macbeth themes Flashcards
AMBITION
describe how ambition is the main theme in macbeth:
- it’s what motivates Macbeth to commit his terrible deeds.
- the play shows that ambition is dangerous as it can quickly spiral out of control. Macbeth initially considers the morality of killing Duncan, but doesn’t hesitate about killing Banquo.
- once Macbeth starts killing, he must kill more people to get what he wants and to try and make his position more secure. ambition can make people ruthless and selfish.
- M and LM are destroyed by their ambition, so the play acts as a warning against ambition that isn’t balanced by reason or morals.
AMBITION
how is ambition Macbeth’s biggest weakness?
- it’s his ‘fatal flaw’. he’s a brave hero at the start - called ‘noble’ by Duncan, and LM says he ‘wouldst not play false’ to get what he wants.
- his reluctance to kill Duncan shows his morality, but his actions show how strong his ambition is - makes him act against his morals.
- ambition makes him act against his better judgement. he knows ambition ‘o’erleaps itself / And falls’ - a person can aim too high and can fail and lose everything. (foreshadows Macbeth’s downfall). by the end, Macbeth loses everything and dies an ‘abhorred tyrant’.
AMBITION
describe how it’s shown that ambition can be good:
- not all characters are corrupted by their ambition. it can be a positive thing if it’s motivated by a desire to help others rather than yourself.
- malcolm and macduff are ambitious for their country. they want to take macbeth’s power away from him, not for their own selfish desires, but for the good of Scotland.
- Banquo is ambitious for his sons - he hopes that ‘there come truth’ from the Witches’ prophecy, but he doesn’t act on the predictions violently.
- Shakespeare uses religious references to show how corrupting M’s ambition is. M says that if killing D had no earthly consequences, he would ‘jump the life to come’ (he would accept damnation in order to become King). Macbeth is rejecting one of the fundamental aspects of Christianity, making his ambition even more immoral to Elizabethan audiences.
LOYALTY AND BETRAYAL
describe how some characters show loyalty in their actions:
- some characters say they’re loyal (Macbeth talks about the ‘loyalty’ he owes to Duncan, when he’s plotting to kill him), and others show their loyalty through their actions (Macduff).
COUNTRY: Macduff is loyal to Scotland. he chooses to go to England to ask Malcolm to defend his country instead of protecting his family. he’d rather leave Scotland than see it be ruled by a bad king.
KING: the thanes are loyal to Duncan as he’s been a ‘great’ king. M gives D ‘service and loyalty’ by fighting for him.
BELIEFS: Banquo i loyal to his own sense of honour - he says he’ll keep his allegiance clear, and won’t let ambition or the Witches’ prophecies affect him.
LOYALTY AND BETRAYAL
describe how it’s shown that loyalty is rewarded, and betrayal is punished:
- D has the old Thane of Cawdor executed for being a ‘disloyal traitor’ and rewards Macbeth’s loyalty by giving him the title. the play has a circular structure - ends with Macbeth betraying Scotland and Malcolm rewarding the thanes’ loyalty.
- Macbeth betrays his own sense of right and wrong. leads to the loss of self-worth and death.
- betrayal is often linked to power. power (titles) can be given or taken away depending on a person’s loyalty.
LOYALTY AND BETRAYAL
describe how the Macbeths pretend to be loyal:
- Macbeth is initially loyal to D as ‘his kinsman and his subject’ - makes it even more shocking when he puts his own desires ahead of his loyalty to D.
- LM fakes an appearance of loyalty. she tells D she and M are ‘your servants ever’ while they’re plotting his murder.
- Shakespeare juxtaposes LM’s plotting to kill D with her welcoming him into their castle. develops her character, makes her murderous intentions more dramatic.
REALITY AND APPEARANCES: LM’s two-faces nature helps her to betray Duncan - he trusts her as a ‘fair and noble hostess’ and doesn’t see her lust for power.
KINGSHIP
describe the historical context of the successor to the throne:
CONTEXT: in Scotland at the time, the successor didn’t have to be the King’s eldest son, even though it often was.
- Macbeth suddenly becomes King, even though he’s not the heir to the throne. Duncan chooses his eldest son as the heir, but he makes Macbeth the next heir after Malcolm and Donalbain.
- Macbeth wins the throne by killing the King and framing Malcolm and Donalbain after they have ‘stol’n away and fled’. gradually, other characters realise that Macbeth isn’t the true king.
KINGSHIP
describe when Malcolm describes good rulers and bad rulers:
- Duncan is an example of an ideal king. described as ‘gracious’, inspires loyalty in his subjects, who see him as a ‘most sainted King’ and therefore the rightful ruler of Scotland.
- in contrast, Macbeth is described as a ‘tyrant’ as he rules selfishly, using violence. he’s rarely referred to as ‘king’, showing that the other characters don’t accept him as a true king.
MALCOLM’S IDEA OF A GOOD KING:
- ‘justice, temperance, stableness, perseverance, mercy, devotion, courage, patience’.
