Good vs Evil Flashcards
Witches - GvsE
1.3 - “tempest-tossed” sailor for “wearing sennights nine times nine” just because his “rump-fed runnion” of a wife wouldnt give them chesnuts. An out of proportion reaction and shows the scale of destruction they can inflict on others on a whim. Incapable of remorse - dissociates them from a human form as it detaches them from feeling emotions - unnatural cruelty displayed.
This unnerves the audience, creating anticipation for their role in the rest of the play and how they are going to corrupt the characters. Creates a sense of unease.
They are evil incarnate, “instruments of darkness”
“that palter with us in a double sense”
Lady Macbeth - GvsE
Controlling & manipulative, linking to appearence versus reality as she seems like a meek woman but in fact uses her femininity “take my milk for gall” to gain power - this is threatening for 16th century britian as women weren’t supposed to be outspoken.
Her evil is related to the supernatural, showing that it is inhuman to possess such malicious intent. “come you spirits” “unsex me here” (removing her of human capabilities)
However, she has aspects of good:
- relationship with M. she is a doting wife and often supports him.
- She shows a guilty conscience, so she is not truly evil. nobody is truly evil and incapable of remorse apart from the witches, who are reprimanded by hecate for their wrongdoings. “Out, damned spot, out i say” “All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.”
Banquo - GvsE
3.1 - his “royalty in nature” worries M - thinks it will naturally expose his dishonesty/vices. Believes B will do everything in his power to right the wrongs in the world
B is a foil to M.
3.3 Dies defending his son’s life, sacrifices himself “fly, fly, fly”. Has strong morals that arent compromised in the face of adversity. Selfless.
He is a foil to M - M is constantly paranoid, even after B’s death (“never shake thy gory locks at me”) - shows that true good wields the power over the depraved minds and that the evil won’t win out in scotland
Macbeth - GvsE
his one weakness/fatal flaw/hamartia is a lust for power. exploited by the witches and LM at various points. Other than that he is a (tragic) hero and is shown to be noble in 1.2 in the battle against the norweigians. Got rewarded for his efforts in battle. “Bellona’s bridegroom” “hold thee to my heart”
“too full o’th’milk of human kindness”
1.3 blindly trusts the witches after the title of the thane of cawdor got granted to him. Immediately begins to thinks about D’s murder that is “yet but fantastical” - one mention of potential power leads him to spiral.
LM takes on the role as femme fatale to persuade and manipulate M into doing her own desires. 1.7 questions his integrity (and as it has already been established 1.2 he is “valiant” this is significant to him) - heroic trait. Says that if she promised to, she would have “dashed the brains out” of her child.
She supports him, another method of manipulation “screw your courage to the sticking place” and he will not fail if he does so.
Ultimately is the cataylst of his downfall - complex, his personality has two sides and he has to go against his good, virtuous side to enact these twisted desires.
Macduff - GvsE
- Morally right, judge of who shall be king in some ways - seeker of justice. Seeks out Mal as a result of M’s “tyranny” - feels for “th’untimely emptying of the throne” and puts up with Mal’s threats that he will be a worse king, as it is the right thing to do “Black Macbeth will seem pure as snow” UNTIL he feels Mal would only worsen the country, and then he doesn’t put up with it anymore
The good of his heart/his virtue and his own desire for peace to benefit everyone drives his acts.
Triggers the return of peace in scotland as he seeks out Mal
