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Macbeth Key Points

English 2021

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 Ambition
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o Our initial impression is of a brave and capable
warrior.
o His physical courage is joined by a consuming
ambition and a tendency to self-doubt—the
prediction that he will be king brings him joy,
but it also creates inner turmoil.
o These three attributes—bravery, ambition, and
self-doubt—struggle for mastery of Macbeth
throughout the play.
o We may classify Macbeth as irrevocably evil.
Guilt
o He fluctuates between fits of fevered action, in which
he plots a series of murders to secure his throne, and
moments of terrible guilt (as when Banquo’s ghost
appears) and absolute pessimism (after his wife’s
death, when he seems to succumb to despair).
o These fluctuations reflect the tragic tension within
Macbeth: he is at once too ambitious to allow his
conscience to stop him from murdering his way to the
top and too conscientious to be happy with himself as
a murderer
His End
o With the English army at his gates, he can finally
return to life as a warrior, and he displays a kind of
reckless bravado as his enemies surround him and
drag him down.
o This stems from his fatal confidence in the witches’
prophecies, but it also seems to derive from the fact
that he has returned to the arena where he has been
most successful.
o It begins with Macbeth winning on the battlefield
and ends with him dying in combat.

Macbeth

Quotes
o Macbeth’s soliloquy in Act I, Scene 3 shows him trying to puzzle out the implications of the Witches’ prophecy. He reasons that since what the Witches predicted turned out to be
correct, it cannot be evil (he’s wrong). But Macbeth also admits that because of their prediction, he’s already begun to fantasize about killing King Duncan and taking the throne.
o The soliloquy in Act 1, Scene 7 - Macbeth struggles with whether he should murder Duncan. Macbeth also acknowledges that his role as Duncan’s host and subject is to protect
his king, not murder him in his sleep. Macbeth senses that the murder will change his life, by making him king, but also by unleashing his dark ambition on the world. By the end
of the speech, he seems to have decided against the murder, but his wife will soon talk him back into it.
o Act 2, Scene marks the first time he hallucinates. Macbeth is aware that the floating knife he sees is not really there. The fact that he is troubled enough to hallucinate, yet still
sane enough to understand that he is hallucinating, can be contrasted with his later mental state, when he fully believes he sees Banquo’s ghost, even though Lady Macbeth tells
him no one is there.

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 Quotes
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o Lady Macbeth gives a soliloquy in Act 1, scene 5, while waiting for o
King Duncan to arrive at her castle. She’s determined that Duncan
must be murdered and asks for help from the spirits to give her the
courage she needs to kill him. The references she makes to being
female reveal that she feels her natural womanhood may keep her
from acting cruelly, so she demands that they be removed.
o “I laid their daggers ready: he could not miss ‘em. Had he not
resembled my father as he slept, I had done’t” - This speech in Act 2,
scene 2 reveals that Lady Macbeth has not helped kill Duncan and
that Duncan’s resemblance to her father prevented her from killing
him.
Gender
Her husband implies that she is a masculine soul
inhabiting a female body, which seems to link
masculinity to ambition and violence.
o Shakespeare seems to use her, and the witches, to
undercut Macbeth’s idea that “undaunted mettle should
compose / Nothing but males” (1.7.73–74).
o Women, the play implies, can be as ambitious and cruel
as men, yet social constraints deny them the means to
pursue these ambitions on their own.
Guilt
o It takes Lady Macbeth’s steely sense of purpose to
push Macbeth to kill Duncan.
o After the murder, however, her powerful personality
begins to disintegrate, leaving Macbeth increasingly
alone.
o Lady Macbeth begins a slow slide into madness—
just as ambition affects her more strongly than
Macbeth before the crime, so does guilt plague her
more strongly afterward

Lady Macbeth &

Supernatural
The Witches
o The audience is left to ask whether the witches are independent agents
toying with human lives, or agents of fate, whose prophecies are only
reports of the inevitable.
o The witches bear a striking and obviously intentional resemblance to the
Fates, female characters in both Norse and Greek mythology who weave
the fabric of human lives and then cut the threads to end them.
o Some of their prophecies seem self-fulfilling. For example, it is doubtful
that Macbeth would have murdered his king without the push given by the
witches’ predictions. In other cases, though, their prophecies are just
remarkably accurate readings of the future—it is hard to see Birnam Wood
coming to Dunsinane as being self-fulfilling in any way.
Quotes
o The play opens with the Witches greeting each other in Act I, scene 1. From the opening, the dark
and disturbing tone of the play is clear. The Witches speak easily of warfare as something to
watch avidly until it’s time to meet with their newest victim: Macbeth
o “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”. This foreshadows that the all is not what it seems as the play is
plagued with deception from many characters, including the prophecies given by the witches.
o In Act 1, Scene 3, the first Witch calls him “thane of Glamis,” (already his title) but then the
Witches call him “thane of Cawdor” and “king hereafter”. This prophesises that he will be
promoted to thane of Cawdor and then king.
o in Act 1 scene 3, Banquo asks what his future holds. The witches tell him he’ll be lesser than
Macbeth but grater, less happy than Macbeth but far happier, and predict that Banquo will never
be king, but his descendants will be.

