Fair is Foul, and Foul is Fair--Writing Tutorial Pt VIIIb Macbeth

Today on The Scriptorium I continue our writing tutorial on poetry, by going close and specific on Shakespeare's Macbeth, the second part. Wait! You cry. It's bad because it's all about witches. Let's not be over hasty. Remember the Bible's account of Saul consulting with the Witch of Endor. The difference between how the Bible portrays evil and wickedness and how some popular writers treat it is that the Bible never tempts me to say, "O, this sounds fun. I think I will dabble in witchcraft..." or adultry, or murder, or idolatry and all the rest. Good writing will be honest about evil. On the one hand it will not titilate the reader and lure them into the evil. But on the other hand, nor will it ignore evil and sugar coat reality so that we have something imaginary (as opposed to imaginative--Lewis makes the clear distinction very wisely), something that is contrary to reality, something that is false (think much of how Holyywood portrays evil and you will see the vast contrast with how the Bible unmasks evil and shows it as ugly and disgusting).

If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well
It were done quickly: if th' assassination
Could trammel up the consequence, and catch
With his surcease success; that but this blow
Might be the be-all and the end-all — here,
But here, upon this bank and shoal of time,
We'd jump the life to come. But in these cases
We still have judgment here, that we but teach
Bloody instructions, which, being taught, return
To plague the inventor. This even-handed justice
Commends the ingredients of our poison'd chalice
To our own lips.

All the ungly and bloody consequences of Macbeth's evil desiring and doing come back on his head, until at last the Grace of grace restores order and right rule in Scotland. Performed before tyrant King James I; the Bard had a message...