Manifestations of Evil in Shakespeare’s Tragedies: An Analysis of Othello, Richard III, and Macbeth

Manifestations of Evil in Shakespeare’s Tragedies: An Analysis of Othello, Richard III, and Macbeth

In his tragedies Shakespeare portrays the fall of good men into evil as a result of human corruption, leading to crimes and human misery. This paper examines the evolution and actions of Shakespearean villains, illustrating the consequences of evil through the characters of Iago in Othello, Richard in Richard III, and Macbeth in Macbeth. Through an in-depth analysis of these plays, the paper sheds light on the different manifestations of evil and their implications for human nature and society. Shakespear’s evils often exist outside the individual, such as societal injustice, oppression, or harmful systems and institutions. However, something imposed on individuals by external forces soon turns into the evil that comes from within an individual, such as deceit, cruelty, ambition. These internal evil often associated with personal choices and moral failings. As a necessary counterpart to good, the manifestation of evil is what allows us to recognize and appreciate goodness. This duality of Shakespeare’ tragedies is often explored in the context of moral dilemmas and the balance between opposing forces in the universe.