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Banquo & Macduff
Banquo’s Journey
o Duncan acknowledges Banquo as “no less deserved” of praise than Macbeth, but
from the beginning of the play Banquo is overshadowed by Macbeth’s
accomplishments and ambition.
o Banquo asks for a prophecy from the Witches, too, and is pleased to learn that his
children will rule Scotland.
o Banquo seems unable to understand the cost of the Witches’ prophecy will be his
life. In Act III, murderers kill Banquo at Macbeth’s command, and try to kill Fleance.
o Soon after his death, Banquo appears in the form of a ghost at the banquet.
o At play’s end, Banquo’s greatest import remains offstage: his son, Fleance, who
could come back to revenge his father’s death and take the throne of Scotland,
fulfilling the Witches’ prophecy.
Macduff’ Journey
o At the beginning of the play, Macduff is a loyal and brave noble
fighting on Duncan’s side. He immediately distrusts Macbeth’s
claim that Duncan was killed by his servants and refuses to go to
Macbeth’s coronation.
o Macbeth arranges for murderers to kill Macduff’s wife and
children, after Macduff has already fled to England
o Macduff’s decision to abandon his family is never fully explained,
and seems hard to justify, given their brutal murders. But Macduff
is deeply motivated by his wife and sons’ deaths, and he speaks
several times in the play about how he must revenge them.
o His mission to place Malcolm on the throne of Scotland reflects
his desire to have the true monarch ruling.
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Duncan & Malcolm
Duncan
o The king of Scotland should be a figurehead of order and orderliness, and Duncan is the
epitome, or supreme example, of this.
o His language is formal and his speeches full of grace and graciousness, and concerns
matters of honor.
o When greeting his kind hostess Lady Macbeth in Act I, Scene 6. Duncan also expresses
humility when he admits his failure in spotting the previous Thane of Cawdor's treachery:
"There's no art to find the mind's construction in the face" (I: 4,11).
o Most importantly, Duncan is the representative of God on earth, ruling by divine right, a
feature of kingship strongly endorsed by King James I, for whom the play was performed
in 1606.
o This "divinity" of the king is made clear on several occasions in the play, most notably
when Macbeth talks of the murdered Duncan as having "silver skin lac'd with . . . golden
blood" (Act II, Scene 3).
o The importance of royal blood, that is, the inheritance of the divine right to rule, is
emphasised when, in the final scene, Duncan's son Malcolm takes the title of king, with
the words "by the grace of Grace / We will perform.“
o However, Duncan’s fatal flaw is his trust in his subjects. As he believes strongly in loyalty
and trust, it makes it possible for Macbeth to murder him.
Malcolm
o With his brother Donalbain, Malcolm quickly ascertains the danger of remaining in
Scotland and flees the country (Act II, Scene 3).
o By the time he reappears, in Act IV, Scene 3, he has won the support of Edward the
Confessor (king of England), he has mobilized troops under Northumberland and
Siward.
o If Macduff is the stereotypical revenger, Malcolm is the embodiment of all that is good
in kingship, and this is seen particularly in Act IV, Scene 3, in which he tests the
allegiance of Macduff.
o His testing of Macduff, although dramatically longwinded, is psychologically accurate.
By pretending to be what he is not, he hopes to coax from Macduff a confession of his
loyalty. This feature of his character — playing a part in order to strengthen the
prospect of good — is in stark contrast to Macbeth, who plays a part in order to
advance his own evil.
o In the final scene of the play, Malcolm is presented as the future king. His use of the
phrase "by the grace of Grace" indicates the importance that he attaches to the service
of good and reminds the audience of his direct descent from one who ruled by divine
right, as opposed to Macbeth, who usurped the throne. Like his father Duncan,
Malcolm is the representative of order.
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 Guilt Children Cruelty & Masculinity
o o For both Macbeth and Banquo, children represent the idea of o Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband by questioning his manhood,
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Macbeth’s guilt over his actions results in
hallucinations. the continuation of a family line. wishes that she herself could be “unsexed,” and does not contradict
o Lady Macbeth also hallucinates and o Macbeth has Banquo murdered in hopes of thwarting the Macbeth when he says that a woman like her should give birth only to
eventually goes insane from guilt over Witches’ prophecy that Banquo will sire a long line of kings. boys.
her role in Duncan’s death. o Fleance is able to escape being killed, leaving open the o Macbeth provokes the murderers he hires to kill Banquo by questioning
o This suggests that although they commit possibility he will one day take over the throne. their manhood. Such acts show that both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
