macbeth Flashcards
(19 cards)
introduction:
In Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, the protagonist, is presented in multifaceted and evolving ways: he is initially brave, later corrupted by ambition, consumed by guilt, and ultimately destroyed. Most crucially, he is portrayed as a tragic hero, whose moral and psychological downfall demonstrates the devasting effects of unchecked ambition (his hubris) and the corrupting influence of power. Shakespeare allows the audience to witness his character arc unfold, warning them of the consequences when these desires overrise morality.
3x key ideas:
- violence as an inherent part of Macbeth’s world
- too deep into his violence and ambition
- psychological torment
topic sentence for paragraph 1 (inherent part of his world)
Firstly, Shakespeare presents violence as an inherent part of Macbeth’s world.
quotes to use for key idea 1 (violence inherent part of his world):
“disdaining fortune…smoked with bloody execution”
“valiant worthy gentleman”
“sound and fury” “nothing”
analyse “disdaining fortune…smoked with bloody execution”
Firstly, Shakespeare presents violence as an inherent part of Macbeth’s world. In Act 1, the first descriptions of Macbeth are of him fighting with “disdaining fortune…smoked with bloody execution”. The verb “smoked” connotes heat and hellish imagery, foreshadowing the malevolent nature he will later face moral and psychological ramifications for. Whilst the phrase “disdaining fortune” depicts a disregard for his fate, and his attempt to manipulate the natural order. This later becomes evident in his disruption of the Divine Right of Kings after he commits regicide.
analyse “valiant worthy gentleman”
Although he receives commendation for his stoic bravery (“valiant, worthy gentleman”), the syntax implies a symbiotic relationship between his downfall and intrinsic proclivity for violence. Furthermore, the positioning of “fortune” preceding “execution” foreshadows Macbeth’s acquisition of an illegitimate title and wealth through violent means, but how this will also lead to his own eventual “execution”.
analyse “sound and fury” “nothing”
By structuring the play as a cyclical narrative- it begins and ends with a battle- reinforces the inevitability of Macbeth’s fall. Crucially, this reflects not just the violent society he inhabits, but also Macbeth’s own flawed view: he believes glory and security come only through bloodshed. This suggests that Macbeth had been so fixated on his hubris that he has missed what really matters, or in a nihilistic interpretation, he never recognised it to begin with. For all his “sound and fury” (his violence and guilt) he has accomplished nothing everlasting: it signifies “nothing”.
paragraph 1 analysis (violence inherent part):
Firstly, Shakespeare presents violence as an inherent part of Macbeth’s world. In Act 1, the first descriptions of Macbeth are of him fighting with “disdaining fortune…smoked with bloody execution”. The verb “smoked” connotes heat and hellish imagery, foreshadowing the malevolent nature he will later face moral and psychological ramifications for. Whilst the phrase “disdaining fortune” depicts a disregard for his fate, and his attempt to manipulate the natural order. This later becomes evident in his disruption of the Divine Right of Kings after he commits regicide. Although he receives commendation for his stoic bravery (“valiant, worthy gentleman”), the syntax implies a symbiotic relationship between his downfall and intrinsic proclivity for violence. Furthermore, the positioning of “fortune” preceding “execution” foreshadows Macbeth’s acquisition of an illegitimate title and wealth through violent means, but how this will also lead to his own eventual “execution”. By structuring the play as a cyclical narrative- it begins and ends with a battle- reinforces the inevitability of Macbeth’s fall. Crucially, this reflects not just the violent society he inhabits, but also Macbeth’s own flawed view: he believes glory and security come only through bloodshed. This suggests that Macbeth had been so fixated on his hubris that he has missed what really matters, or in a nihilistic interpretation, he never recognised it to begin with. For all his “sound and fury” (his violence and guilt) he has accomplished nothing everlasting: it signifies “nothing”.
topic sentence for paragraph 2 (too deep into ambition and violence)
This can further be seen towards the end of the play; Macbeth realises he is too deep into his ambition and violence to stop now.
quotes to use for key idea 2 (too deep into violence and ambition)
“stepped in so far” “wade” “blood”
“tomorrow” “petty pace”
“a tale told by an idiot…signifying nothing”
analyse “stepped in so far” “wade” “blood”
This can further be seen towards the end of the play; Macbeth realises he is too deep into his ambition and violence to stop now. He has “stepped in so far” that he is at the point of no return. Previously, the motif of “blood” (the consequence of murder) was merely on his hands, yet now it has enrobed his entire body, and by extension his entire sense of being. The fact that he used the metaphor of “wading” in this “blood” exemplifies how he acknowledges his conscience is permanently stained with guilt as a result of his ambition, and there is nothing he can do to change that. The verb “wade” implies imagery of struggling through deep waters, further suggesting that this guilt from his ambition has engulfed him entirely.
