Macbeth - Themes overview

Themes are ideas that run all the way through a literary text. By analysing them you can better
understand the writer's intentions. What choices have they made? Why? What are they trying to
get the reader to think and feel? Analysing themes allows you to write in detail about a literary text.

In Macbeth there are many themes which could be analysed. Three main ones are:

 ambition and power

 the supernatural
 appearances and reality
Ambition and power in Macbeth

Shakespeare set Macbeth in the distant past and in a part of Britain that few of his audience would
have been familiar with. Scotland is shown as a wild and savage place ruled over by a weak king
(Duncan) who relies on his warrior thanes to keep control. However, through the character of
Macbeth, Shakespeare goes on to show that having too much ambition and total control of power
is just as bad. By the end of the play Malcolm has become King and it seems likely that he will be
much fairer and treat his people justly.
How is this shown in the play?
In Macbeth, William Shakespeare examines the good and bad aspects of ambition and power.
Some of the key aspects are:

 the fatal flaw

 leadership
 greed

Analysing the evidence

MACBETH
If we should fail?
LADY MACBETH
We fail?
But screw your courage to the sticking-place,
And we'll not fail.
Act 1 Scene 7

Question
Who is more ambitious, Macbeth or Lady Macbeth?
Hide answer

 Macbeth has natural ambition but this is reinforced by his meeting with the Witches and by his wife's
persuasive powers.
 Lady Macbeth is ambitious for herself but also on her husband's behalf.
 For Duncan's murder, most of the plan's details are created by Lady Macbeth. Macbeth carries out
the actual murder but Lady Macbeth deals with the cover up.
 The Macbeths act very much as a single unit, though their ambitious natures and their shared guilt
eventually tear their marriage apart. Shakespeare leaves the audience to decide who is more
ambitious.
 How does Evidence Analysis
Shakespeare show
this?
The fatal In a tragic play, the I have no spur / To Macbeth has been thinking about
flaw fatal flaw refers to the prick the sides of my whether or not he should murder
basic mistake in intent, but only / Duncan. He reaches the conclusion
the central Vaulting ambition, that the only thing that is motivating
character's which o'erleaps him (his 'spur') is ambition which he
personality which itself And falls on compares to a horse leaping over an
drives their th'other -- / [Enter obstacle ('vaulting ambition'). As for
actions. Macbeth is Lady Macbeth] / the horse and rider, what is on the
basically a good man How now? What other side of the obstacle is unknown
who goes wrong. He is news? (Act 1 Scene 7) - it could, of course, be disaster.
driven by a need for However, before Macbeth can
power which complete the thought and turn away
eventually sets him on from the crime, he is interrupted by
a path to his own Lady Macbeth entering. Had she not
destruction. His wife appeared at this point, the outcome
shares this fatal flaw might have been different.
with him.
Leaders In Macbeth, The king-becoming Malcolm lists the qualities of a good
hip Shakespeare shows graces - / As justice, king or leader when he is testing
us three very different verity, temp'rance, Macduff's loyalty. As part of the
leaders. Duncan is not stableness, / Bounty, test Malcolm pretends that he
a good king as perseverance, has none of these
although he is kind mercy, lowliness, / qualities either. It is clear is
and generous, he is Devotion, patience, that Macbeth does not have
weak. Macbeth is courage, fortitude - / any of these virtues; if anything
strong but becomes a I have no relish of he displays the absolute opposites.
bullying dictator. them, but abound / Even his courage, clearly reported at
Malcolm seems to In the division of the start of the play, has deserted him
strike a healthy each several crime, / as he terrorises and
balance and combines Acting it many murders those around him.
the good qualities of ways. (Act 4 Scene 3)
both men.
Greed As part of Macbeth's For Banquo's issue As Macbeth completely believes the
ambition he have I filed my Witches' predictions he must also
becomes greedy mind; / For them, believe that Banquo's descendants
and selfish. He the gracious Duncan will inherit the throne after him ('the
cannot accept that have I murdered, / seed of Banquo kings'). He thinks that
Banquo's descendants Put rancours in the everything he has done has ultimately
will become kings after vessel of my been for their benefit ('For Banquo's
him and sets out to peace, / Only for issue have I filed my mind'); he has
alter the prediction by them, and mine even put his soul ('mine eternal jewel')
having Banquo and eternal jewel / Given in danger. His greed means that he
Fleance murdered. He to the common wishes to keep power for
is even unprepared enemy of man, / To himself and his own family. So
to share make them kings, he concludes that the only way
power with his wife the seed of Banquo forward is to try to alter the prediction
as he puts her to one kings. / Rather than by murdering Banquo and Fleance.
side, making secretive so, come Fate into
decisions and the list, / And
apparently not even champion me to
caring when she dies. th'utterance. (Act 3
Scene 1)
Evil and the supernatural in Macbeth

