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SIX MAJOR THEMES OF MACBETH

Ambition

Ambition

Ambition plays a key factor for the reason behind Macbeth's and Lady Macbeth's decision to murder King Duncan. Ever since they heard the witches prophecy that Macbeth will be King, a temptation had risen in Macbeth's mind to kill Duncan and become the King as fast as he could. He is so much driven by his evil ambitions to get to the throne that he goes to the extent of not just killing Duncan, but more people including his good friend Banquo.

In the beginning Macbeth was reluctant to resort to violence however, with prompting from Lady Macbeth, he slides down the slippery slope of sacrificing others for his own ends. Lady Macbeth manipulates and speaks about her know philosophy that power comes only to those who will set aside moral concerns!

Appearance and Reality

Another significant theme in the play is the disparity between appearance and reality. How people perceive things, what their eyes see and what their own biases permit them to believe, is apparent throughout Macbeth. Even as the play opens, the witches speak to this theme, including nothing is what it may seem

Deception is a major part of Macbeth, which involves murder and cover-ups. When Macbeth kills Duncan, Lady Macbeth tells him they must both dress in their night clothes in order to appear innocent.

Lady Macbeth directly describes the importance of appearance and deception in Act I when she says the following:

Appearance &reality

QUOTE 1

THE WITCHES

Fair is foul, and foul is fair

QUOTE 1

QUOTE 2

LADY MACBETH

"To beguile the time, Look like the time. Look like th' innocent flower but be the serpent under 't."

QUOTE 2

Supernatural

Supernatural

Another important theme in Macbeth is the supernatural. It all starts with the witches, who offer the prophecy about Macbeth's future. Even Macbeth's statement about the witches shows how they are part of the supernatural.

Later, Macbeth sees an apparition of a dagger, another element of the supernatural. He has difficulty determining whether the dagger is really there or is an element of his imagination:

Often, the theme of the supernatural in Macbeth directly relates to the theme of appearance vs. reality. Macbeth has an increasing level of difficulty telling the difference between something that is supernatural and something that his mind has created.

QUOTE 1

MACBETH

QUOTE 1

Into the air; and what seem'd corporal melted. As breath into the wind. Would they had stay'd.

QUOTE 2

MACBETH

"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, Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?"

QUOTE 2

Guilt

Guilt

Guilt is one of the most significant themes in Macbeth, since the play deals directly with murder and other crimes. Macbeth's guilt over the murder of King Duncan and Banquo lead him to commit more crimes in order to cover up his acts. He is tormented by the guilt and concren over the consequences of his actions and loses his grasp on reality.

Lady Macbeth also feels guilt for her role in these crimes, and she tries to explain it away and give herself a clean slate.

However, she is unable to clear her conscience and continues to be tormented. She begins to go insane. When she speaks one of the most famous lines in the play, she is sleepwalking and dreaming that the blood of the king is on her hands and cannot be washed away”

QUOTE 1

LADY MACBETH

QUOTE 1

What's done

cannot be undone.

QUOTE 2

LADY MACBETH

Out, damned spot! Out, I say!

QUOTE 2

Femininity &Masculinity

Femininity &Masculinity

Femininity and masculinity represent another important theme of Macbeth. Specifically, Shakespeare explores how both genders are related to violence.

In one scene, Macbeth urges his hired assassins to kill Banquo by questioning their masculinity. In another, Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth’s manhood when he waffles on his decision to kill Duncan.

The play also explores how femininity and violence are related, painting the character of Lady Macbeth as just as ambitious and ruthless as her husband but much more deceitful in her actions. Lady Macbeth chafes at her restrictions, wishing to be less constrained by the expectations for her gender.

QUOTES

QUOTE 1

When you durst do it, Then you were a man.

QUOTE 2

Unsex me here, And fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst curelty.

BOTH THE QUOTES

Fate &Free Will

Fate &Free Will

Another very important theme of Macbeth is the role of fate and how it interacts with free will. From the very beginning, Macbeth is following a false prophecy that the witches presented. Is he fated to kill Duncan? Or does he simply believe it is his fate and use his free will to make it happen?

In Act I, Macbeth states that he thinks that if fate has plans for him, it will require no action from him :

If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me,

Without my stir.

However, as the play progresses, Macbeth takes an ever more involved role in his own destiny, continuously making ruthless choices in the service of ambition. His actions show that he doesn't want to leave his future up to chance, despite what he may have said initially.

INTRODUCTION

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