Mabeth Themes

Question 1

Ambition

Answer 1

• Macbeth’s ambition drives the plot of the play starting with his desire for power and leading him to commit murder in order to become king. This ultimately leads to his downfall
• Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to persue his ambition:
  “It is too ful o’ the milk of human kindness / To catch the nearest way”. (Act 1, Scene 5)

Question 2

Power and Corruption

Answer 2

• As Macbeth gains power, he becomes more tyrannical and loses his humanity. Lady Macbeth’s desire for power also leads her to manipulate Macbeth and lose her sanity.
• Macbeths corrupting for power is shown after he becomes king and starts to eliminate threats:
  “To be thus is nothing / But to be safely thus” (Act 3, Scene 1)

Question 3

Fate vs Free Will

Answer 3

• The witches’ prophesies seem to predict Macbeths’s rise to power, but the play questions wether he is driven by fate or his own choices.
• The witches’ prophecy introduces the question of fate:
  “All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! / All hail Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Cawdor! / All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!” (Act 1, Scene 3)

Question 4

The Supernatural

Answer 4

• Plays a major role , with witches, visisions, and ghosts influencing Macbeths actions and psyche. Adding mystery but also highlighting Macbeths descent into madness and guit.
• Chant rperesent cryptic and deceptie nature, setting the tone for the play’s supernatural events.
  “Fair is foul, and foul is fair: / Hover through the fog and filthy air.” (Act 1, Scene 1)

Question 5

Guilt and Conscience

Answer 5

• Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth struggle with guilt after commiting murder. This guilt manifests as hallucinations, paranoia, and mental breakdowns.
• “Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather / The multitudinous seas in incarnadine, / Making the green one red.” (Act 2, Scene 2)

Question 6

The Role of Women

Answer 6

• Lady Macbeth’s manipulation and strength contrast with traditional gender roles, and her eventual breakdown reflects the consequences of her ambitious nature.

Question 7

Appearance vs Reality

Answer 7

• Many characters in Macbeth present a false appearance to conceal their true intentions (e.g., Macbeth’s deceptive speeches and Lady Macbeth’s apparent calmness).
• Macbeths deceptive nature as he hides his true intentions:
  “Look like the innocent flower, / But be the serpent under’t.” (Act 1, Scene 5)

Question 8

Revenge

Answer 8

• The theme of revenge is seen in the play’s final acts, especially with Macduff seeking vengeance for his family’s murder.
• Macduff’s desire for revenge after his family’s murder:
  “Front to front / Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself; / Within my sword’s length set him.” (Act 5, Scene 8)