Macbeth
Major Themes
Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a literary
work.

Ambition
Ambition is not necessarily bad. Macbeth is a bold and courageous
warrior which requires some ambition. But unchecked ambition that uses
violence to move beyond one’s place in the Great Chain of Being is
destructive and leads to chaos. Look for chaos in the natural world as well
as chaos in the political world.

Appearance vs Reality
Lady Macbeth advises her husband to “look like the innocent
flower, / But be the serpent under't” (I.v. 65-66). King Duncan admits that
he can’t read a man’s face and was clearly deceived by the Thane of
Cawdor’s appearance of loyalty (I.iv. 11-14). Consider how individuals use
appearance to deceive others. Look for imagery that develops this theme.

Leadership: Kingship vs Tyranny
Duncan is generally viewed as a good king, while Macbeth becomes
a tyrant. What is the difference between them? What leadership skills does
Macbeth possess? Where does he fail? What message does this play send
about leadership?

Gender
Characters in Macbeth frequently dwell on issues of gender. Lady
Macbeth manipulates her husband by questioning his manhood, wishes
that she herself could be “unsexed,” and does not contradict Macbeth
when he says that a woman like her should give birth only to boys. Women
(Lady Macbeth, and the Witches) seem to be the source of evil in the play.
What conclusions can we draw about the cultural views of gender during
Shakespeare’s time?

Fate
From the moment the weird sisters tell Macbeth and Banquo their
prophecies, both the characters and the audience are forced to wonder
about fate. Is it real? Is action necessary to make it come to pass, or will
the prophecy come true no matter what one does? Different characters
answer these questions in different ways at different times, and the final
answers are ambiguous—as fate always is.
Imagery
Watch for these recurring images in the play: blood, weather, clothing. How do
they help develop the themes and characters?