Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Macbeth Major Works
Macbeth Major Works
Mrs. Yeakel
In 1603, Scotlands King James VI claimed a foreign throne, and became King James I of
England. With their leader being from Scotland, the populous gained a sudden interest in things
pertaining to that land. This was during the time that Shakespeare was in the middle of his career
for its rulers, such as Queen Elizabeth of England who preceded James. Most likely to appeal to
the king and the popular interest of the civilians at the time, Shakespeare wrote Macbeth, which
is based on the history of Scottish battles, rulers, and struggles for power. Getting his information
from Raphael Holinshed, he heard about stories of: kingly assassinations, slaughters of armies
and families, executions of rebels, and murderous ambushes of nobles. Although these are all
interesting topics for a play, there were also stories about witches and wizards affiliating with
traitors. This plays directly into the interests of Shakespeares new king, who had had witches
executed for treachery. The culmination of Shakespeares great literary ability, association to the
Macbeth was written sometime around the year 1603 (most likely 1606), and was
originally published as quartos, which were smaller sections of the entire piece. They were sold
as small books. Folios (larger collections meant mainly for scholars) were produced later. These
were based on Shakespeares own papers and therefor more reliable. The first collection of all of
Shakespeares work was proven to have some content that was not canon, and many revised
Shakespeare was born in April of 1564 and died in April of 1616. He most likely went to Kings
New School, which taught him literacy (reading and writing, which was not terribly popular at
the time) and classic works. It is assumed that William Shakespeare earned a living as an actor,
which very well could have lead him into the career of playwriting. Shakespeare was part of the
Kings Men acting company and had produced some works of his own by the early 1500s. He
later moved from his hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon to London to pursue hid aspiration to be
a playwright. Not very much else is known about William Shakespeare other than his works as a
Macbeth is a tragedy. Tragedies involve the destruction of the main characters life. Most
mainly tell the story of how this protagonists life ends up in disarray, bringing the reader
through the inevitable struggle of that character. There is usually a tragic flaw to this character,
a characteristic that eventually causes their downfall. Many times the climax is reached with the
death of that main character. Since there was no solution to the problem in the story, it is finally
solved by the characters death. Expectedly, tragedies usually have a dark tone, with few
bursts of comic relief (to further offset the negativity). Morals and themes are still taught and
delivered through these stories, by serving as an example of how things go wrong when people
dont change to solve problems. For this piece, Macbeth eventually dies at the hands of those he
Macbeth
Beginning as the thane of Gladis, protagonist Macbeth is a Scottish general. Soon after
witches tell him he will be promoted all the way up to king, he is deemed thane of Cawdor. To
fulfill this Weird prophecy, he murders the current king Duncan, as well as his fellow general
Banquo to assure no one takes away his control. However, in doing this, it causes the
companions of those befallen by Macbeth to seek vengeance, and eventually bring him to his
death. Macbeth is the main vessel used by Shakespeare to deliver the themes of greed and over-
Lady Macbeth
Being an antagonist, Lady Macbeth causes trouble for Macbeth by convincing him to kill
Duncan in the first place. It is possible that in doing this she (along with the witches) represents
the concept of temptation. Later in the story, when the consequence of the murders start to take
effect, she delves deeply into madness and guilt, and eventually commits suicide. The general
effect of the character is that of greed. She was worse than Macbeth in the beginning,
disregarding the lives of others if it promised more power, and ended up much worse than him,
dead.
Banquo
The fellow general of Macbeth. The witches prophesied that his children would inherit
the throne. Instead of attempting to force that prophecy to come into fruition, such as Macbeth
did, Banquo refused to trust the witches and did no such thing. Banquos character can serve as
Macbeth could have been. This further advances Macbeths despair and madness, causing him to
desperately cling to the throne. Banquos son, Fleance is not murdered by those set out to kill
Banquo, and may have later gained the throne as the witches predicted.
