From "Good" to "Evil"

1. Why do people who are not "evil" take the first step into evil? What, for instance, is involved in taking that first step "down the primrose path to the everlasting bonfire" (Macbeth, 2.3)? What are the consequences of the individual choosing evil (particularly the internal consequences)? Use examples from the text to support your opinion.

Yellow Primrose (Notice the thorns)

Throughout reading Macbeth it is evident that there is a major arc in his character. In the beginning, he is described by King Duncan as a loyal war hero. He is also loved by all members of the King's Court. However, as the story continues he morphs into a deceitful, murderous, greedy man; unrecognizable to the man he once was. Shakespeare does something really special here as he has chosen to make the star of his show turn into the "bad guy" before our very eyes. By doing this he comments on the thought process of one who "turns evil" but also on how swiftly it all can happen.

I believe that Shakespeare has illustrated to the reader that the first step in "turning evil" is greed and ambition. This thought is described when Shakespeare wrote: "down the primrose path to the everlasting bonfire" (Macbeth, 2.3). The idiom "primrose path" basically means a way of life chosen for its ease and beauty which has a high degree of risk. This high degree of risk is understood because of how these primrose plants have thorns. Shakespeare then says "everlasting bonfire", which is a clear call-out to Hell. Thus, it can be understood that Shakespeare is saying that greed will be the reason for the person's damnation. 

It is known that Shakespeare had a lot of Catholic family members, and he might have even been an underground Catholic himself, so he would have known what the 7 Deadly Sins are. These sins, in the Catholic Church, are the ones said to lead you away from God and towards the devil. Shakespeare plays to these throughout Macbeth's character arc.

Despite saying how Macbeth was destined for Hell, Shakespeare also describes the thought process of "turning evil". He does that through a series of decision making asides by Macbeth, with them growing in length up to the act of evil, symbolizing the increase in the internal struggle of him murdering a friend for power. One of the best examples of this internal struggle is "Stars, hide your fires; / Let not light see my black and deep desires" (Macbeth, 1.4). Which through metaphor the reader can understand how burning this passion for power is, through its comparison with "stars" and "fire". This bright imagery is then juxtaposed with the dark imagery of "black and deep desires". This juxtaposition explains how wrong Macbeth believes his greedy thoughts are. Macbeth's asides continue to further illustrate his internal struggle but his greed triumphs.

With his greed having triumphed, Macbeth knows it is wrong. The author illustrates how much Macbeth knows his actions are wrong when Macbeth says, "and 'amen' / Stuck in my throat" (Macbeth, 2.2). This is highly significant as Macbeth realizes that he has stepped beyond the reaches of being saved by God. He realizes here that he is destined for Hell. Upon this realization he also begins seeing and hearing things which are a manifestation of his guilt, pushing him to insanity. This insanity is a result of Macbeth's greed at the beginning of the play.

Shakespeare does a phenomenal job of illustrating how even the best person can become evil if they fall to one of the Seven Deadly Sins. He also describes just how the internal struggle revolving around a person's evil actions will lead them to insanity, which would have been completely skipped over during this time.