Macbeth Themes + Characters Flashcards
Themes + Characters to compare
which characters does shakespeare present ambition?
- macbeth
- lady macbeth
which characters does shakespeare present guilt?
- macbeth
- lady macbeth
which characters does shakespeare present deception / appearance vs reality?
- macbeth
- lady macbeth
- the witches and their equivocation
which characters does shakespeare present loyalty?
- banquo contrasting with macbeth’s disloyalty
which characters does shakespeare present supernatural?
- the witches
- the contrast in banquo and macbeth’s response to the witches
which characters does shakespeare present power?
- macbeth (power+greed)
- lady macbeth
how is ambition presented through macbeth?
his hamartia: ambition leads him to mental turmoil and his demise
how is macbeth’s ambition presented at the beginning of the play?
his ambition is for his king and country, and he is portrayed as a valiant and loyal soldier
how does macbeth’s desperation for the crown begin?
his meeting with the witches catalyses his unchecked ambition and their equivocation leads him to decieve himself and believe he is the rightful king
what does macbeth feel after he ascends to the throne?
macbeth is not satisfied and he commits more heinous acts
how does shakespeare present ambition in the play?
shakespeare presents ambition as an insatiable force that propels macbeth to act against his better judgement
to present the idea….
WHY does shakespeare present ambition like this?
why would shakespeare choose to write about ambition and its downfall?
to present the idea of ambition, when left unrestrained or uncontrolled, can lead to moral degradation, betrayal and a cycle of violence
how is ambition presented through lady macbeth?
her desperation to remove all of her feminity proves the her need for power and for her hsuband to ascend to the throne.
how does shakespeare present guilt in the play?
although lady macbeth and macbeths’ unchecked, amoral ambition causes their fall from grace, it is their guilt and paranoia that breaks them and ultimately leads them to their expected demise
without guilt they wouldn’t be driven insane with their deeds
WHY does shakespeare present extreme guilt and paranoia as a punishment of regicide?
(writers intentions)
the year before the play was written (1605) there was an attempt to execute the king (James I) so Lady Macbeth’s and Macbeth’s severe pentinence was likely to warn people to not attempt to kill the king
