macbeth summaries Flashcards
who wrote macbeth
William Shakespeare
what genre is macbeth
a tragedy
when was macbeeth written
early 1800 (jacobean era)
what are the themes explored in macbeth (7)
ambition,
power/kingship
the supernatural
fate vs free will
guilt and conscience
masculinity
appearance vs reality
how is ambition explored in the play
- Macbeths ambition to become king leads him to murder and tyranny
- lady Macbeth is also ambitios , pushing macbeth to kill
how is power and kingship explored in the play
difference between a good king (Duncan) and a tyrant (Macbeth)
Macbeth gains power via violence and loses everything
Malcolm represents rightful, moral leadership
how is the supernatural explored in the play
The witches manipulate Macbeth with their prophecies.
Visions (like the dagger or Banquo’s ghost) show the supernatural’s effect on the mind.
Reflects Jacobean fears of witchcraft and fate. - context
how is fate vs free will explored in the play
Do the witches control Macbeth or simply influence him?
Macbeth chooses to act, even though the witches never tell him to kill Duncan.
AQA might ask you if Macbeth is a victim of fate or responsible for his own downfall.
how is guilt and consience explored in the play
Macbeth is haunted by guilt after killing Duncan.
Lady Macbeth goes from “a little water clears us of this deed” to “Out, damned spot!” as guilt destroys her.
Guilt leads both to madness.- LMB kills herself
how is masculinity explored in the play
“Be a man” is used to encourage violence.
Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth’s masculinity to manipulate him.
Shakespeare explores toxic ideas of masculinity in a warrior culture
Lady macbeth- ‘unsex me here’ - she sees femeninity as her weakness . she must adopt male qualities like ruthlessness and strength to carry out the murder
how is the theme of apperance vs reality explored in the play
Things aren’t what they seem — a key idea throughout.
“Fair is foul and foul is fair” – The witches. - mind play/wordplay
Macbeth hides his evil behind loyalty; Lady Macbeth hides her cruelty behind politeness.
summarise act 1 of Macbeth (key points)
Macbeth, a brave Scottish general, encounters three witches who prophesize that he will become king. Encouraged by the prophecy and his ambitious wife, Lady Macbeth, he contemplates the murder of king duncan and commit regicide
summarise act 2
Macbeth murders King Duncan and takes the throne. He is immediately wracked with guilt and paranoia. Lady Macbeth helps cover up the crime.
summarise act 3
Macbeth feels threatened by Banquo (who also got a prophecy that his descendants will become kings ) and has him murdered, but Banquo’s son, Fleance, escapes. Macbeth starts to lose control and becomes more tyrannical.
summarise act 4
Macbeth visits the witches again and is given more prophecies that make him feel invincible. Meanwhile, Macduff and Malcolm (Duncan’s son) prepare to challenge Macbeth. Macbeth has Macduff’s family killed.
summarise act 5
Lady Macbeth, consumed by guilt, descends into madness and commits suicide. Macbeth faces Macduff in battle and is killed. Malcolm becomes king, restoring order to Scotland.
who are the key characters of macbeth
Macbeth: A tragic hero, ambitious but fatally flawed by his desire for power.
Lady Macbeth: Ambitious and manipulative; later guilt-ridden and mentally unstable.
The Witches: Supernatural beings who influence Macbeth’s downfall.
Banquo: Macbeth’s friend, later a threat due to the witches’ prophecy.
Macduff: Macbeth’s foil; represents justice and loyalty.
Malcolm: Duncan’s son and rightful heir.
name 5 key quotes from macbeth and who says them
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair” – The Witches
“Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t” – Lady Macbeth
“Is this a dagger which I see before me” – Macbeth
“Out, damned spot!” – Lady Macbeth
“Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow” – Macbeth
name 3 context points in macbeth
Divine Right of Kings: Killing a king was a crime against God.
Witchcraft: Feared and associated with evil; King James I was obsessed with it.
Jacobean society: Patriarchal, with strong ideas about masculinity and loyalty.
what scene does Lady Macbeth commit suicide and die
act 5 scene 1 - out damned spot !out i say - guilt has driven her mad + mentally unstable
act 5 scene 5 - the queen my lord is dead
macbeth barely reacts - she should have died hereafter : macbeth is now numb and emotionless /hollowness
✅ How to use in an essay:
Macbeth’s reaction to Lady Macbeth’s death is chillingly cold. His line, “She should have died hereafter,” suggests how numb and hopeless he has become. Shakespeare uses this to show the emotional cost of unchecked ambition — Macbeth has lost everything, even the capacity to grieve.
analyse the quote “Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow’
- act 5 scene 5 : Macbeth
“Each day slowly drags on, pointlessly, until the end of time. Everything that’s happened before has just led us like fools straight to death.”
name 3 quotes for lady Macbeth
‘unsex me here’ - act 1 , scene 5
‘Look like the innocent flower be the serpent under’t ‘ - act 1 scene 5
“Out, damned spot! Out, I say!” (Act 5, Scene 1)
“When you durst do it, then you were a man” (Act 1, Scene 7)
name 3 quotes by the witches
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair” (Act 1, Scene 1)
“All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis! / Thane of Cawdor! / That shalt be king hereafter!” (Act 1, Scene 3)
“Something wicked this way comes” (Act 4, Scene 1)
