Evil

Evil is defined as being “morally reprehensible” and “arising from actual or imputed bad character or conduct”.

I think that people who aren’t “evil” take the first step into it because of the curiosity. All of their lives, they’ve known one way, one lifestyle, one behavior. Being offered something different from what they’re accustomed can make someone change. I also think that there is a natural human desire to be a little rebellious. I think that there is an innate wish to do what society doesn’t expect or accept.  People who aren’t evil that take the first step towards being it want a change. They want someone to be able to offer them something new and, what at the time, seems exciting.

Another approach as to why people who aren’t “evil” take the first step is because of pressure. You see someone else acting reprehensible or in an unusual manner and then you begin to think that you should follow in their footsteps or that it’s okay to start acting in those same ways.  What our peers or other people around us are doing, most certainly has the ability to influence or decisions and can hinder our choices of ‘right’ from ‘wrong’.  Not knowing the differences between ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ can affect our morality and our ethics. From that point, we begin to act hastily and are willing to do whatever’s necessary to reach that change we so desire. This was the case for Macbeth who was so consumed with the desire of a better life that he was willing to kill for this position, although he was already in a good place in his life. His morals were tainted by our innate human desires to be rebellious in order to reach a higher status, and his aspirations caused his evil tendencies and behavior. The ends justified the means in the eyes of Macbeth. He was to be the “thane of Glamis… [and the] thane of Cawdor” (Macbeth 1.3). Knowing that there was something strange in the prophecy, he questions “I know I am thane of Glamis; But how of Cawdor? The thane of Cawdor lives, a prosperous gentleman” (Macbeth 1.3). The witches told him what his life could be, he just had to go out and “get it”-- this was his first step into evil.

I think that what’s involved in taking the first step is something negative happening in your life, or something better being offered than what you currently have. This was certainly the case for Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. Another step is the imagination one has of what could be. Our minds convincing us that acting evil will get us to better places in life is a step into becoming entirely evil.

The consequences of walking "down the primrose path to the everlasting bonfire" (Macbeth, 2.3) can occur soon after the evil behavior, or a while afterwards. For Macbeth, the consequences occurred soon after. A lot of the times, the consequence of acting evil consumes the person’s conscience. They feel a sense of remorse, regret, anger, and they seem to go through all of the stages of grief. After realizing what they did, they are going to be disappointed in themselves and will have a surge of emotions, unless they’re a sociopath.

Macbeth demonstrates that his actions have greatly affected him internally, to the point of him seeing the ghost of his once best friend. “Avaunt! And quit my sight! Let the earth hide thee! Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; Thou hast no speculation in those eyes Which thou dost glare with” (Macbeth 3.4)

Citations:

Shakespeare , William. Macbeth. Folio, 1623. Print.