Macbeth and the evil within the human

Dr Senarath Tennakoon

Macbeth was first performed in 1611 because a very full eye-witness account survives (Macrae, 1980). In 1606 it was first performed before King James himself. In 1663 it was altered in texture adding songs and dances to suit the literary taste of the period and this altered structure survived into the nineteenth century. In modern times the play has been subject to many changes. One setting is an American gangster feud.

A Japanese version shows a forest heavy with symbolism. In Europe most of the actors test themselves in the existing roles played by Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. During Shakespeare’s time witch craft and heresy influenced human lives. This situation is reflected in his plays like Macbeth and Hamlet. There was also a widespread belief in the mutability of human life. Shakespeare used these concepts in his plays.

Macbeth is a short play -Act 1 Scene 1 shows three witches in an open place in an open place in a thunder storm. They know the outcome of the war and they are waiting the arrival of Macbeth. In scene 2 King Duncan of Scotland is shown in a war camp with his two sons, Malcolm and Donalbain and others examining reports of the battle fought against him by King of Norway. He is delighted that Macbeth, one of his generals has brought victory. He has decided to give him the title of Thane of Cawdor.

In scene 3 the witches great Macbeth as Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor and king to be and Banquo is told by the witches that he will produce heirs who will become kings. Both Macbeth and Banquo are surprised and perturbed by these prediction. In scene 4 King Duncan announces that his son Malcolm as the Prince of Cumberland.

He is very proud of Macbeth and says that he is willing to spend the night in Macbeth’s castle. Macbeth perceives that Malcolm would be an obstacle to his ambition of becoming king. He leaves quickly to inform his wife and make preparations for the king’s arrival. The dangerous and treacherous plan to kill the king as a mastermind plan of Lady Macbeth is introduced to the audience in scene 5. The arrival of King Duncan and his attendants is shown in scene 6 and Lady Macbeth greets the king. Scene 7 presents the emotional conflict within Macbeth. He is hesitant to kill the king but Lady Macbeth persuades him.

Act 11 has four scenes. In scene 1 Macbeth meets Banquo and his son Fleace who are about to go to bed Banquo tells Macbeth about the king’s complements and hands over a diamond to be given to Lady Macbeth. Scene 2 is the essential act of murdering the sleeping king by Macbeth while Lady Macbeth has drugged Duncan’s servants. She takes hold of Macbeth, washes his hands and changes his dress.

Scene 3 gives an idea of Macduff’s discovery of the murdered king, Macbeth killing the blood covered servants in a fury, Lady Macbeth’s fainting and the sudden flight of Duncan’s two sons (Malcolm and Donalbain) while Banquo proposes a general meeting to discuss this critical situation. Shakespeare in scene 4 shifts the attention of the audience to feel what the people say about the murder. He presents an Old Man and Ross to talk about it while Macduff says that the suspicion is on the departed two sons of Duncan.

Act III scene 1 shows that Macbeth has become king and settled in the Royal Palace of Forres. But his mind is not secure. He is thinking of the predictions of the three witches. In scene 2 Lady Macbeth is shown in an emotionally tormented situation. Even Macbeth is not happy. He is afraid of Banquo. In scene 3 a plan of Macbeth to murder Banquo and his son Fleance is implemented.

Banquo is killed but Fleance escapes. In scene 4 we see guests coming to attend a party in Macbeth’s palace and the murders inform Macbeth about the murder of Banquo. Macbeth’s mind stirs up and at the dinner table he sees the ghost of Banquo appearing and reappearing. He behaves very abnormally. Macbeth wants to meet the witches again. Scene 5 is the meeting of Hecat (the ruler of the witches) with the witches who blames the witches about their previous dealings with Macbeth without her being consulted. She tells them to prepare for a meeting with Macbeth. In Scene 6 we see Macbuff has gone to England to rouse support against the tyranny of Macbeth.

