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Macbeth Themes and Motifs
Motif: a conspicuous element, such as a type of incident, device, reference or formula, which occurs
frequently in works of literature (e.g., in Macbeth: blood imagery, references to sleep, references to
chaos/disorder). These tend to be more concrete in nature. A series of motifs point to a theme.
Theme: a general concept or doctrine whether implicit or asserted which an imaginative work is designed to
incorporate and make persuasive to the reader. A statement about life that the writer intends to
communicate through the literary piece. (See below).
Some Themes in Macbeth:
Fate and Destiny: There is no escaping one’s fate in life and we create our destinies through the choices we
make in life. In particular: Act I scenes iii & vii; Act II scene iii; Act II, scene iv
Supernatural: The supernatural is often a reflection of: disharmony occurring in nature and the human
realm. [cf: I (i, iii); II (i, iii); II, iv]
Appearance vs. Reality (public vs. private): One’s appearance or public actions may not always reflect
one’s true intentions but may, in fact, work to conceal them. [cf: I (i, iii - vii); II (i, ii, iv)].
Ambition: One’s ambition of power leads one to become morally corrupt or evil. I (ii, iii - v, vii); II (i, iv)
Nature of Evil: By nature, humans are always tempted by evil through their lust for power. I (i, v); II (i - iii)
Honour and Loyalty: To live an honourable life, one must remain loyal to one’s country and king.I (ii, iv,
v, vii); II (i, iii).
Macbeth Images
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Blood (red, crimson)
Light/Darkness (and symbols of this: night, day)
Infants, children (and all related: milk, babe)
Insects, birds, and other animals (raven, crickets, owls, crow, eagle, lion, hare)
Food, Feasting, and Hospitality
Weaponry (dagger, sword, shield, armour)
Celestial Objects, the heavens (sun, moon, stars, planets)
Plants, flowers, trees
Inclement Weather (storm, thunder, lightning, rain)
Shrouds, concealment (fog, blanket, night)
The struggle between good and evil
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“Macbeth” is a play about the fall of a good man and his belated realization of his corruption.
Evil is a supernatural force, manifested in the shape of the three witches who successfully tempt
Macbeth by their false prophesies.
Macbeth’s advisers are the “instruments of darkness” – seeking to lead men away from goodness.
Macbeth is particularly vulnerable to their influence.
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Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are creatures of the dark because darkness symbolises treachery and
evil. Macbeth tells the stars to “hide their fires” and Lady Macbeth calls up the blackest smoke of
Hell to hide her actions.
Evil acts – murder of Banquo; (attempted) murder of Fleance; slaughter of Macduff’s family
A new morality, personified in Malcolm, is needed to replace/defeat evil of Macbeth. He is the
instrument by which good government (with the help of England) is to be restored to Scotland.
Ambition
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Both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are ambitious
Lady Macbeth is determined to persuade her husband – he tries to suppress his ambitious
thoughts that will help him become king.
At first Macbeth is unwilling to give in to his ambition but the witches and Lady Macbeth tempt
him.
Ambition is the fatal flaw that brings about his downfall
Immediately Malcolm is declared heir, Macbeth thinks about “removing” him.
To secure his position and protect it for the future, he plans to murder his best friend and anyone
else who gets in his way.
The Idea that nothing is exactly as it seems
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Lady Macbeth and Macbeth must welcome Duncan warmly to avoid suspicion but are actively
plotting his death.
They must pretend to be shocked when the murder is discovered.
At the Banquet scene they must appear relaxed and happy, yet the turmoil in Macbeth’s mind is
apparent.
Lady Macbeth’s appearance of ruthlessness and lack of compassion is only a front – underneath she
is haunted by guilt and conscience. When she cannot control these feelings, she suffers a breakdown.
The witches deceive Macbeth with their prophesies which gives him a false sense of security.
Although Macbeth is ambitious to be the king, the “borrowed robes” do not fit him well and is more
comfortable in his soldier’s armour – and more successful.
The equivocation theme operates most obviously through the witches and they are the most obvious
voices of disorder.
