Macbeth – Character/Theme Essay Plan
Unchecked ambition is Macbeth's fatal flaw and one which entirely corrupts him. He is destroyed
due to his inability to listen to his conscience which troubles him throughout the play, yet greed
and desire for power overwhelm him.
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Choose a play in which there is a character who suffers from a human weakness such as ambition…
Choose a character from a play whose fate is unfortunate or unhappy…
choose a play in which a character has to make an important decision…
Choose a play which has a tragic ending… (need to explain what the ending is first)
Choose a play in which one of the main concerns is betrayal…
Macbeth is immediately linked with evil - cast aspersions on his character/fate from outset
1.
Witches sow the seed that grows to become his corrupting ambition with prophecies
'By Finel's death, I know I am of Glamis,
'Why do I yield to that suggestion?'
But how of Cawdor? The Thane of Cawdor lives
(Macbeth, Act 1, Sc 3)
[...] and to be king
Stands not within the prospect of belief,'
(Macbeth, Act 1, Sc 3)
2.
He cannot stop his ambitious thoughts, though he tries to suppress them
'The Prince of Cumberland: that is a step
'Thou wouldst be great,
On which I must fall down, or else o'erleap,
Art not without ambition, but without
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide your fires
The illness that should attend it.'
Let not light see my black and deep desires.'
(Lady Macbeth, Act 1, Sc 5)
(Macbeth, Act 1, Sc 4)
3.
Realises his only motive is ambition
‘I have no spur
To prick the sides of my intent, but only
Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself
And falls on the other.'
(Macbeth, Act 1, Sc 7)
4.
5.
Even after the deed, he wants more
‘To be thus is nothing,
But to be safely thus. Our fears in Banquo
Stick deep,’
(Macbeth, Act 3, Sc 1)
'And if we fail?'
(Macbeth, Act 1, Sc 7)
Upon my head they have placed a fruitless crown
And put a barren sceptre in my gripe.'
(Macbeth, Act 3, Sc 1)
Macbeth was not capable of living up to his unchecked ambition - leads to tragic end
'Now he does feel his title
Hang loose about him, like a giant's robe
Upon a dwarfish thief.'
(Angus, Act 5, Sc 2)
He is killed by Macduff and pronounced a ‘dead butcher’ by Malcolm.