At IV has only three scenes. In scene I, Macbeth is seen meeting the witches. The witches arrange three Apparitions. Firstly and armed head warns Macbeth against Macduff. Secondly a bloody child speaks out and tells Macbeth that he cannot be harmed by any one born out of a woman. Thirdly a crowned child carrying a tree guarantees Macbeth that he cannot be destroyed unless and until the Birnam Wood comes to Duns inane Hill. The witches vanish and Lennox comes with the news tat Macduff has fled to England. Macbeth is wild with anger and decides to kill every member of Macduff’s family. In scene 2 Macbeth’s murderers break in and murder Lady Macduff and her son while Macduff is in England. The scene 3 is slow moving and it takes place in the King of England’s palace where Malcolm and Macduff discuss the atrocities and the terror of Macbeth. An army is ready to leave for Scotland.

Act V has six scenes. In scene I, Lady Macbeth is shown to be walking in her sleep and mutters about the murders of Duncan and Banquo and Macduff’s wife while rubbing her fingers. The doctor watches her and says that he is unable to treat her. Scene 2 is a series of short scenes where the war preparations are shown. Malcolm’s English army is near Birnam Wood.

Macbeth is highly distressed. Macbeth forces the doctor to find a remedy for his wife’s illness. Scene 4 shows Malcolm’s army moving towards Dunsinane Hill with the soldiers covering their heads with branches. In scene 5 Macbeth is shown in a very distressed situation and a servant brings the news that Birnam Wood is moving to Dunsinane.

Macbeth decides to continue the war. Scene 6 (last scene) show the fight between Macduff and Macbeth. Macduff reveals that he was not born to his mother. Macduff kills Macbeth and brings Macbeth’s head to show the army. Macduff becomes king. He promises that he will bring peace and order back to Scotland.

In Macbeth there is no sub plot or secondary action. Several scenes are constructed to reflect the ambition of Macbeth. To begin with her is a great hero who is ambitious. But he became more ambitious because of the witches predictions. His ambition of becoming the king is nursed by his wife. But after murdering his friend Banquo he becomes a mentally unsound person. Likewise his wife too becomes mentally ill like himself.

Lady Macbeth is a shrewd villainous character but acting like an innocent flower in public. However she is short sighted and selfish. Banquo is far sighted, but he could not escape death. The witches though their appearances are brief provide a direction for the beginning, procedure and an end to this play. Macbeth is vulnerable to their predictions. Macduff is a hero who saves Scotland from the tyranny of Macbeth. The audience would like to sympathize with King Duncan for his unfortunate death which paves ways for Macbeth’s horrible rule. The flight of Malcolm immediately when the murder of his father is made known show that he knew that there was foul play in this murderous act and he knew that the next target would be him.

The play is not confined to Macbeth alone. It shows how personal ambition steps into a good man’s mind to make him a corrupt brute.

The themes in the play are clear out. The idea of contrasts lies at the heart of the play. King Duncan who praised and honoured Macbeth gets murdered by Macbeth. The witches shout “Fair is foul and foul is fair.” How Lady Macbeth justifies the murder of Duncan to see her husband becoming the king reflects this issue. It is the personal ambition of Macbeth that drove him to murder his king and it was Lady Macbeth who instigated, encouraged and persuaded him to do so.

Shakespeare has written Macbeth mostly in blank verse in iambic pentameter without a rhyme scheme. But there is rhythm, regularility and flexibility. He often uses rhyming couplets. The richness of Shakespeare’s imagery is observed in this play too.

“Signs of nobleness, like stars shall shine on all observers” says Duncan in act 1, Scene 4. Some expressions like “Hell is murky” - “The instruments of darkness” and “merciful powers” are outstanding in this play. In this play it is the inner emotional conflict within Macbeth that keeps on tormenting him until the end of his life. Macbeth contains evidence of supernatural evil in its witches, but the real evil lies within the human character.

(Handley, 1994)