms of evil in passing as well for ensuring an objective characterisation of the mainprotagonist Macbeth.
In order to study the influence of evil on Macbeth it would be helpful first to identify evil itself. Shakespeare used a lot of forms in this play like visions, disorder in nature, the appearance of Banquo’s ghost. But these signs are just metaphors in order to support the theatrical mood of the tragedy and to please the audience, inclusively King James I, who was much amused by those effects.
To my mind these signs are manifestations of Macbeth’s secret wishes rising out of his psyche.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The author outlines the purpose of the paper: to analyze the influence of evil on Macbeth by investigating historical context, character development, and key imagery.
2. Background Information: This chapter provides essential context, covering the hierarchical "Elizabethan World Picture," biographical facts about William Shakespeare, and a summary of the plot of "Macbeth."
3. Characterisation of Evil with regard to special aspects: This section serves as the analytical core, examining how evil perverts human nature and discussing the psychological and supernatural factors that drive Macbeth toward his eventual destruction.
Keywords
Shakespeare, Macbeth, Evil, Elizabethan World Picture, Tragedy, Supernatural, Witches, Lady Macbeth, Imagery, Corruption, Human Nature, Prophecy, Downfall, Psychology, Order.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on analyzing the influence of evil on the protagonist Macbeth, specifically investigating how evil acts as a corrupting force that perverts his nature and leads to his downfall.
What are the central themes explored?
The central themes include the disruption of the Elizabethan moral order, the psychological manifestation of ambition, the perversion of human nature, and the use of symbolic imagery like light and darkness.
What is the main objective of the analysis?
The primary goal is to demonstrate how evil is not just an external force, but also a reflection of Macbeth's internal desires, ultimately showing how he is destroyed by his own choices and the temptation of power.
Which methodology is used in the study?
The author uses a literary analysis approach, focusing on text-based interpretation of Shakespeare’s language, imagery, and soliloquies, supported by historical and academic references.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body examines the introduction of the play, the influence of the witches, the role of Lady Macbeth, the psychological transition of the protagonist, and the symbolic representation of chaos in nature.
Which keywords best characterize this analysis?
The analysis is characterized by terms such as Shakespeare, Macbeth, evil, psychological corruption, order, imagery, and the supernatural.
How does the author interpret the apparitions and visions in the play?
The author suggests that the supernatural signs, such as visions and ghosts, are manifestations of Macbeth's secret desires rising from his psyche rather than purely external phenomena.
Why is the "Elizabethan World Picture" relevant to the discussion of Macbeth?
It provides the framework for understanding the "natural" order of the world, against which Macbeth’s murder of the King is viewed as an act that brings chaos and "unnaturalness" to both the state and his own soul.
- Quote paper
- Jessica Hecht (Author), 2002, Shakespeare's "Macbeth" - Analysis of the influence of evil on the mainprotagonist Macbeth, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/12642
