Themes Macbeth
1. Supernatural (three witches)/superstition affects
human behaviour
Predictions (witches and apparitions) affect Macbeth’s
behaviour in that he becomes ambitious to become king
and they make him feel invincible.
Lady Macbeth asks the “spirits” to rid her of her womanly
nature (Act 1, Scene 5).
The vision of the dagger convinces him to kill Duncan.
3. “Fair is foul and foul is fair” (Act 1, Scene 1)
Things aren’t always what they seem to be. We see this
from different perspectives.
 The witches are literally “foul”.
o “so withered and wild in their attire, that look
not like th’inhabitants o’th’eart” (Act 1, scene 3)
 The witches’ predictions appear fair, but turn out to
be foul.
o “this supernatural soliciting cannot be ill; cannot
be good” (Act 1, Scene 3)
 The OG Thane of Cawdor appeared to be loyal to
King Duncan, but turned out to be a traitor (fought
with the rebels).
2. Too much ambition/power corrupts:
Main theme! Macbeth and Lady Macbeth deeply desire
power and advancement (= getting to a better position in
society/life) they kill to become/remain king & queen.
“I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only
vaulting ambition” (Act 1, Scene 7)
Lady Macbeth is so convinced of her plan, she doesn’t even
think it could fail.
“We fail? But screw your courage to the sticking place, and
we’ll not fail.” (Act 1, Scene 7)
4. Relationship between gender and violence
Women can be a source of evil. Lady Macbeth is not a
stereotypical woman (“unsex me here”) as she goes
against the prevailing expectations of how women are
supposed to behave.
 Takes over Macbeth’s part in hiding the murder
weapon’s.
“Yet I do fear thy nature; it is too full o’ th’milk of human
kindness to catch the nearest way”.
 Macbeth’s character is more ‘feminine’. He cannot
complete his part in the murder.
Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband by questioning his
 o “There’s no art to find the mind’s construction manhood (he then kills King Duncan).
in the face: He was a gentleman on whom I  “When you durst do it, then you were a man” (Act 1,
built my absolute trust” (Act 1, Scene 4). Scene 7)
 Macbeth needs to pretend that he is still loyal to
Duncan, but he actually plans on killing him: Macbeth hopes that Lady Macbeth will “bring forth men-
o “look like the innocent flower, but be the children only”, because her “undaunted mettle should
serpent under’t.” compose nothing but males”. Her character is so
 Macbeth and Lady Macbeth act as if they are very courageous (a male quality) that she must have male
loyal to Duncan, but are not. children (boys).
o “we shall make our griefs and clamour roar
upon his death” (Act 1, scene 7)
o “mock the time with the fairest show: False
face must hide what the false heart doth know”
(Act 1, scene 7)