Note that student work varies significantly from one assignment to the next, even within the
same mark range. The intent behind providing samples such as this one is to guide
students in recognizing key criteria of assignments and in assessing their own work.
SAMPLE ARGUMENT – EXCELLENT
Topic: To what extent is Lady Macbeth responsible for her own downfall?
Thesis: While Lady Macbeth's selfishness and lack of positive support for her husband
serve as catalysts for Macbeth's ascent to the crown, achieving the highest rank in
Scottish society proves to be costly, as Lady Macbeth loses her relationship with her
husband and is overwhelmed to the extent that she ultimately loses her sanity.
N.B.: This argument would be the first in the body of the complete essay.
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Strengths:
• Your topic sentences are clear and specific (thinking).
• It is good to use a second paragraph in order to emphasize the progression of the
argument (knowledge).
Tips for Improvement:
• While the quotation support is good, another example, perhaps where Lady
Macbeth is actually commanding Macbeth, could be brought in or switched with
one that is currently given to support Lady Macbeth's manipulation of Macbeth
(knowledge).
• While explaining the last quotation, Macbeth is said to be rational in his resistance
to the murder plot. Quotation support could be offered in this regard (knowledge).
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Lady Macbeth's selfishness is demonstrated through her lack of consideration for
the feelings of Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is introduced while she reads a letter from
Macbeth, who states that he has met three witches who have prophesied that he would
become Thane of Cawdor, and then King. Her reflections on the letter reflect a selfcentered attitude. Upon reading the letter, she says to herself, “That I may pour my spirits
in thine ear, / And chastise with the valour of my tongue / All that impedes thee from the
golden round” (1.5.25-7). Lady Macbeth has decided what is best for Macbeth even
before Macbeth has arrived. She assumes that being the King immediately would be the
best situation for Macbeth, as she wants to eliminate all obstacles that may "impede"
Macbeth's rise to the throne. Furthermore, Lady Macbeth's selfishness is demonstrated
through the pride she exhibits. While stating that she would pour her "spirits" into
Macbeth, Lady Macbeth compares herself to the supernatural. In addition, she mentions
the "valour" of her tongue, implying that she has courage, which infers that she is noble
enough to take on challenging tasks. Her speech is somewhat ironic because she is taking
over the behaviour of her husband, Macbeth, who has already demonstrated through his
battle prowess that he is a man capable of taking decisive action. Thus, Lady Macbeth's
selfishness is demonstrated through her decision-making and pride.
While Lady Macbeth's expresses selfishness through her thoughts, it is also
vividly demonstrated through her manipulation of Macbeth. Lady Macbeth's
manipulation begins upon her initial flattery of Macbeth and it continues when she insults
his later hesitation. When they first meet after his return from battle, she immediately
greets and flatters him, saying, “Great Glamis! Worthy Cawdor! / Greater than both, by
the all-hail hereafter!” (1.5.53-4) Lady Macbeth greets Macbeth using similar phrasing to
the witches', which reinforces Macbeth's ambition. Macbeth has thought about letting
events take their course, but Lady Macbeth is exclaiming in praise of him, which
influences Macbeth to act impatiently. Lady Macbeth’s truly evil characteristics show
themselves as Macbeth tries to back out of killing King Duncan. Lady Macbeth states,
“When you durst do it, then you were a man” (1.7.49). She does not positively support
her husband’s thoughts and feelings, which are totally reasonable, but rather discards
them. She insults her husband’s masculinity as she connects killing Duncan to being a
"man". Her speech shows how manipulative she is because she knows how proud
Macbeth is for becoming the Thane of Cawdor, so she tries to deprive him of his male
pride so that he will have to kill the King if he wants to gain it back. Therefore, Lady
Macbeth's selfishness is instrumental in her manipulation of Macbeth.
Work Cited
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1999. Print.