THEMES IN MACBETH

THEMES IN MACBETH

1. AMBITION

   • madness
   • greed
   • sinful
   • fatal flaw (hamartia) and is what makes Macbeth a tragic hero
   • hubris
   • 'vaulting ambition'
   • causes treasonous acts
   • informs idea of tragedy
   • LM initially full of ambition whilst M is unsure in the beginning. This is the opposite at the end
   • Malcolm is an obstacle in the beginning whilst he wants to overthrow Macbeth at the end
     • 'that is a step on which I must fall down or else o'erleap for in my way it lies'

2. VIOLENCE(&REVENGE)

   • blood is a strong symbol of violence throughout the play
     • 'blood will have blood'
   • Macduff gets vengeance for his family
   • revenge on Thane of Cawdor from Duncan
   • 'revenge' on guards after Duncan's murder from Macbeth
   • revenge on Macbeth from children after their fathers are killed eg Malcolm also revenge after children are killed eg Macduff

3. GUILT

   • madness
     • 'is this a dagger I see before me'
   • punishment to self
   • punishment of others
   • 'terrible dreams that shake us nightly'
   • 'hangman's hands'

4. MASCULINITY/FEMININITY

   • women with power and their own thoughts are evil
   • women presented as manipulating
   • hero is strong and brave
     • 'brave Macbeth'
     • 'noble Macbeth'

5. DECEPTION

   • lying to oneself (self deception)
   • lying to others
   • ideas of evil and sin

6. KINGSHIP&POWER(&MISUSE)

   • Duncan and Macbeth are very contrasting rulers
   • Duncan is fair and well liked
     • 'tears shall drown the wind'
   • Macbeth is tyrannical and a bit of a dictator
     • 'fiend of scotland'
   • Macbeth abuses his power as king in the murders

7. APPEARANCE VS REALITY

   • use of dramatic irony
   • false fronts
   • witches promises are an illusion

8. SUPERNATURAL

   • witches
     • 'fair is foul, and foul is fair'
   • ghosts
   • evil - contextual links
   • creates powerful atmosphere
   • links with LM calling on dark forces
   • affects individuals and their temptations differently eg Macbeth vs Banquo

9. CONTROL&MANIPULATION

   • control over Macbeth is only possible due to his ambition
   • LM and witches control him - role of women