Macbeth Final Discussion

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       Macbeth Final Analysis

Imagery

Imagery helps you picture what Shakespeare's describing, and makes it stick in your mind. 

Find examples of similes, metaphors and personification

Symbolism

blood versus water - guilt versus innocence ; 'dark night strangles the travelling lamb'

ghosts

nature - correct order of the world

storms - thunder, lighting

light versus darkness

health and disease - a state of Scotland

sleep - clear conscience

Macbeth: themes

ambition - Macbeth and Lady Macbeth deceptible to lure of power

gender roles

destiny versus free will

loyalty versus betrayal

Ambition can be a positive thing if it is motivated by a desire to help. 

Loyalty is rewarded, betrayal is punished ... 

Kingship - under Duncan's rightful reign, the country is ordered and peaceful. Macbeth's unlawful reign is reflected in the overturned natural order; e.g. day turns to night and horses eat each other. 

Macbeth

He is ambitious but easily led astray.

He is ambitious, brave, guilty.

He is a brave hero .... and a brutal murderer.

He struggles with his conscience, and he is easily influenced. 

Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth is cruel and ruthless.

She is very ambitious, clever and quick-witted.

She goes mad. 

Macduff

Macduff is honest and sincere ... but he puts his country before his family. 

In contrast with the other men who see emotions as a sign of weakness, Macduff says that he will 'feel grief as a man.' This shows that he sees the ability to show emotions as an important part of his masculinity. 

Lady Macduff

She can't understand her husband's actions. Lady Macduff shows courage as she comforts her son, calling him ' Poor Bird'. Her love and affection for him are clear. 

Duncan

He is kind, but too trusting.

He is an example of a good king.

Malcolm and Donalbain

They learn from their father's mistakes.

They are not impulsive.

Malcolm develops into a good leader. 

Banquo

Banquo is more honourable than Macbeth.

He does not trust witches.

The Witches are:

evil - ' instruments of darkness';

ambiguous - 'this supernatural soliciting cannot be ill, cannot be good';

strange - 'They are evil but they don' tell Macbeth to murder Duncan';

' Fair is foul, and foul is fair' nothing is as it seems to be.

Witches confuse Macbeth by using paradoxes, for example, by telling him that Banquo will be 'lesser than Macbeth, and greater.' 

By not being clear about what the future holds, they keep control of Macbeth. 

Question: What is, then, an ultimate truth of Macbeth's Tragedy? 

Insights into a Tragedy

mitigate: make smth less severe, serious, or painful

incarnadine: a bright crimson or pinkish-red colour

wickedness: the quality of being evil of morally wrong

abhorrent: inspiring disgust and loathing

Kent Lehnhof: Insight into a Tragedy - Macbeth

What is, then, an ultimate truth of Macbeth's Tragedy? 

• in his wickedness he cannot find contentment or desire; there is only 'tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow';
• when decency and good will  give way to wickedness and evil, life loses its meaning; it can be no more than a tiresome monotony, a tale told by an idiot, signifying nothing. 

wickedness: the quality of being evil or morally wrong