terrible crimes, they know, on some o Lady Macbeth references having been a mother once, equate masculinity with naked aggression and conversing about manhood
level, that what they’ve done is wrong. saying, “I have given suck, and know / How tender ‘tis to results in violence.
o Their guilt prevents them from fully love the babe that milks me. “ This line suggests the o Women are also sources of violence and evil. The witches’ prophecies
enjoying the power they craved. Lady Macbeths may have lost a child. spark Macbeth’s ambitions and then encourage his violent behavior;
Macbeth says “What’s done/ cannot be o Macduff mourns the children Macbeth ordered killed and Lady Macbeth provides the brains and the will behind her husband’s
undone” in Act Five scene one, but her Siward laments the loss of his son, but is proud to have plotting; and the only divine being to appear is Hecate, the goddess of
guilt continues to torment her. fathered such a brave soldier. witchcraft., 
o Macbeth’s guilt causes him to commit o Lady Macbeth’s behavior certainly shows that women can be as
further murders in an attempt to cover up ambitious and cruel as men. Whether because of the constraints of her
his initial crimes, Lady Macbeth’s guilt society or because she is not fearless enough to kill.
drives her to insanity, and, finally, o In the scene where Macduff learns of the murders of his wife and child,
suicide. Themes Malcolm consoles him by encouraging him to take the news in “manly”
fashion, by seeking revenge upon Macbeth.
o To Malcolm’s suggestion, “Dispute it like a man,” Macduff replies, “I
shall do so. But I must also feel it as a man” (4.3.221–223).
Ambition o At the end of the play, Siward receives news of his son’s death rather
o The main theme is the destruction wrought when ambition goes unchecked by moral constraints. complacently. Malcolm responds: “He’s worth more sorrow [than you
o Macbeth is a courageous Scottish general who is not naturally inclined to commit evil deeds, yet he deeply have expressed] / And that I’ll spend for him” (5.8.16–17).
desires power and advancement. o Malcolm’s comment shows that he has learned the lesson Macduff gave
o He kills Duncan against his better judgment and afterward stews in guilt and paranoia. him on the sentient nature of true masculinity. It also suggests that, with
o Toward the end of the play, he descends into a kind of frantic, boastful madness. Malcolm’s coronation, order will be restored to the Kingdom of Scotland.
o Lady Macbeth, on the other hand, pursues her goals with greater determination, yet she is less capable of
withstanding the repercussions of her immoral acts.
o In each case, ambition is what drives the couple to ever more terrible atrocities.
o The play suggests that once one decides to use violence to further one’s quest for power, it is difficult to
stop.
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 Tyranny & Kingship Sin & Retribution
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o Duncan is always referred to as a “king,” while Macbeth soon o Macbeth is worried about what he is about to do because of that fear of retribution, but his yearning to be king is so
becomes known as the “tyrant.” powerful that he’s willing to make the exchange.
o In order to test Macduff’s loyalty to Scotland, Malcolm o Macbeth decides to kill the king and does. But this is more than a crime. It is a grave sin: he kills his cousin, the king
pretends that he would make an even worse king than who has been chosen by God. So the crimes are against family, state, trust. His responsibility as a host was to protect
Macbeth. his guest, so murdering him is a massive betrayal.
o The model king, then, offers the kingdom an embodiment of o Macbeth concludes that it would be alright if it weren’t for the ‘life to come.’ If he could skip that… but he knows he
order and justice, but also comfort and affection. Under him, can’t. If he murders Duncan the hereafter will be waiting for him. Retribution is certain and it will be in proportion to
subjects are rewarded according to their merits, as when his sin.
Duncan makes Macbeth thane of Cawdor after Macbeth’s o We are reminded of the presence of Hell all through the play, in the events and in the imagery. The evil sisters, the
victory over the invaders. witches, are a constant presence, guiding Macbeth towards his destruction. Glamys, the castle of the Macbeths has a
o Macbeth brings only chaos to Scotland—symbolised in the hellish atmosphere created by the language of Lady Macbeth – its “thick night,” its “murdering ministers,”  its
bad weather and bizarre supernatural events—and offers no “dunnest smoke of hell,” its blanket of darkness.
real justice, only a habit of capriciously murdering those he At the end of the play, Macbeth receives his punishment for the crime – he is decapitated by Macduff – but the divine
sees as a threat. retribution expresses itself in guilt, insomnia, paranoia and the fear of what is to come.
o As Macbeth is the embodiment of tyranny, he must be
overcome by Malcolm so that Scotland can have a true king
once more.
Themes
Appearance Versus Reality
