Themes

Question 1

Bravery

Answer 1

Macbeth and Banquo are both presented as heroic warriors. Both remain brave throughout the play.

Question 2

Gender Roles

Answer 2

Women were expected to obey their husbands.
Men are not socially allowed to be weak and vulnerable.

LADY MACBETH:

A1,S5 - “unsex me here”. = she is saying that she would rather be a man and help out with the murder of Duncan. {Imperative Language}

MACBETH:

A1,S2 - “smoked with bloody execution”.
A1,S5 - “to full of thy milk of human kindness.”

Question 3

Courage and Manliness

Answer 3

Lady Macbeth says “Pour my spirits in thine ear”. This shows that she is more manly than Macbeth.

She appears to be the same when it comes to Banquo’s murder.

Question 4

The Supernatural

Answer 4

The witches are evil.

Question 5

Fate & Free Will

Answer 5

Fate = events outside a persons control. Determined by a supernatural.

Free Will = a free independent choice.

{Is Macbeth a helpless victim of fate?}

DISRUPTING FATE:

Manifestation of the guilt and the hallucinations of the dagger.
“Is this a dagger I see before me?” - Macbeth A2, S1