Key themes in Macbeth Flashcards
What are the 7 key themes in Macbeth?
1)ambition & power 2) loyalty and betrayal 3) kingship 4) good & evil 5) the supernatural 6) reality and appearances 7) fate and free will
Of these 7 themes, which one is the primary / most important theme?
Ambition and power.
What does the play teach us about ambition?
That it is dangerous and can quickly spiral out of control.
Shakespeare’s main character in most of his plays is a ‘noble person’ with one major character flaw which leads to their downfall. What is Macbeth’s ‘fatal flaw’?
Ambition because it can make a person SELFISH and RUTHLESS, driving them to do WHATEVER THEY WANT regardless of the consequences.
Ambition is not always negative. Which three characters in the play are ambitious in a positive way?
1) Malcolm and 2) Macduff are ambitious for their country to do well. They want him removed from power for the good of Scotland. 3) Banquo is ambitious for his sons to do well in life. When he hears the prophecy that they will be kings, he doesn’t turn his ambitions for this into murder (like Macbeth)
Does Macbeth think more carefully about the consequences of his ambition at the beginning or end of the play?
At the beginning. He’s concerned about the morality of murdering Duncan and spends a lot of time thinking about it. When he murders Banquo, he doesn’t even give it any thought - he just does it.
Can you give a key quote where Macbeth admits that it’s ambition that is spurring him on to kill Duncan?
“I have no spur \ To prick the sides of my intent, but only \Vaulting ambition.”
What does ambition ultimately do to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth?
It turns Lady Macbeth mad and destroys them both. Ambition is the cause of their downfall.
