Macbeth: Time And Evil :: essays research papers

The Shakespearean tragedy of Macbeth is one of the shortest of all his plays. The story of one mans determination to secure his position as king has become a literary classic around the world. Many critics have applied their input on what they believe to be the proper abstract of Macbeth. However Phyllis Rackins interpretation of the play has become the counter balance to which I place my critique. Rackins criticism of Macbeth employs both the importance of time and the overwhelming power of nuisance these ideas are only two of the many themes displayed in Shakespeares illustrious tragedy. Rackin analyzed that time was a major factor in Macbeth and all his actions were a " escape against time"(108). She also noticed that Shakespeare started his play with a question about time, "When shall we three meet again?"(Act I, scene I). Rackin viewed Macbeths reign at king as a pause in time, at which moment the sun ceases to rise and darkness engulfs Scotland. At the death of Macbeth and the end of his sovereignty, Macduff pronounces, "time is free"(Act V, scene VIII). The cut off of time has been strongly supported by Phyllis Rackin, however I view this grapple as an insignificant matter in the story of Macbeth. Time is an issue in all plays and would function the same in any other suspenseful thriller. Along with time, Phyllis Rackin critiqued the use of the compelling manipulation of evil. In Macbeth, the main office becomes enraged with an evil urge to maintain his status as king. Macbeths cravings begin when he is no longer capable of waiting for the witches prophesies to come true and murders the king. He continues he rampage with the murders of Banquo and Maduffs intermediate family. This can all be foreseen after Macbeth kills Duncan and cries out that "the deed will not be done when tis done, that it will be no end-all but instead a beginning"(113). Unlike Rackins view on time, I agree with her view on Macbeths evil entrapm ent. It is apparent that, throughout the patterned advance of the tragedy, Macbeth transforms from the loyal thane into the murderous king.