Who is the most evil character in the play Macbeth?

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Who is the most evil character in the play Macbeth?

Macbeth was written after the death of Queen Elizabeth I. On her deathbed, unmarried and childless, she had named her successor James VI of Scotland. He became James I of England. Shakespeare wrote the play with the new King in mind. James believed in the Divine Right of Kings – that Kings were appointed by god. People in Shakespeare’s time believed in God and the devil, and in heaven and hell as real places. They also believed in witchcraft and magic. James I was especially interested in the subject and wrote a book about it called Daemonologie. The play of Macbeth focuses a lot around the theme of evil, especially on 3 main characters, Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and The three Witches.

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The witches also known as the “weird sisters” are one of the most evil characters in Macbeth. In part, the mischief they cause comes from their supernatural powers, but mainly it is the result of their understanding of the weaknesses of their victims. They play upon Macbeth’s ambition like puppeteers. The witches’ beards, bizarre potions, and rhymed speech make them seem slightly strange and supernatural. Shakespeare has them speak in rhyming couplets throughout, which separates them from the other characters, who mostly speak in blank verse. “Double, double, toil and trouble, / Fire burn and cauldron bubble” The three witches ...

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