Macbeth

Class discussion today brought up a few interesting thoughts for me, regarding evil and motivation in Macbeth. Before when we were just considering the actions of Macbeth and Banquo after talking to the witches, it had seemed to me that Macbeth was the "evil" one while the witches were not. As discussed in class, the witches simply make statements (like the acknowledgement of Macbeth's promotion) and then state that he will also someday be king, and that Banquo's son will be as well one day. While they do question the witches motives, and Banquo (I think) does say something about how sometimes people tell half truths (the promotion) to deceive others (the part about being king, I still don't think that necessarily makes them evil, and surely at least not as much as Macbeth. If they are evil their evil comes from toying with Macbeth, giving him (possibly) false hope, and the like. I don't believe that they knew the outcomes of their actions per se. I don't believe they had a plan, like "if we speak with these such words, and phrase it this way, then he'll kill these people." I believe they were just mischievous. But the evil comes from Macbeth's actions upon hearing this news. However, I thought this all got MUCH more complicated once I considered lady Macbeth's role in the play. As Macbeth himself is resolved not to kill the king, and doesn't agree to it until after his wife calls him a coward and not a man. Then she presents him with her plan on how to kill the king, and it is THEN that he agrees to do it, and from this point on is where his character kind of snowballs into doing evil things. I'm not sure what that means for Macbeth being evil now, perhaps he is actually just weak, and lady Macbeth is the one who is actually evil? After all, I did claim previously that Macbeth was evil because of his actions upon hearing the prophecy, and once lady Macbeth hears the prophecy she acts quite evil. Certain this is how she is portrayed in Throne of Blood as well. But I think that discussion is for another blog, where I've really had time to think all these things through, and make up my mind!