Three Witches
These three only cause foulness in the story. They meet in bad weather, signifying that
they are bad characters. Later they initialize the murder of King Duncan by Macbeth. They also
misguide him by making him believe that he would not die, when their prophecy in fact did
come true and caused his death. Resembling the three Fates of mythology, they disrespect and
enjoy messing with people. The witches too represent temptation and pride.
Duncan (King)
The Scottish king that Macbeth murders. Duncan represents a king of good virtue, and
when Macbeth kills him, it signifies an end to that reliable power. Order is again restored
Malcom
Following the murder of his father, King Duncan, Malcom flees to England, only to come
back with an army and seize the Scottish kingdom to reclaim the throne in his fathers name.
Malcom returning at all signifies how there was always a possibility of Macbeth losing his
control. Order is restored in Scotland and in nature when Macbeth is removed from power and
Macduff
Macbeth. While pursuing vengeance on Macbeth for murdering his family, he makes possible
the reinstatement of Duncans bloodline to the throne. He represents how theres always a
Setting:
The story Macbeth is based on occurred in Scotland in the 11th century. The story of
Macbeth expands on that, stretching the already-intriguing history into a tragedy. Most of the
story in Macbeth takes place in Macbeths home as a nobleman and later as king. There are some
sections in various places such as the battlefield where the generals Macbeth and Banquo
The major theme of Macbeth is greed (especially associated with power). Macbeth, in
pursuit of gaining higher authority, kills his king and his guards, then kills his comrade Banquo
to prevent his sons from taking over the kingship in the future. In this mad grab for power, his
physical and mental health diminish, as he starts hallucinating and developing insomnia.
Further shown with Lady Macbeth, her worse hunger for power eventually weighs on her
substantially enough for her to commit suicide. Another theme included in Macbeth is the
corruption of power. Having begun a general, Macbeth knows most about battle. This
background makes it easier for him to kill in order to achieve his goals. After ascending to the
title of king, it is promptly removed and replaced with that of tyrant, for his subjects in no way
trust him as a leader after finding out what he has done. Macbeth also descends to some level of
madness during his reign. It is for these reasons that many other noblemen and foreign armies
aim and succeed to remove him from power. One more possible theme shown in Macbeth is the
problems associated with worrying too much. Macbeth does all things possible to ensure that he
keeps the throne, and in those very acts causes himself to lose it.
A major symbol in Macbeth is blood. Macbeth first hallucinates a bloody dagger, then
exclaims how his blood could not be washed away by all the oceans. Blood symbolizes the guilt
of the two, how it cannot be washed away. Weather is also a symbol used in Macbeth. The
witches meet in bad weather, and it is storming when King Duncan is killed.
Act I:
Macbeth: Stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires. The eye wink at the
hand, yet let that be which the eye fears, when it is done, do see. (1.4)
This quote marks a serious changing point for the character of Macbeth. Up to this point
he has been quizzical of what the witches said, but now he is making it known to the audience
that deep down in his heart he wants to do something bad (kill Duncan). This is essentially when
he officially begins his path of destruction as well as self-destruction. He also isnt proud of
wanting these things since he tells the stars to leave him in the dark and doesnt want to look at
Lady Macbeth: 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! Make thick my blood; stop up the access to
passage and remorse, that no compunctions of visitings of nature shake my fell purpose. (1.5)
In a similar manner to her husband, Lady Macbeth makes a commitment to her foul
desires. She says that she doesnt want to be scared or remorseful. Not showing any signs of
guilt, it can be determined that her character serves as a contrast to Macbeths remorseful evil,
Lady Macbeth: Art thou so afeard to be the same in thine own act and valour as thou art in
desire? Wouldst thou have that which thou esteemst the ornament of life, and live a coward in
thine own esteem, letting I dare not wait upon I would? (1.7)
Appealing to the human fear of inaction, Lady Macbeth urges Macbeth to take action to
