Open Prompt 1

1979. Choose a complex and important character in a novel or a play of recognized literary merit who might on the basis of the character's actions alone be considered evil or immoral. In a well-organized essay, explain both how and why the full presentation of the character in the work makes us react more sympathetically than we otherwise might. Avoid plot summary.

 Gru, in the animated hit Despicable Me, is revered and loved among kids, despite his evil intentions. How so? A simple response is that it is not black and white, as Shakespeare loves to show us in his famous MacBeth tragedy. MacBeth is a crazy murderous king, but is nevertheless sympathized by audiences. Shakespeare uses language, imagery and details to create a complex and twisted character, MacBeth, who has committed evil deeds, but at his core is just a weak and scared leader who is twisted by prophetic witches and his own wife, which causes readers to sympathize rather than hate MacBeth.

The prophesies of the three witches propagated by Lady MacBeth incites greed into the mind of MacBeth. In the beginning of the play, MacBeth is a war hero, instantly commanding the respect of the audience. Also, MacBeth is just a common man; he is neither royalty, nor a thane. These details paint a picture of a selfless war hero looking not for money and wealth, but rather a safe home. The introduction of the three witches upon first glance seems to be insignificant in the mind of MacBeth. Greed seems to be the farthest thing from MacBeth's innocent mind. However, as Shakespeare introduces Lady MacBeth, it is evident that Lady MacBeth is far from innocent. She begins to push MacBeth into longing greed and royalty. Using condescending language and questioning MacBeth's manhood, Lady MacBeth is able to turn MacBeth into a power thirsty king. However, is this change the act of MacBeth or Lady MacBeth and the three witches?

Lady MacBeth and the Three Witches are the primary reason for the MacBeth's downward spiral into insanity. Despite your personal view on fate versus freewill, it is evident that had the witches not disclosed MacBeth's prophesy, MacBeth would come home a war hero and the play would cease to have any conflict. Simply put, the witches set up MacBeth up for failure. Notice how the witches never said that if you don't kill king Duncan you will live a prosperous life filled with happiness rather than death. While the witches do warn MacBeth about  MacDuff, they leave out details about his own wife committing suicide. These witches are not impartial fortune tellers, they are diabolical supernaturals seeking chaos. Lady MacBeth is their kerosene to this flame of destruction. Lady MacBeth is the main reason for audience's sympathy in the character MacBeth. MacBeth is twisted and mentally insane because of Lady MacBeth. Lady MacBeth pushes MacBeth into killing King Duncan. Lady MacBeth criticizes MacBeth and questions his manhood using condescending and disgusted language. only trying to gain the respect of his wife, does MacBeth kill Duncan. Though MacBeth may be morally weak, it is Lady MacBeth who, inspired by the three witches, tosses MacBeth off the deep end.

Insanity causes audiences to sympathize with MacBeth. It is agreed upon by most literary analysts that MacBeth is indeed insane by the end of the play. His moral conscious begins to pick away at his once sane mind. Eventually coming to the point where happiness is a foreign emotion to MacBeth. He begins to enter into a state of depression. "Out, out brief candle" describes MacBeth's newly found views on life. Shakespeare uses imagery to describe MacBeth's belief that life is but a play "signifying nothing". MacBeth has not only given up on himself, but also God. MacBeth begins to hallucinate and his wife commits suicide after seeing the monster she created. Audiences respond deeply to idea of any mental illness, such as mental retardation in Of Mice and Men. MacBeth's mental illness is pitied by any who understands the gravity the feeling guilt carries. It is in our human nature to sympathize, not hate MacBeth.

In Shakespeare's MacBeth, the once great war hero MacBeth is corrupted upon the influence to the three evil witches and his own wife causing audiences to sympathize with the now insane, depressed and broken MacBeth. Why would Shakespeare want you to sympathize with MacBeth? While Shakespeare could be making a political statement, I think the more relevant topic is that of female corruption. Shakespeare could very well be making a statement on female corruption in England. After living through Bloody Mary and the power feud between Queen Elizabeth and Mary, Shakespeare's play would resonate deeply with the crowd of men questioning the changing roles between men and women in Elizabethan England.