analyse “tomorrow” “petty pace” “a tale told by an idiot…signifying nothing”
By Act 5 he has achieved everything he wanted, yet his ambition has left him empty; life now feels meaningless. The repetition of “tomorrow” creates a tone of despair, highlighting how ambition has given him nothing but suffering at a “petty pace”. This is arguably his peripeteia (where he realises that his ambition has ultimately led to his downfall), and that life is futile: “a tale told by an idiot… signifying nothing”. This soliloquy doesn’t just reflect a nihilistic tone, but it also shows the audience the extent of which Macbeth’s own choices have led him to: an existential collapse.
paragraph 2 analysis (too deep into his ambition and violence):
This can further be seen towards the end of the play; Macbeth realises he is too deep into his ambition and violence to stop now. He has “stepped in so far” that he is at the point of no return. Previously, the motif of “blood” (the consequence of murder) was merely on his hands, yet now it has enrobed his entire body, and by extension his entire sense of being. The fact that he used the metaphor of “wading” in this “blood” exemplifies how he acknowledges his conscience is permanently stained with guilt as a result of his ambition, and there is nothing he can do to change that. The verb “wade” implies imagery of struggling through deep waters, further suggesting that this guilt from his ambition has engulfed him entirely. By Act 5 he has achieved everything he wanted, yet his ambition has left him empty; life now feels meaningless. The repetition of “tomorrow” creates a tone of despair, highlighting how ambition has given him nothing but suffering at a “petty pace”. This is arguably his peripeteia (where he realises that his ambition has ultimately led to his downfall), and that life is futile: “a tale told by an idiot… signifying nothing”. This soliloquy doesn’t just reflect a nihilistic tone, but it also shows the audience the extent of which Macbeth’s own choices have led him to: an existential collapse.
topic sentence for paragraph 3 (psychological torment):
Alternatively, a significant aspect of Macbeth’s portrayal is the psychological torment that accompanies his rise to power. Shakespeare presents his hallucinations as manifestations of his inner guilt and fear.
quotes to use for key idea 3 (psychological torment):
“dagger of the mind” “towards”
“never shake thy gory locks at me!”
analyse “dagger of the mind” “towards”
Alternatively, a significant aspect of Macbeth’s portrayal is the psychological torment that accompanies his rise to power. Shakespeare presents his hallucinations as manifestations of his inner guilt and fear. Notably, his first hallucination, the “dagger of the mind” appears before he commits regicide, signalling the intrusive nature of his conscience. The fact he sees the dagger “towards” him implies that he is not fully in control of his impulses- his ambition is both internal and externalised, almost supernatural in its force. This motif of visionary deception highlights how Macbeth is losing touch with reality, as he can no longer distinguish between illusion and the truth.
analyse “never shake thy gory locks at me!”
Similarly, he is haunted by Banquo’s ghost: “never shake thy gory locks at me!”, which further reveals that his mind is fracturing under the weight of guilt. The exclamation reflects his loss of composure, whilst the “gory locks” symbolise the literal and psychological blood Macbeth cannot wash away. Crucially, Shakespeare’s staging isolates Macbeth in this scene (the ghost is visible only to him), creating dramatic irony that highlights his detachment from reality. He can no longer repress his guilt- it consumes him, making him visibly unravel in front of the audience.
paragraph 3 analysis (psychological torment):
Alternatively, a significant aspect of Macbeth’s portrayal is the psychological torment that accompanies his rise to power. Shakespeare presents his hallucinations as manifestations of his inner guilt and fear. Notably, his first hallucination, the “dagger of the mind” appears before he commits regicide, signalling the intrusive nature of his conscience. The fact he sees the dagger “towards” him implies that he is not fully in control of his impulses- his ambition is both internal and externalised, almost supernatural in its force. This motif of visionary deception highlights how Macbeth is losing touch with reality, as he can no longer distinguish between illusion and the truth. Similarly, he is haunted by Banquo’s ghost: “never shake thy gory locks at me!”, which further reveals that his mind is fracturing under the weight of guilt. The exclamation reflects his loss of composure, whilst the “gory locks” symbolise the literal and psychological blood Macbeth cannot wash away. Crucially, Shakespeare’s staging isolates Macbeth in this scene (the ghost is visible only to him), creating dramatic irony that highlights his detachment from reality. He can no longer repress his guilt- it consumes him, making him visibly unravel in front of the audience.
conclusion:
Therefore, Shakespeare presents Macbeth as a deeply conflicted and deteriorating figure, beginning as a loyal soldier before allowing ambition and violence to corrupt him. His downfall is not just political or physical, but existential. While he shows moments of self-awareness, they come too late to redeem him. Through this arc, perhaps Shakespeare is warning the audience that the pursuit of power without moral restraint does not elevate man- it destroys him from within.
