Good & Evil

1. Good & Evil Talei Costello

2. Line between good and evil is blurred • It’s difficult to define – it’s based on the perceptions of the individual and their values and attitudes. Which will differ based on religion, age, country, etc. • Human nature is more complicated than being merely good and evil, which is subjective, one persons ‘good’ could be another persons ‘evil’ • It’s all down to what we perceive to be good as opposed to evil, giving us our personal discourse as to how we view texts, situations and people. * The task will be completed based on my perceptions of Good vs evil Why it’s so hard to define

3. Overall societal values of what is good and evil influences what the individual would perceive to be good and evil • Eg. Killing someone is murder and evil but if you kill them in self defense its not considered evil. • Good: Is being morally right or righteous • Evil: ‘Evil acts are distinguished from ordinary wrongs through the presence of an extra quality ( taking pleasure in the act of wrong doing) that is completely absent in the performance of ordinary wrong’ - To be profoundly immoral and wicked, especially when regarded with supernatural force. • Though the repeated notion of evil among society is to be without empathyand their needs and desires become of paramount importance. • Human beings object to what they think is evil – it’s why we have laws Social definition

4. Shakespeare portrays the nature of evil in many ways: - evil as a perversion of human nature - evil to disrupt the natural order of the world - evil as a disease ( all consuming and destructive) • Evil in Macbeth has 3 distinct sources - Macbeth’s uncontrolled ambition - Influence of other characters (Lady Macbeth) - The supernatural element 3 typical evils discussed in Macbeth

5. In Macbeth there are certain traits that the characters value to be ‘good’ as well as ‘evil’ • The line between good and evil blurs as the play progresses and it’s difficult to say whether or not a character is ‘evil’ Good vs Evil Macbeth and traits

6. ‘Witches were thought to be paradigms of evil, as creatures that possess powers and abilities that defy human and scientific understanding’. Associated with satanic forces, witches would have been condemned and feared during the Shakespearean era thus providing the primary sense of evil in the play common to all viewers regardless of their perceptions. • Shakespeare's inclusion of the cursing of the shipman, ‘I’the shipman’s card. I’ll drain him dry as hay….’ (Act 1, Sc 2, 20) • Shows the capabilities of the witches • Foreshadowing their prophecies will always have ill effects – sets up the idea that Macbeth prophecy will have ill effects • They are powerful beyond comprehension. • Not evil in the corrupt sense but evil in the supernatural unexplainable sense The Witches – evil and supernatural

7. Witches make a point of saying good and evil exist side by side – one wouldn’t exist without the other • That a fair face may hide a foul heart, thus bringing about the ambiguity of false words and false appearances (Lady Macbeth) • The dichotomy is key to convey this theme • If there was nothing good about a character we’d find nothing to admire in them and wouldn’t react to their downfall ‘Fair is foul and foul is fair’

8. Portrays the equivocation of false appearances telling King Duncan, ‘All our service, in every point twice done and then done double were poor and single business to contend against those honors deep and broad where with your majesty loads our house.’(Act 1, Sc 7, 10) • Juxtaposed against: ‘ bear welcome in your eye, your hand, your tongue; look like the innocent flower. But be the serpent under’t’ (Act 1, sc 6, 60) • Seen as the catalyst to Macbeth’s corruption – her ambition causes these evil thoughts • Calls on supernatural witches to fill her with ‘direst cruelty’ so she can carry out evil acts with the ease of a male. • Uses Macbeth’s fear of being ‘like a woman’ to manipulate him into committing the murder, she questions his manhood. - ‘What beast was ’t, then, That made you break this enterprise to me? When you durst do it, then you were a man;’(Act 1, Sc 7, 50) • Gender stereotypes are subverted • While she is loyal to her husband a virtuous quality. • Overall readers would be positioned to view Lady Macbeth as somewhat evil, and not cowardly in taking her own life as the emotional response would be acceptable of a woman. Lady Macbeth

9. Shakespeare portrays the ways that evil is a perversion of human nature and like a disease, through Macbeth. • Had all the qualities of a good man, a good solider, brave, loyal, strong • ‘Brave Macbeth – well de deserves that name – disdaining fortune, with his brandished steel, which smoked with bloody execution … till he faced the slave… which he ne’er shook hands nor bade farewell to him …till he unseamed him from the nave to the chops, and fixed his head upon our battlements.’(Act 1, Sc 2, 20) • Trusted by King Duncan, ‘O valiant cousin! Worthy gentlemen!’ (Act 1, sc 2, 20) • Promoted to Thane of Cawdor, as a result of his admirable qualities following the witches’ prophecy • Macbeth was not evil until tempted by evil (the supernatural and Lady Macbeth) • Shakespeare then conveys the idea that everyone had the potential to be evil if its awoken by evil. • Before committing the murder Macbeth was hesitant as he cared and respected Duncan • ‘We will proceed no further in this business. He hath honored me of late;’ (Act 1, Sc 7, 30) - Even then he could be considered evil by the Norwegians Line is blurred depending on perspective Macbeth pre murder