In Shakespeare's time, the powers of evil were thought to be absolutely real; to most
people Hell was an actual place and the Devil a constant threat to their souls. In
particular there was a fascination with witches and witchcraft. Hundreds of innocent
people (mostly women) were executed as suspected witches. The interest came
from the very top, led by King James I himself who published a book on the subject
called Demonology. When Shakespeare came to write his play, he knew that his
audience would find the theme of evil and the supernatural very interesting indeed.
How is this shown in the play?
In Macbeth, William Shakespeare uses evil and the supernatural as a background
to all the events which take place. Some of the key aspects are:

 wicked thoughts and actions

 the activities of the Witches
 the disruption of nature

Question
How does the opening scene of the play set up the theme of evil and the
supernatural?

 The characters are three witches who are mysterious and otherworldly. They speak or
chant with a particular rhythm of their own.
 The scene is set in a wild and unruly place and the Witches are meeting outside in the
middle of a thunderstorm.
 Their language emphasises disruption and that everything is confused and chaotic (eg 'Fair
is foul, and foul is fair').

The characters, setting and language that Shakespeare uses all combine to create a
memorable opening scene which concentrates on evil and the supernatural.
 How does Shakespeare Evidence Analysis
show this?

Wicked The Witches' predictions Present fears / Are less Before the first murder of the
thoughts encourage Macbeth to than horrible play takes place there is a
and think wicked thoughts imaginings. / My slow build up as Macbeth
actions and carry out evil thought, whose murder wrestles with his
deeds. As well as yet is but fantastical, / conscience. The wicked
murder, Macbeth is also Shakes so my single thoughts he has are almost
guilty of lying, deception, state of man that worse than the actual deeds
cowardice, seeking out function / Is smothered ('Present fears / Are less than
further contact with evil in surmise, and nothing horrible imaginings'). He
forces, behaving brutally is, / But what is becomes more concerned with
with both physical and not. (Act 1 Scene 3) what might happen rather
verbal violence and showing than reality ('nothing is, but
a lack of love and concern what is not') and uses evil
for others. methods to achieve his
desires. Once Duncan's
murder has taken place, a line
has been crossed and further
acts of wickedness keep on
coming.

The The Witches' appearance at Her husband's to One of the Witches describes
activities the start of the play in the Aleppo gone, master how a sailor's wife has
of the middle of a thunderstorm o'th'Tiger: / But in a insulted her and how she
Witches (apparently of their own sieve I'll thither sail, / plans to take her revenge ('I'll
creation) sets the tone for And like a rat without a do, I'll do, and I'll do'). She
what is to follow. As well tail, / I'll do, I'll do, and plans to follow his ship (The
as predicting the future, I'll do........ I'll drain him Tiger) and drain the life out of
controlling the weather dry as hay: / Sleep him by not allowing him to
and casting evil shall neither night nor sleep. She is going to keep
spells, they also discuss day / Hang upon his this up for 567 days
the wicked acts they penthouse lid; / He ('sennights nine times nine' or
carry out against shall live a man 7 × 9 × 9). As both Macbeth
ordinary men and forbid. / Weary and, particularly, his wife
women. In a couple of sennights nine times discover, sleep deprivation is
scenes they interact with nine, / Shall he an awful punishment.
Hecate, the goddess of dwindle, peak and
witchcraft. pine. (Act 1 Scene 3)

The The opening of the play The night has been Moments before Macduff
disruptio takes place in the middle of unruly: where we lay, / announces the discovery of
n of a thunderstorm. A further Our chimneys were Duncan's dead body, Lennox
nature storm rages on the night of blown down, and, as talks about events that were
Duncan's murder and many they say, / Lamentings occurring while the murder
highly unnatural heard i'th'air, strange was taking place. These
occurrences are reported screams of death / And include strong winds,
in Act 2 Scene 4. In the prophesying with strange ghostly cries in
final scenes of the play, it accents terrible / Of the night, an owl
seems that the trees have dire combustion and screeching (thought to be a
come to life as Birnam confused events, New bad omen) and even an
Wood moves to Dunsinane hatched to th'woeful earthquake. The natural
and Macbeth is defeated by time. The obscure world has been disturbed
Macduff who was not bird / Clamoured the and disrupted following
 How does Shakespeare Evidence Analysis
show this?

naturally born. livelong night. Some the unnatural killing of a

say, the Earth / Was king.
feverous and did
shake. (Act 2 Scene 3)

Appearances and reality in Macbeth

In Macbeth, things are never quite what they seem. Characters say one thing yet mean
something else and use euphemisms to hide reality. Wicked and violent acts such as murder are
covered up or the blame is shifted onto someone else. The Witches mislead Macbeth, or they at
least make suggestions which allow him to mislead himself. Ghosts, visions and apparitions occur
regularly. All of these things contribute to the many contrasts which exist in the play; almost
nothing is as it should be.
How is this shown in the play?
In Macbeth, Shakespeare examines how appearances can be deceptive and that the reality
behind them is often unpleasant. Some of the key aspects are:

 seeing things
 sleep and dreams
 fake hospitality

Question
How is the theme of appearances and reality presented in the play?