Harmony replaced by Disorder
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People in Shakespeare’s time thought that every person and thing had a natural place, decided by
God. Macbeth’s crime is in upsetting this natural order.
Macbeth’s murder - people who die before their “time”.
He destroys the political stability of Scotland, his marriage and his own mental “order”.
Lady Macbeth goes mad, breaking the natural order by taking her own life.
Loyalty to the true king is good – rebellion is bad and leads to chaos.
A sense of chaos and disorder runs through the play.
After the death of Duncan, nature is turned upside down – hawks are killed by their prey and
Duncan’s horses eat each other.
Thunder, lightning, storms and shipwrecks are all in the play and connected with the witches and
evil in the world.
Quotations for good and evil:
“
Not in the legions
Of horrid hell can come a devil more damned
In evils to top Macbeth.” Macduff (A4,Sc 3)
“
I grant him bloody,
Luxurious, avaricious, false, deceitful,
Sudden, malicious, smacking of every sin
That has a name.” Malcolm (A4, Sc 3)
“
I am in blood
Stepped in so far, that, should I wade no more,
Returning were as tedious as go o’er.” Macbeth (A3, Sc 4)
“What, can the devil speak true?” Banquo ( A1, Sc 3)
“But wherefore could I not pronounce “Amen”? “ Macbeth (A2, Sc2)
“ By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes…” Second Witch (A4,Sc 1)
“This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongues,
Was once thought honest..” Malcolm (A4, Sc 3)
“The devil himself could not pronounce a title
More hateful to mine ear.”
Young Siward (A5, Sc 7)
Quotations for ambition
“Why do I yield to that suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair.” Macbeth (A1, Sc3)
“The Prince of Cumberland: that is a step
On which I must fall down, or else o’er leap,
For in my way it lies…” Macbeth (A1, Sc 4)
“
I have no spur
To prick the sides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ambition which o’er leaps itself
And falls on th’ other – “ Macbeth (A1, Sc7)
“Thou hast it all now, King, Cawdor, Glamis, all,
……………………………and I fear
Thou played’st most foully for’t….” Banquo (A3, Sc1)
Appearance vs. Reality
QUOTATIONS
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair..”
Witches (A1, Sc 1)
“So foul and fair a day I have not seen.” Macbeth (A1, Sc. 3)
“
But tis strange
And oftentimes, to win us to our harm,
The instruments of darkness tell us truths;
Win us with honest trifles, to betray’s
In deepest consequence.” Banquo (A1, Sc3)
“
There’s no art
To find the mind’s construction in the face.” Duncan (A1, Sc 4)
“The service and the loyalty I owe,
In doing it, pays itself.”
Macbeth (A1, Sc4)
“
Stars, hide your fires,
Let not light see my black and deep desires. “ Macbeth (A1, Sc4)
“This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air
Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself
Unto our gentle senses.” Duncan (A1, Sc 6)
“False face must hide what the false heart doth know.” Macbeth (A1, Sc7)
“I think not of them.” Macbeth (A2, Sc 1)
“Help me hence, ho.” Lady Macbeth (A 2, Sc 3)
“There’s daggers in men’s smiles” Donaldbain (A2, Sc 3)
“Live then Macduff, what need I fear of thee.
That will never be.” Macbeth ( A4, Sc1 )
“…..none of woman born/ shall harm Macbeth.” (A4, Sc 1)
Choas and supernatural
QUOTATIONS
“……………………….I have seen
Hours dreadful and things strange, but this sore night
Hath trifled former knowings.”
Old Man (A2, Sc4)
“………….Better be with the dead
Whom we, to gain our peace, have sent to peace
Than on the torture of the mind to lie
In restless ecstasy.”
Macbeth (A3, Sc2)
“
each new morn,
New widows howl, new orphans cry, new sorrows
Strike heaven on the face…” Macduff (A4, Sc3)
“………………..Alas, poor country,
Almost afraid to know itself. It cannot
Be called our mother, but our grave..” Ross (A4, Sc3)
“Out damned spot! Out, I say!” Lady Macbeth (A5, Sc 1)
“……………….I will not yield
To kiss the ground before young Malcolm’s feet.” Macbeth (A5, Sc 9)