10. To begin Macbeth was not evil, yet was tempted by evil if he was not prophesised to be King or was not tempted by his benefactor Lady Macbeth he would have remained wholesome • Viewers incredibly moved by Macbeth’s downfall • Macbeth is constructed to convey the transition between good and evil, crossing ‘the line’ • Once Macbeth committed the first murder Shakespeare points out that evil is all consuming, like a disease and once the line has been crossed there’s little to retrain him from becoming increasingly evil. • ‘Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.’ – John Dalberg • Brings about ideas that power and ambition lead to evil making Macbeth stronger and more determined • Perversion of the human condition that evil is easy to succumb to, once he crossed the line, he became consumed by Ambition caused paranoia, a hunger for more power and decrease in capacity for empathy. • He’s even said to be worse than the devil ‘ Not in the legions of horrid hell can come a devil more damned in evils, to top Macbeth’ (Act 4, sc 3, 50) • We are positioned to see him as evil but it was only brought about by outside influences of evil, and how easily good can be tainted. Macbeth post murder

11. Archetypal hero in the play • Macduff and Malcom are symbols of good to provide a contrast to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth • Conqueror of evil (Macbeth) • Viewers may be deterred from his wholesomeness when he abandons his family and leaves them defenseless. • ‘To leave his wife, his babes, his mansion and his titles, in a place from whence himself does fly? He loves us not…’(Act 4, sc2) • Could argue that fleeing Scotland to go to England was not cowardice • Seen as a ‘real man’ with both feeling and action as opposed to Macbeth and Duncan. He has the acceptable amount of emotion in situations. • Malcom tells him to ‘Dispute it like a man’ – Macduff replies ‘But I must also feel it like a man. I cannot but remember such things were that were most precious to me … O! I could play the woman with mine eyes, And braggart with my tongue … Front to front bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself. Within my sword’s length set him’(Act 4, sc 3) • Can be argued he acted out of revenge which is not an admirable quality • Overall we are positioned to see him as the sole ‘good’ character’ Macduff

12. Would be helpful if given a questions on: • Reader positioning – How Shakespeare intended the viewers/ readers to view good and evil in the play, looking at the 3 main sources of evil in the text ( see slide 4) • Character construction –How the complex characters are juxtaposed against one another to portray a theme • Critical reflection – apply your personal perspective to the information I’ve gathered Potential essay questions

13. Macbeth, By William Shakespeare has many prevalent themes, one of the most prevalent being the nature of good and evil. Shakespeare presented the theme of evil, through his main characters and through 3 main sources; Macbeth’s uncontrolled ambition, evil through the influence of other characters, and evil through the supernatural element. This theme is made prevalent due to the profound effect that these 3 sources have on Macbeth, the protagonist/antagonist and on his transition from good into evil as he becomes corrupt, driven with power and ambition. The readers/viewers are positioned to view Macbeth as an evil character, the evil that resulted from being tempted by these 3 evils, that each, in turn drove him to become the ruthless, merciless leader that got himself killed. We’re positioned to view evil as a disease that is all consuming and destructive through the effect of these evils on Macbeth. Sample essay intro

14. Macbeth, 2014, shmoop, [22.05.14] http://www.shmoop.com/macbeth/macduff.html • Themes, 2011, no sponsor, [15.05.14] http://resources.mhs.vic.edu.au/macbeth/theplay/themes.html • Good and Evil, 2014, BBC Bitesize, [15.05.14] http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/standard/english/macbeth/theme_good_evil/revision/1/ • Macbeth – Good vs evil, 2013, Marked by Teachers, [16.05.14] http://www.markedbyteachers.com/gcse/english/macbeth-good-vs-evil.html • Calder, T, 2013, The concept of evil, Stanford encyclopaedia of Philosophy, [22.05.14] http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/concept-evil/#evisup • Taylor, S, 2013, The real meaning of ‘good’ and ‘evil,’ Psychology Today, [22.05.14] http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/out-the-darkness/201308/the-real-meaning-good-and-evil References