 Through characters' language - Many of the words the characters use have double
meanings, are twisted for a particular purpose or are used to highlight contrasts (eg "So foul
and fair a day I have not seen")
  Through characters' thoughts - The Macbeths have evil intentions and even when they
seem friendly and welcoming are often actually plotting how they can hold onto their power
(eg when Duncan is welcomed into their castle as an honoured guest)
 Through characters' actions - Acts of pure evil are presented as though they are somehow
beneficial to others (eg when Macbeth orders Banquo's death, he suggests to the hired
murderers that it will be of benefit to them)

 How does Shakespeare Evidence Analysis

show this?

Seeing The play is full of Mine eyes are made In one of the most famous scenes
things spirits, ghosts, optical the fools o'th'other in the play, Macbeth sees
illusions and senses, / Or else worth a vision of a dagger just like
visions. While some of all the rest. I see thee the one he is about to use to kill
these are conjured up by still, / And on thy king Duncan. Blood is covering
the Witches, others are as blade and dudgeon the blade and the dudgeon
a result of a guilty gouts of blood, / (handle). Lady Macbeth thinks her
conscience following Which was not so hands are covered in blood. Even
acts of wickedness. This is before. There's no though Macbeth cannot believe
why Macbeth and Lady such thing: / It is the his eyes ('Mine eyes are made the
Macbeth are bloody business which fools o'th'other senses') and
particularly affected. It informs / Thus to mine in reality realises he is having an
is difficult for them to eyes. (Act 2 Scene 1) hallucination ('There's no such
admit to others (or even thing') he is still fascinated by the
each other) what is dagger's appearance.
happening - this might
mean they would be
suspected of madness.

Sleep After the murder of LADY MACBETH: The The Doctor and one of the ladies-
and Duncan has taken place, Thane of Fife had a in waiting observe Lady Macbeth
dreams both Macbeth and his wife. Where is she as she sleepwalks and goes
wife have trouble now? What, will these over events in her mind. She is
sleeping and are hands ne'er be clean? thinking about the murders of
tormented by guilty No more o'that, my Macduff's wife and of King
dreams. Lady Macbeth lord, no more o'that. Duncan and how Macbeth reacted
regularly You mar all with this when he saw Banquo's ghost.
sleepwalks and replays starting. DOCTOR: Go These events all become
events in her mind as she to, go to; You have muddled together in one
tries to wipe away the known what you continuous speech which
memory of what she has should suggests that Lady Macbeth is
done. Eventually she goes not. GENTLEWOMAN: losing her reason. The blood on
mad and she dies, She has spoke what her hands is, of course, not real
probably by committing she should not, I am but in her highly charged
suicide. sure of that. Heaven emotional state she imagines that
knows what she has it is ('What, will these hands ne'er
known. (Act 5 Scene 1) be clean?'). Her unconscious
  How does Shakespeare Evidence Analysis
show this?

words and actions give her

away to the people watching.

Hospitali King Duncan is a guest MACBETH: You know Macbeth subtly reminds his
ty in the Macbeth's home your own degrees, sit guests that they all have a
when they decide to down; at first and last, particular rank ('you know your
murder him. Rather than the hearty own degrees') and that he is at
look after him as good welcome. [The LORDS the top as King. Cleverly he
hosts should do they send sit] LORDS: Thanks to pretends to 'play the humble
him to his grave. Later in your host' to make them less
the play the Macbeths majesty. MACBETH: O suspicious of his motives. The
host a banquet for the ur self will mingle with Macbeths appear to be putting on
other Thanes. They are society and play the a show of solidarity for the
not just being generous - humble host; our Thanes. In fact Macbeth has just
their hidden agenda is to hostess keeps her ordered the murder of one of
get the other nobles to state, but in best time them (Banquo) and has refused
support them. we will require her to tell his wife what he has been
welcome. LADY doing. Their words are very
MACBETH: Pronounce polite and apparently
it for me, sir, to all our warm. The word 'welcome'
friends for my heart appears three times which is
speaks, they are almost overdoing it!
welcome. (Act 3 Scene
4)