Nature o In the first moments of the play we see the witches chanting “Fair is foul and foul is fair.”  That’s the
o By disrupting the social and political order by murdering Duncan, statement of this theme. Things that seem good will be bad and things that seem bad will be good.
nature goes haywire – storms rage, earth tremors, animals’ o When Duncan arrives at Glamys he comments on how lovely it is. Banquo, who is traveling with him says,
behaviour changes. “the heaven’s breath smells wooingly here,” but it is far from a heaven Lady Macbeth has just finished
o The unnatural events of the physical world emphasise the horror of describing it as a hell, and indeed, that’s what it turns out to be, with conspiracy and murder.
o Lady Macbeth says one should “look like the innocent flower but be the serpent under it.”
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s actions, mirroring the warping of
o Macbeth is confused by the witches  – they seem to be women but they have beards. They are not what they
their souls.
o seem. Then they set out something that seems quite simple, clear, and attractive – that he will be king. But it’s
Malcolm and Duncan use nature metaphors when speaking of
not simple and clear, and in fact, it’s chaotic, and he will have to be disloyal and commit several crimes to
kinship – they see themselves as gardeners and wants to wake their
achieve it.
realm grow. o On his way to kill Duncan Macbeth sees a dagger, but it’s not real. As Donalbain puts it “there’s daggers in
o Macbeth and Lady Macbeth talk of hiding from nature – or using men’s smiles,”
it to hide their cruel desires – being the serpent hiding beneath an
innocent flower. 7
 Hallucinations
o
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Visions and hallucinations serve as reminders of
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s joint culpability
for the growing body count.
o When he is about to kill Duncan, Macbeth sees
a dagger floating in the air. Covered with blood
and pointed toward the king’s chamber
o The dagger represents the bloody course on
which Macbeth is about to embark.
o Banquo’s ghost sitting in a chair at a feast
mutely reminds him that he murdered his
former friend.
o Lady Macbeth begins to sleepwalk and believes
that her hands are stained with blood that cannot
be washed away
o The Macbeths read the hallucinations as
Ill-Fitting Clothes
o The robes of kingship hinder Macbeth; they symbolize his
unsuitability for the role he has assumed since he has taken over a
role that rightly belongs to another
o Clothes can be seen as representing a title or status of power.
o Within the midst of act 1 scene 3, Ross and Angus say to Macbeth
that he is now the Thane of Cawdor.
o Macbeth is confused as he believes the former Thane is still alive
and he asks why they both are dressing him in ‘borrowed robes?’.
The robes represent the title of Thane and Macbeth believes that the
‘robes’ do not belong to him.
o Later in the play, Angus claims that Macbeth’s title as king is ‘ill
fitting…like a giant’s robe / Upon a dwarfish thief’.
Blood
o The opening battle between the Scots and the
Norwegian invaders is described in harrowing
terms by the wounded captain in Act 1, scene 2.
o Once Macbeth and Lady Macbeth embark upon
their murderous journey, blood comes to
symbolize their guilt that sits like a permanent
stain on the consciences.
o Ocean wash this blood / Clean from my hand?”
Macbeth cries after he has killed Duncan
o Lady Macbeth later comes to share his horrified
sense of being stained: “Out, damned spot; out, I
say . . . who would have thought the old man to
have had so much blood in him?” she asks as she
wanders through the halls of their castle near the
close of the play (5.1.30–34). .

Motifs & Symbols

supernatural signs of their guilt.

Violence Weather Prophecy

o o o The weird sisters make a number of prophecies:
Most of the killings take place offstage, but throughout the From the thunder and
play, the characters provide the audience with gory lightning that accompany the  Macbeth will first become thane of Cawdor and then king
descriptions of the carnage, witches’ appearances to the  Banquo’s heirs will be kings
o In the opening scene the captain describes Macbeth and terrible storms that rage on the  Macbeth should beware Macduff,
Banquo wading in blood on the battlefield, night of Duncan’s murder,  Macbeth is safe till Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane
o There is constant reference to the bloodstained hands of these violations of the natural  No man born of woman can harm Macbeth.
o It is left deliberately ambiguous whether some of them are self-fulfilling—for
Macbeth and his wife. order reflect corruption in the
o The action is bookended by a pair of bloody battles: in the moral and political orders example, whether Macbeth wills himself to be king or is fated to be king.
o As the Birnam Wood and “born of woman” prophecies make clear, the
first, Macbeth defeats the invaders; in the second, he is slain
and beheaded by Macduff. In between is a series of murders prophecies must be interpreted as riddles, since they do not always mean what
they seem to mean. 8