avoid later regret and kill Duncan. Through this, Lady Macbeth is delivering the concept of
temptation. It also shows that Macbeth most likely isnt totally evil, because he needs a
Act II:
Macbeth: I this a dagger which I see before me, the handle toward my own hand? Come, et me
clutch thee. I have thee not, and yet I see thee still. Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible to feeling
as to sight? Or art thou but a dagger of the mind, a false creation, proceed from the heat-opressed
brain? (2.1)
In this scene Macbeth experiences his first of many hallucinations, this one being of a
bloody dagger. This firstly foreshadows the upcoming event of Duncans murder. It is also the
first use of the recurring symbol of blood, which represents his guilt. He is essentially being
warned that the murder he is considering is bad, but in deciding to do so, Macbeths character
Macbeth: Will all great Neptunes ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this my
hand will rather the multitudinous sea incarnadine, making the green one red. (2.2)
Having murdered King Duncan, Macbeth is talking about the blood on his hands, and
says that they couldnt be washed off with the whole ocean, and that they would turn the whole
ocean red. This, of course not being true, shows that Macbeth has embraced the symbol of blood
and uses it himself. The quote foreshadows that his guilt will never go away, but instead affect
Conversely, Lady Macbeth says the opposite, and in doing so clearly makes known her
heart: unremorseful. This in a sense is also ironic because eventually, Lady Macbeth becomes
Act III:
Lady Macbeth: Tis safer to be that which we destroy than by destruction dwell in doubtful
joy, (3.2)
Not all too much later than she shows that her character is hard-set on evil, this quote
shows a large dynamic shift in the character. She says that she would rather be the ones killed
than live in fear of being ousted or regret of having killed someone. This also serves as
foreshadowing, as the two eventually cause their own destruction (especially Lady Macbeth, who
kills herself).
Macbeth: Thou canst not say I did it: never shake thy gory locks at me. (3.4)
In the scene surrounding this quote, Macbeth sees Banquos ghost at his party, and
exclaims out towards it. This is the first sign of Macbeths dissension into emotional turmoil, as
Macbeth: more shall they speak; for now I am bent to know, by the worst means, the worst. For
Another shift in Macbeths character. Now stating that he will do anything to benefit
from the situation, he signals his final commitment to his past and future evil deeds. The theme
of greed is expressed here especially because his character, who was previously filled with regret
about doing such bad things, ignores that and decides to embrace human selfishness.
Act IV:
Macbeth: Then live, Macduff: what need I fear of thee? But yet Ill make assurance double sure,
and take a bond of fate: thou shalt not live; that I may tell pale-hearted fear it lies, and sleep in
The last sentence demonstrates that weather is a symbol in this story. By thunder
Macbeth means a bad situation. This entire quote he says when hes meeting with the three
witches, and it signals his trust in them. There was bad weather and thunder before they met, so
this means he is further committing to evil and the path he is on (again in contrast to Banquos
character).
Macbeth: Infected be the air whereon the ride; and damnd all those that trust them. (4.1)
Ironically, Macbeth essentially foreshadows his own demise. He says that all who trust
Malcom: A good and virtuous nature may recoil in an imperial charge. (4.3)
Actually stating a main theme of the work, Malcom shows that people in the story (and
all people) are aware that power corrupts even good people.
Act V:
Like the previous quote, these two characters demonstrate how people can see through
corrupted power. The civilians under Macbeths rule now call him a tyrant instead of a king,
signaling how he will (and all but has) lost the throne.
Macbeth: Where gotst thou that goose look?
Servant: There is ten thousand-
Macbeth: Geese, villain!
Servant: Soldiers, sir. (5.3)
One of the only examples of comic relief in the story, this quote shows how Macbeth has
now become paranoid in his despair to the point of it being humorous. This also lightens the
mood, which likely signals that there will be a very dark mood soon following. This is a
This remark is that of a last effort to preserve authority. Although Macbeth must know he
is going to lose, he vows to fight against his dethroning until his death. This is the ultimate
commitment to his own greed, and the promise to the audience that Macbeth will soon hereafter