Judging Macbeth
By now you realize that Macbeth does commit the ignoble act that he believes will
catapult him to the throne. As you read on you will realize that while Macbeth sees
his dream come true, he also enters a nightmare, whose horror far surpasses even
his wildest dreams. Macbeth, the rising star of Act I, will lose much more than his
luster.
Macbeth’s actions and fate raise a number of questions. Is he simply a weak and
tempted man? Is he truly a murderer concealed in Thane’s clothing? Is he a victim
of manipulation at the hands of a powerful wife and/or fate? Is he to be
sympathized or abhorred? These are among the questions that you are to ponder.
Allow the play to enlighten you as you seek answers.
Once you have arrived at a conclusion regarding Macbeth’s character, you are to
compare and/or contrast him to someone whose life and deeds beckon such a
comparison. This someone may be a newsworthy contemporary figure, a historical
figure, or a character from literature. Finally, in a well written and well developed
essay inform the reader of your conclusion and offer proof for your comparison.
The task will necessitate:
1. A careful analysis of the play
2. Research of a contemporary figure, historical figure or a character from
literature.
3. Organization of your findings and thoughts in an outline
4. The completion of a first draft.
Once the above steps have been completed, I will allow time in the lab to conference
with you.
So get on your thinking caps. Stay alert while reading the play and develop a
thorough understanding of Macbeth, his motives, his feelings, his guiding principles
and his beliefs.