Macbeth Themes

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Mind Map on Macbeth Themes, created by cristiano.q982687 on 30/04/2014.
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Mind Map by cristiano.q982687, updated more than 1 year ago
cristiano.q982687
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Resource summary

Macbeth Themes
  1. The Super Natural
    1. Throughout the play many of the main events happen due to the supernatural.
      1. The Witches (The weird sisters)
        1. The reason that Macbeth even entertains the idea of murder is due to the Weird sister's prophecies.
          1. Witches to Macbeth: "All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thank of Cawdor!/ All hail Macbeth! that shalt be king hereafter." (Act 1 sc. 3)
            1. Banquo after the first prophecy comes true: "What, can the devil speak true?" (act 1 sc 3)
            2. The same prophecies also cause Macbeth to have Banquo murdered, as well as believe himself unkillable for a period of time.
          2. Appirations, Dreams, and Nature
            1. Macbeth see several apperations: The dagger pointing him to the murder of Duncan, the Ghost of Banquo after his dimise on Macbeths orders and of course the Weird sisters themselves. He is also unable to say "amen" after commiting the act of murder, unable to connect to God.
              1. Lady Macbeth is unable to be at peace after the murder. She is unable to rest and still believes that her hands are covered in blood.
                1. Nature itself revolts against the murder of Duncan.
                  1. "A falcon tow'ring in her pride of place, was by a mousing owl hawk'd at and kill'd." (Act 2 sc 4)
                    1. This shows that like Macbeth and Duncan, something lower killed something higher in an un-natural turn of events.
            2. Unchecked Ambition
              1. Both Macbeth's and Lady Macbeths uncheked ambition leads them to do several horrible deeds.
                1. Macbeths desire to be king wars with his loyalty to Duncan, to the point where Lady Macbeth is able to convince him to commit the act.
                  1. Lady Macbeth's desire for a higher station drover her to this, as the only way a woman could move up would be through their husbands.
                    1. Lady Macbeth attempting to convince Macbeth when his loyalty wins out: "was the hop drunk , wherein you dresed yourself?" (act 1. sc 7)
                    2. "I have no spur/ To prick the sides of my intent, but only/ Vaulting ambition which o'erleaps itself." (Act ! sc. 7)
                    3. Macbeths ambition also leads him to a falling out with his friend Banquo; he later kills him in an attempt to protect his own power.
                      1. Knowing that there is even the slimmest a chance that Fleance could one day start a line of kings due to his escape enrages Macbeeth.
                  2. Gender
                    1. The theme of Gender is evident through out the play, with several different characters being affected by it.
                      1. Lady Macbeth and the Witches defy their gender expectations by being as cruel as men are often portrayed.
                        1. Hecate: " He shall spurn fate, scorn death and bear his hopes 'bove wisdoms grace..."(Act 2 sc. 5)
                        2. Lady Macbeth makes fun of Macbeth, taunting his masculinity to make him act and kill Duncan
                          1. Lady Macbeth: "And, to be more than what you were, you wouold Be so much more the man." (Act 1. sc. 7)
                          2. Lady Macbeth believes that she must become more masculine in order to become cruel.
                            1. "Unsex me here, and fill me fromcrown to toe top-full of direst cruelty." (Act 1. sc. 5)
                            2. While Shakespeare's known for strong female leads, this play seems to lack one. Interestingly enough not one woman in the play remains alive to the end of it.
                          3. Guilt and Remorse
                            1. In the first few act neither guilt or remorse is ver evident. However as the play continues the two become very evident.
                              1. Lady Macbeth has a strong sense of both guilt and remorse for killing Duncan.
                                1. She is unable to sleep, instead wandering the halls with a lone and murmuring about the deed.
                                  1. She is also constantly washing her hands in an attempt to get image of Duncan's blood off of them.
                                    1. "Will all Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No; this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine making the green one red." (Act 2 sc. 2)
                                    2. She writes the secret on a piece of paper, before locking it away. This signifies her need to keep it hidden dispite the toll its taking on her both physically and mentally.
                                    3. Macbeth can no longer say "amen" after killing Duncan; he is unable to make that connection to God. This is caused my his own innate sense of guilt not wanting God to have knowledge of what he has done.
                                      1. Listening their fear, I could not say, "Amen," when they did say, "Gid bless us." (Act 2 sc. 2)
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