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Macbeth is a stage play in
the form of a tragedy.
Setting:
Macbeth takes place in
northern Scotland and in
England. The scenes in
Scotland are set at or near
King Duncan’s castle at
Forres, at Macbeth’s castle
on Dunsinane Hill in the
county of Inverness, and in
countryside locales where
the three witches meet. A
scene is also set at a castle
in England.
Themes:
Ambition
Great ambition, or inordinate lust for power,
ultimately brings ruin. For ignoring this
ancient rule of living, Macbeth and Lady
Macbeth pay…
Raging ambition drives Macbeth to murder.
After the witches play to his ambition with a
prophecy that he will become king, he
cannot keep this desire under control. He
realizes that Duncan is a good king–humble,
noble, virtuous. But he rationalizes that a
terrible evil grips him that he cannot
overcome.
Themes:
Deceit
In Macbeth, evil frequently wears a
pretty cloak. Early in the play, the
three witches declare that “fair is
foul,” a paradox suggesting that
whatever appears good is really bad.
•For example, murdering Duncan appears to
be a “fair” idea to Macbeth and Lady
Macbeth, for Macbeth would accede to the
throne. But the Macbeths soon discover that
only bad has come of their deed, and their
very lives–and immortal souls–are in
jeopardy.
•Macbeth also perceives the
prophecies made by the
“armed head” and the “bloody
child” as good omens; in fact,
these prophecies are deceptive
wordplays that foretell
Macbeth’s downfall.
Themes:
Temptation
Temptation can defeat even the
strongest human beings. On the
battlefield, Macbeth is a lion and
a leader of men. But when the
witches tempt him by
prophesying that he will become
king of Scotland, he succumbs to
the lure of power. When his
resolve weakens, Lady Macbeth
fortifies it with strong words.
Themes:
Guilt
Guilt haunts the evildoer. Whether
from prick of conscience or fear of
discovery, Macbeth’s guilt begins to
manifest itself immediately after he
murders Duncan and the guards
(Act II, Scene II).
Imagery:
Darkness
Shakespeare casts a pall of darkness over
the play to call attention to the evil deeds
unfolding and the foul atmosphere in which
they are taking place.
When shall we three meet again
In thunder, lightning, or in rain? (1.1.3-4)
Come, thick night,
And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,
That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark.
(1.5.43-46)
Imagery:
Blood
.......Shakespeare frequently
presents images of blood in Macbeth.
Sometimes it is the hot blood of the
Macbeths as they plot murder;
sometimes it is the spilled, innocent
blood of their victims. It is also blood
of guilt that does not wash away and
the blood of kinship that drives
enemies of Macbeth to action. In
general, the images of blood–like the
images of darkness–bathe the play
in a macabre, netherworldly
atmosphere.
Imagery:
Adam & Eve
Lady Macbeth resembles Eve in her
eagerness to tempt Macbeth to eat of
forbidden fruit (in this case, murder) and
that Macbeth resembles Adam in his early
passivity.
Interesting Facts:
The words blood and night (or forms of them, such as
bloody and tonight) occur more than 40 times each in
Macbeth. Other commonly occurring words that help
maintain the mood of the play are terrible, horrible,
black, devil, and evil.
In Shakespeare's time, many people believed in the
power of witches. Shakespeare, good businessman that
he was, well knew that a play featuring witches would
attract theatergoers and put a jingle in his pocket.
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