How is the atmosphere of evil achieved in Macbeth? Essay

Fair is foul, and foul is fairHover through the fog and dirty air(I,i,L-11-12)The witches immediately set the scene for the whole play with these two lines at the end of convulsion One. They are describing a role-r eversal where everything that was good is now brutal, and everything that was evil has become good. These creatures (for there is some doubt as to whether they are actually hu universe) are responsible for much of the atmosphere that is created in the play as a whole). They are also one of the driving forces behind Macbeths ambition, because if they hadnt told him that hed be King hereafter (I,iii, L-50) he would never have wanted to become King, or at to the lowest degree he would have waited his turn. The witches therefore gave him the initial spur to kill Duncan, and are the cause of unnatural kerneluate that happen in the play.These are also a main factor in the atmosphere that is created. Ross dialog to an Old Man in profess 2 about the heavens being trouble d with mans act and says that by th clock tis day (II,iv, L 6-7). He is explaining how the sky has been everlastingly coloured for as long as he (and the audience) can remember. The effect of the sky being dark on Shakespeares audience would be profound. Since they saw the whole of nature as created by God, an evil force overturning creation and the equilibrium of nature would undoubtedly shock and quieten the audience.Ross also describes inversions in the wildcat world. Rosss first example is of A falcon being hawked at, and killed by a mousing owl (II,iv, L 12-13). He also tells how Duncans horsesturned wild in natureas they would make state of war with mankind. Shakespeare here makes a reference to the Chain of Being, in which it was thought that all animals, humans, plants and objects had their place. The tales that Ross tells are all of creatures trying to move up in the Chain of Being. The owl is below the falcon in the Chain of Being, and so due to the supernatural, the o wl wants to become greater and usurp the falcon. The horses are trying to stir up against humans.At the start of the play, Macbeth is a patriarchal figure. Hes a strong warrior who is also firm to King Duncan. This all changes soon after he meets the witches. There was no way he would ever think about killing Duncan. Indeed, his married woman has to use a strong argument to persuade him to go through with the murder. After he has gone through with it, after a short period of anxiety, and close to insanity, Macbeth does not hesitate when planning to seize upon Fife and give to the edge o th the sword/His wife his babes, and all unfortunate souls that trace him in his line (IV,iii, L 151-153). This shows what a dramatic and startling effect the witches prophecies and Macbeths actions have had upon him.At the start of this essay I mentioned how the witches set the scene of the play. During the play, they also bear on the evil and unsettling atmosphere by their numerous appearances with Macbeth, or on their own. One such scene is at the start of Act 4 when the witches all use powerful and descriptive language to disgust and cleave the audience. For example, all kinds of parts of all kinds of dissected animals are thrown into their charmed pot. They throw in the wool of bat, and tongue of dog and eye of newt, toe of frog. (IV,i, L 14-15). To Shakespeares audience this leave behind have not only disgusted the audience but such witchcraft would have excite them as well.The other theatrical tool that Shakespeare employs is to use strange and vivid characters to show how the evil has been confined into every living thing. Ive already mentioned the witches, but nearly every character (except for the non-evil people wish Duncan) are unnatural in some way. Lady Macbeth is seen reading a letter in Act I Scene 5, and also talking to the evil spirits which she believes to be at play. This could show how she is affected in the play as a whole. Macbeth is also dramat ically affected, as I have already mentioned. The Porter is another character who is in the play to both amuse and unnerve (two ideas seldom apply together). He does this through his loud and aggressive soliloquy and his mentioning of satanic ideas.