Frank Kermode asserts that "Macbeth is a play about the eclipse of civility and manhood, the temporary triumph of evil; when it ends, virtue and justice are restored." Shakespeare displays a remarkable perception of the human condition by dramatizing not only the way in which evil enters Macbeth's world, but also the devastating effect it has on those who yield to temptation and sin. Shakespeare concludes the tragedy on a hopeful note, however, for as awesome and corruptive as the evil is that pervades Macbeth, it is only temporary. Ultimately, time and order are restored through the actions of the defenders of goodness.

(See also Shakespearean Criticism, Vol. 3)