Furthering the point of Macbeth’s evil and corrupt personality is in the second scene of the play, even before we meet Macbeth. In this scene we are told about Macbeth’s “victories” in battle. We are told at one point that Macbeth has gruesomely killed a traitor: this could show Macbeth’s loyalty to his country and how he takes the treachery personally therefore suggesting a need to become the leader of the country. It could also suggest Macbeth’s hidden evil even from now, and show how he is able to lie and put on a mask to keep the suspicion off him. This is shown in the quotation “Till he unseam'd him from the nave to the chaps,
And fix'd his head upon our battlements.”
The actual slaughter is graphic and suggests Macbeth’s inner emptiness and potential for evil as he goes into such grave depths of death and goes above and beyond the call of duty. Looking closer at the language we see how easy and natural it came to Macbeth to kill the man in this manner as the word “unseam’d” suggests that Macdonwald’s skin was as weak as the stitches on clothing, it also suggests that Macbeth must behold a certain power as there is no resistance and his strength seems triumphant above other aspects.
In this scene Macbeth is perceived as a great warrior defending king and country. However quotations such as the one above suggest Macbeth kills for the power and to take advantage of the weak to further bury his own impurity and power hungry thoughts. Although other may be afraid to kill Macbeth doesn’t seem to show this fear, due to Macbeth’s chosen ways of killing it may also be suggested that he is not afraid of his own death which indicates that Macbeth may not be part of the Christian religion.
Also he could train or build himself up to the murder of someone greater/higher status (such as the king). This may also be suggested as it is later made clear that Macbeth is close to the king and is respected by him. All these points together suggest that Macbeth has planned from the start to kill the king and quench his thirst for power.
In contrast with this is when Macbeth writes a letter to his wife where he uses natural imagery and speaks in what appears to be full honesty. This to me suggests that Macbeth can not be insane as, it is impossible for insanity to turn on and off, how can a man change from something so brutal to something so at peace without there being a flicker of evil somewhere within him? We see this in the quotation
As the character of Lady Macbeth progresses it is shown how in fact she is an influence on Macbeth’s behaviour. There are hidden depths to her personality and she has streaks of pure evil. At times Macbeth seems afraid of her, this may suggest that Lady Macbeth is the influence that released Macbeth’s own evil – introducing the idea of nature vs. nurture. A thought of if you are born with a certain feature/s or if they are picked up from the environment and influences around.
Afterwards in the scene we see how Lady Macbeth wants Macbeth to be king just as much, if not more so than Macbeth she strategizes, plots and urges Macbeth to kill Duncan. Although some may say she pushed him to the edge and she is the reason Macbeth performed murder however surely there must be a depth of evil and lust for blood in someone who is a solider and can be persuaded so easily. When we see the reunite of the couple Lady Macbeth meets him with respect and pride, then as the conversation grows it is Lady Macbeth who first mentions killing Duncan; “O, never
Shall sun that morrow see!”
This is after she finds out Duncan is staying at their castle and she basically says that he will not see the next sun. Building and boosting Macbeth’s evil and drive his ambition for murder and to be king.
Further proving the point that nurture was the key reason for Macbeth’s evil is where his Christian side shows through slightly and when he becomes scared – showing he can not be all evil/bad. Macbeth is alone on the stage and talks to himself, he talks about the possible consequences if he performed the murder of the king. “If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well
It were done quickly: if the assassination
Could trammel up the consequence, and catch
With his surcease success; that but this blow
Might be the be-all and the end-all here,”
This quotation shows that Macbeth wants to think this through well: showing he does have a Christian side but also showing he takes the thought seriously and truly believes what the witches have said to him. Showing he is gullible or just so desperate for the power and thirsty for blood. As the scene/s follow it is made clear he wants the power so gravely that he willing to kill someone that has been so good to him in the past.
In Act two when Macbeth is on the way to kill Duncan he sees a dagger in the sky – however he can not touch it. A figment of his imagination: his evil further driving his ambition. Although there could be many meanings for the dagger being there Macbeth chooses to believe it is there to guide him; possibly a way to make the murder more acceptable in his own mind. Also showing his evil qualities and he constantly is thinking of death, destruction and murder.
“Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?
I see thee yet, in form as palpable
As this which now I draw.
Thou marshall'st me the way that I was going;”
This soliloquy is partly poetic in a dark sense, showing Macbeth’s thoughts on death and suggesting he finds a beauty in murder as poets do in their poems.
Additionally focusing on Macbeth soliloquies in his next we see that Macbeth is afraid of Banquo and Banquo’s innocence and purity. Also that he and Lady Macbeth can not have children – in a highly religious county not being able to have children suggested your evil and barrier to God.
Macbeth is jealous of Banquo “For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind;
For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd;
Put rancours in the vessel of my peace
Only for them; and mine eternal jewel
Given to the common enemy of man,
To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings!
Rather than so, come fate into the list.
And champion me to the utterance! Who's there!”
This shows Macbeth it beginning to think of murder again proving that the murder of Duncan did not phase him at all. As if this is not bad enough the suicide of his own wife does not phase him just triggers thoughts of his own death – he has an inkling that this could be the end however holds onto what the witches said about him not been able to be killed by anyone woman born.
“SEYTON
The queen, my lord, is dead.
MACBETH
...Signifying nothing.”
This part of the play holds it’s significance because referring to near the beginning of the play when Macbeth’s language is the language of someone who is besotted with his love. However his evil and thirst for blood drove that out of him and he is left feeling empty, like a shell.
“Nothing” suggests that Macbeth doesn’t care anymore; that love is irrelevant and greed had been thrust through him.
Therefore with all the above points I believe I have proved my point that Macbeth’s own evil has drove him to a point of insanity – however a point of insanity that makes him empty and not being able to see past what he wants. His influences are made clear and they help develop his evil as the play progresses. His own thirst for power and blood leads not only to his own death but his wife’s, his best friend’s and the king’s. His arrogance prevails him throughout the play and in certain spots his Christian side shines through however is not strong enough to win over evil.
