‘Humanity’s Encounter with the Powers of Darkness’ : A Study of Shakespeare’s Macbeth from the Quranic Point of View

Abstract

The paper studies the encounter between two opposite forces, - humanity, on the one side, and the forces of evil on the other. Many great pieces of literature portray this encounter. Shakespeare’s Macbeth is such a play that presents this encounter with remarkable insight. However, the comprehensive picture of this encounter is portrayed in various chapters of the Holy Qur’an. The paper looks at, on the one hand, some such verses of the Holy Qur’an and, on the other, Shakespeare’s Macbeth, in order to analyze and compare the inherent conflict of human situation between the temptation of human mind and the ethical biddings of human soul. It also verifies the popular perception where Macbeth is viewed as representatively human, and his downfall is considered as helpless failure of humanity. After analyzing the nature of some encounter between the forces good and evil, it has been found that Macbeth represents only the inherent weakness and vulnerability of mankind against evil; but he does not represent humanity’s spiritual strength. The paper takes the final view that Adam (pbuh) represents humanity; Yusuf (pbuh) represents humanity in their respective encounters with evil.