- could be describing Duncan - he shows ‘temperance’ in his calm, peaceful manner. ‘lowliness’ (humble) in his gratefulness for loyalty. ‘justice’ when dealing with those who betray him.
MALCOLM’S IDEA OF A BAD KING:
- ‘bloody, luxurious, false, deceitful, malicious’.
- describing Macbeth. he’s ‘avaricious’ because he’s motivated by his selfish greed. his lies make him ‘false’ and ‘deceitful’. he’s ‘bloody’ as he uses violence to keep control over his people.
KINGSHIP
describe the idea that a good King should be holy:
- Malcolm also says that a good ruler is holy - at the time, people believed the King was appointed by God.
- the King of England, Edward, has a ‘healing benediction’ and uses ‘holy prayers’ to cure sick people. he’s surrounded by ‘blessings’ that ‘speak him full of grace’.
- in contrast, Macbeth is ‘devilish’ - he commits murder and talks to evil Witches. he’s not the chosen King.
GOOD AND EVIL
describe how macbeth is portrayed as a good man who does evil acts:
- at the beginning, Macbeth shows that he’s ‘noble’ - he has potential for greatness. Duncan recognises this and makes him Thane of Cawdor.
- once he’s tempted to give into his ambition, Macbeth’s goodness is overcome by his evil desires. even good people can be led astray by ambition and power.
- he becomes increasingly evil as e becomes hardened to the man crimes he commits.
- the struggle for the crown of Scotland becomes a battle between good and evil.
SHAKESPEARE USES images of darkness to represent evil and images of light to represent goodness.
GOOD AND EVIL
how is evil linked to gender?
- LM links cruelty and aggression with masculinity. she wants the spirits to ‘unsex’ her and fill her with ‘direst cruelty’. she thinks her femininity holds her back from taking violent action.
- masculine ideas of evil focus on violence and bloodshed. though she wants to be more like a man, LM relies on manipulation rather than action. she sees Macbeth’s weakness and uses emotional blackmail to persuade him to commit evil.
- the Witches’ gender is ambiguous. Banquo says they ‘should be women’ but they have beards. like LM, they rely on manipulation rather than physical force.
SUPERNATURAL: supernatural elements portrayed as evil and powerful. Witches are linked to the Devil - ‘devil’, ‘fiends’ (associates them with evil deeds).
GOOD AND EVIL
how does Shakespeare emphasise the conflict between good and evil using imagery?
- uses religious imagery.
- Macbeth is described as ‘cursed’ and has a name ‘More hateful’ than the Devil.
- in contrast, Young Siward is ‘God’s soldier’ because he dies fighting to defeat an evil ‘tyrant’.
SUPERNATURAL
how are the Witches portrayed as a supernatural force?
- evil supernatural force. their ‘strange intelligence’ and ability to predict the future gives them power over humans. however, when planning to harm the sea captain, they say his ship ‘cannot be lost’ - their power is limited?
- not in many scenes, but drive the action of the play. it’s unlikely Macbeth would have committed so many terrible crimes if he hadn’t been influenced by the Witches.
- Witches associated with chaos. try to impose an unnatural order on what’s good and natural. (‘untie the winds’, make ‘castles topple’).
- represented as completely evil. cruel, inhuman, don’t show remorse.
SOCIAL CONTEXT: at the time, many people thought witches were real, so these would have seemed believable and frightening to the audience.
ATMOSPHERE: supernatural elements make the play darker and more frightening.
SUPERNATURAL
describe how it’s shown that visions are supernatural signs of guilt:
ACT 2, SCENE 1: Macbeth sees vision of dagger just as he’s about to kill Duncan. not clear whether it’s leading him to Duncan or warning him against murder. represents the ‘bloody business’ he’s about to do.
ACT 3, SCENE 4: Macbeth sees Banquo’s ghost, only visible to him. sign of his guilty conscience.
ACT 5, SCENE 1: LM is driven mad as she imagines her hands will ‘ne’er be clean’ of Duncan’s blood. her guilt is so great she kills herself.
- ambiguous visions (real/imaginary?)
- visions fill the people with fear. Macbeth is ‘blanched with fear’, his speech is agitated and nervous, ‘Prithee, see there! Behold, look, lo!’.
- LM’s language when she sleepwalks is desperate. ‘O,o,o!’ - disturbed by the vision of blood on her hands.
REALITY AND APPEARANCE
describe how it’s shown that appearances can be deceptive:
- characters often hide their thoughts and pretend to be something they’re not. the play shows that their true natures come out in the end.
- LM encourages Macbeth to appear to be good so that nobody suspects that he plans to kill Duncan.
- ‘look like th’innocent flower / But be the serpent under’t’ - links LM to Satan who tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
- Macbeth knows he needs a ‘false face; to hide his murderous acts - however when he sees Banquo’s ghost, his face is ‘the very painting’ of his fear and betrays his feelings.
- at first, LM has no trouble disguising her evil behaviour. she pretends to faint with shock when Duncan is discovered. however, her guilt becomes too great to hide and she starts sleepwalking.
