Download Discussion Questions In groups, you will be asked to discuss one of

Macbeth
Discussion Questions
In groups, you will be asked to discuss one of the following questions and present your
answers to the class.
1.
Think of some people you know or have read about who are/were ambitious.
Have their ambitions led to a positive or negative result? Are ambitions
sometimes destructive? Explain.
2. What is your understanding of the philosophy, “the end justifies the means?”
Give examples of situations in which you would agree and disagree with this
philosophy.
3. Would assassination or civil war ever be a justifiable response to rule by
tyranny? What would you do if the leader of your country became a vicious
tyrant?
4. Are a citizen’s first responsibilities to family, political leader, or country?
Explain.
5. Describe some examples of what you think is evil behavior. How should evil
behavior be dealt with?
6. If you suspected, but had no evidence, that a friend of yours had committed a
crime, what would you do?
7. How do you deal with your fears? How might you help others to deal with
theirs? What are some of the effects that fear can have on people?
8. Describe a time you experienced insomnia (lack of sleep). What did you do
about it? What are some of the effects that insomnia can have on people who
suffer from it?
9. Describe a woman who best represents your idea of “womanliness.” Describe a
man who best depicts “manliness.” Are there any similarities between the two
descriptions? Why or why not?
10. Explain what you think an “ideal” marriage would be.
11. Describe a situation in which you are someone you know has been deceived by
appearances. How might you advise someone to guard against this trap?
12. What do you want most from life? What are you prepared to do to attain it?
The Curse of Macbeth
Throughout history, actors have considered Macbeth to be a
cursed play. It is taboo even to mention the play’s title inside of a
theater. Actors call it The Scottish Play and refer to the lead
characters as the Mac-ers, Lady M, and other nicknames. If an
actor accidentally mentions the name Macbeth they are expected
to leave the theater, spit three times, spin three times while
cursing, and then ask permission to return to the theater.
Notable instances of bad luck and disaster during performances of The Scottish Play include:
1607 During the first performance, Shakespeare himself supposedly played Lady Macbeth when the
boy designated to play her became inexplicably feverish and died.
The play so displeased King James I that he banned it for five years.
1672 The actor playing Macbeth in a production in Amsterdam substituted a real dagger for the
blunted stage one and with it killed Duncan in full view of the entranced audience.
1775 As Lady Macbeth, Sarah Siddons was nearly ravaged by a disapproving audience.
1953 Charlton Heston, in a production in Bermuda, suffered burns to his groin and thighs when his
tights, which had been soaked in kerosene, burst into flames.