ENGLIT MACBETH good and evil quotes Flashcards
What is significant about Macbeth’s goodness being overtaken by his evil desires?
shows that even good people can be led astray by ambition and power
How does Macbeth become increasingly evil?
he becomes increasingly hardened to the crimes that he commits
How does the Scottish crown link to good and evil?
it becomes a battle between good and evil, Macbeth is the evil “tyrant” who must be killed before he destroys Scotland
How does LM link evil and gender?
- links cruelty and aggression with masculinity
- wants the spirits to “unsex” her and fill her with “direst cruelty”, she thinks that her femininity holds her back from taking violent actions
How does LM convince Macbeth to go evil?
- relies on manipulation rather than action
- uses emotional blackmail to persuade him to commit evil
How do the witches commit evil?
like LM, they rely on manipulation rather than physical force
How is the supernatural shown to be evil throughout the play?
- they are presented as evil and powerful
- they’re linked to the devil, Banquo calls them “devil” while Macbeth calls them “fiends” which associates them with evil deeds
How does Shakespeare emphasise the conflict between good and evil?
- emphasises the conflict through religious imagery
- Macbeth is described as “cursed” and has a name “more hateful” than the devil
- in contrast, Young Siward is described as “God’s soldier” because he died fighting to defeat an evil “tyrant”
How are the witches emphasised that they’re evil in I.3?
“instruments of darkness”
extended metaphor for darkness used throughout the play, describing them as instruments of darkness emphasises this
