Themes in Macbeth

Themes in Macbeth

1. kingship

   • context: Jacobean audiences believed the rightful king was chosen by God and looked upon the king as equal to God this also meant they believed the king had the power to see the future
   • Duncan- rightful king- 'gracious' (Macbeth a3s1), inspires loyalty, seen as a 'most sainted king'- rightful ruler of Scotland- under his rightful reign the country is ordered and peaceful- executes his power righteously by rewarding those who are loyal and punishing those who are disloyal- names his son as the next king, responsible, preventing the political chaos that resulted when Macbeth killed him- too trusting and dependant of his Thanes- poor judge of character- noble, Macbeth says even the angels will mourn him and 'tears shall drown the wind'
   • Macbeth-described as a 'tyrant'- rules selfishly using violence- rarely referred to as a 'king' showing other characters don't accept him as the true king- 'devilish' and talks to witches- has to use the witches to see the future- not chosen by God- goes against God by killing Duncan
   • A bad king is...…. 'bloody, luxurious, avaricious, false, deceitful, sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin that has a name'- Malcom's describing Macbeths reign - 'avaricious' as he is motivated by selfish greed, he lies making him 'false' and 'deceitful', he is 'bloody' because he uses violence in an attempt to control people
   • A good king has...….. 'king-becoming graces, as justice, verity, temperance, stableness, bounty, perseverance, mercy, lowliness, devotion, patience, courage, fortitude'- Malcom could be describing Duncan- Duncan shows 'temperance' in his calm peaceful manner, 'lowliness' in his gratefulness for loyalty, 'justice' when dealing with those who betray him and 'bounty' in his generosity

2. bravery

   • Act 1 Scene 2 Captain 'Brave Macbeth, well he deserves that name'
     • Act 1 Scene 2- 'disdaining fortune, with his brandish'd steel', 'which smocked with bloody execution', 'like valour's minion carved out his passage ' 'till he faced the slave'
   • Act 5 Scene 8- Macbeths last words 'Before my body I throw my warlike shield. Lay on, Macduff/ And damn'd be him that first cries, 'Hold, enough''- 'but bare like I must fight'- Macbeth shows bravery right in the moments before his death
   • Macbeth- Act 1 Scene7- 'I dare do all that may become a man, who dares do more is done'
   • Lady Macbeth- Act 1 Scene 5- 'Yet I do fear thy nature/ It is too full o'th'milk of human kindness'
   • Macbeth- becomes a tyrant but still says 'I'll fight till from my bones my flesh be hack'd'
   • Lady Macbeth- Act 2 Scene 2- 'infirm of purpose! Give me the daggers!'

3. fear

   • Act 2 Scene 3- Malcom and Donaldbain fear Macbeth as they fear they will also get killed if they stay in Scotland- 'the near in blood/ The nearer bloody'
   • Macbeth fears the consequences of his actions in Act 1 Scene 7- 'bloody instruction to plague the inventor'
   • Macbeth fear Banquo- Act 3 Scene 1- 'our fears in Banquo stick deep'
   • Banquo fears Macbeth- Act 3 Scene 1- 'I fear thou plays't most foully for it'

4. deception

   • Duncan- Act 1 Scene 4- 'There's no art/ To find the mind's construction in the face'- Ironic- says you should be cautious as you cant see peoples true feelings from their face but trusts Macbeth who betrays him In the most torturous way
   • Lady Macbeth- Act 1 Scene 5- 'Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under't'
   • Malcom- Act 3 Scene 3- 'To show an unfelt sorrow is an office/ The false man does easy' + Donaldbain- Act 2 Scene 3- 'There are daggers in men's smiles'
   • Macbeth- Act 5 Scene 8- 'these juggling fiends no more believ'd/ That palter with us in a double sense'
   • Equivocation used by Lady Macbeth and the witches to deceive Macbeth throughout the play- 'fair is foul and foul is fair'

5. control

   • Lady Macbeth controls Macbeth at the beginning of the play- Act 1 Scene 5- 'That I may pour my spirits in thine ear'
   • Macbeth uses violence to try and control people as the play progresses- also tries to use violence to control his future- killing Duncan and Banquo and trying to kill Fleance- Killing Macduff's family to try and make him return to Scotland
   • Lady Macbeth tries to control Macbeth through manipulation- manipulates him into killing Duncan in Act 1 Scene 7 even after he says he wont do it by playing on his masculinity- 'when you durst do it then you were a man' - 'Screw your courage to the sticking-place'
   • Lady Macbeth tries to take back control of the situation in Act 3 scene 4 even when she herself is unsure of what it happening- 'my lord is often thus' , once again questions his masculinity in an attempt to control him 'are you a man?'
   • Lady Macbeth eventually looses all control which is one of the factors that leads her to commit suicide
   • Who had control over Macbeth's mind- the witches? lady Macbeth? himself?