Themes in Macbeth for English Lit students

1. Themes in Macbeth
Starter: Create a mind map

2. Ambition
• Macbeth’s Hamartia
• Macbeth: “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only
vaulting ambition, which o’erleaps itself and falls on th’ other.”
(Act 1, Scene 7)
• Describing his lack of motivation and calculation. Ambition is the only
thing that drives him
• The ambition goes unchecked by moral constraints

3. Masculinity and Cruelty
• Lady Macbeth - Shakespeare’s critique of a patriarchal society
• Patriarchal society designs a women’s intelligence as a flaw and an
indicator that she is going against her natural duty as a woman
• “Come, you spirits/ That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here,
/And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full /Of direst cruelty.” Act 1
Sc 5
Macbeth’s response to idea of committing regicide – “I dare do all that
may become a man – who dares do more is none” Act 1 Scene VII
Taking masculine ideals too far no longer makes a man strong.

4. Divine Right of Kings
• God has appointed the King
• Macbeth goes against the divine right of kings and the will of God when he
commits regicide in order to usurp the throne
• James I was the patron of Shakespeare's company, so we could argue that
Shakespeare portrays Duncan's murder as an act against God in order to
please his king and patron.
• Chain of being – a common belief at the time which Shakespeare also
believes in. Macbeth breaks this
• The consequence of this is their guilt – can be seen as God’s punishment
Violence breeds Violence

5. Kingship and Tyranny
• Duncan is a virtuous person but weak king – too trusting
• Macbeth and lady Macbeth see him as a father figure
• Macbeth is the total opposite kind of ruler to Duncan – he is sceptical and
acts only in his own interests
• Malcom – presented as a good middle ground between Macbeth and
Duncan
• King James I saw himself as an absolute king but also believed he had
responsibility to rule responsibly
• Macbeth was written to appeal to King James I interests. This is reflected in
the balance between good and evil kingship. Shakespeare shares King
James’ conclusion that balancing authority and fairness is the best way to
rule

6. Psychology of Guilt
• Shakespeare strongly conveys the message that the guild of
committing bad deeds will haunt us
• This vision is conveyed by Shakespeare both artistically (through the
dramatic scenes of regret) and politically, as a warning to the king
• “Is this a dagger which I see before me”
• Macbeth speaks this famous soliloquy when he is taken over by
his guilt and growing insanity for killing Duncan. His
imagination brings forth the picture of a dagger in front of him,
which symbolises the impending murder.

7. Reality is Ambiguous
• The ways in which reality and appearance can be manipulated and altered is facilitated
by Shakespeare’s use of the supernatural. From Witches and spells to hallucinations of
knives, blood and ghosts, the chaotic atmosphere and mental instability of the main
characters is central to the play.
• , “Fair is foul, and foul is fair,” (1.1), the use of the conjunction “and” shows both good
and bad can exist at the same time. Even the weather is reflective of this, as Macbeth
declares “So foul and fair a day I have not seen”.
• Shakespeare uses the Witches to show how human greed makes us vulnerable to
deception and betrayal. Early after their meeting with the Witches, Banquo reminds
Macbeth, “Oftentimes, to win us to our harm, / The instruments of darkness tell us
truths; / Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s / In deepest consequences,” (1.3). This
shows that humans can be easily fooled by lies if they are given with small truths. These
contradictions confuse us and lead us astray.