Shakespeare’s views/values
‘Macbeth’
TASK: Find as much evidence as you can to support your
author’s views/values statement
Shakespeare’s moral: Women are spiteful when they don’t get what they want
Characters
Themes
Symbols
Events
Language
-Hate: women
seem to be very
harsh in their
reactions and also
tend to over-react
-Good vs Evil:
everyone has a
CHOICE in how
they react to not
getting their own
way. There’s no
real reason for
spite. It causes
chaos.
-Power: the
women in the play
tamper with the
important
decisions that
Macbeth makes,
which ultimately
causes trouble
Loyalty: women’s
loyalty in the play
are with none
other but
themselves.
-Macbeth’s letter
to Lady Macbeth:
symbolic of her
growing ambition
(or what sparks it)
-Thunder: always
precedes a scene
with the witches.
This foreshadows
that something evil
is about to happen.
-The witches gang up
on a poor sailor’s
woman
-Lady Macbeth throws a
tantrum whenever
Macbeth doesn’t do as
she wants
-Lady Macbeth
manipulates her
circumstances until she
gets her way
-Lady Macbeth calls on
evil spirits to help her
get what she wants
(she actively changes
her character to a
brutal one to get what
she wants)
-Lady Macbeth sends
the kinsmen home from
the banquet when she
realises she can’t
control Macbeth’s fear
(seeing Banquo’s ghost)
-’”Hie thee hither, that I
may pour my spirits in
thine ear…” –she
admits that she will
manipulate him to do
what he wants
-”…unsex me here, and
fill me, from the crown
to the toe, top-full of
the direst cruelty.”
-Lady Macbeth’s tone
towards Macbeth
changes from
aggressive and
demanding, to loving
and comforting,
depending on how
content she is with him.
(actions/thoughts/dialogue)
1. Lady Macbeth immediately
turns on Macbeth when he
expresses that he doesn’t
want to kill Duncan. She
becomes aggressive and
questions his masculinity:
(I.7.39-45,49, II.3,53 ‘infirm
of purpose’)
2. When Macbeth does what
Lady Macbeth wants, she
addresses him as ‘worthy
thane’, ‘my husband’, ‘my
Lord’ which is very different
to her other criticisms of him
3. Lady Macduff describes her
husband as being a ‘traitor’
and ‘dead’ for leaving her in
Scotland. Her words about
her husband are harsh –IV.2
4. The witches kill the sailor
after his wife refuses to give
her some chestnuts. –An
extreme reaction to a small
misdeed (I.2)
(setting too!)
Shakespeare’s moral: Trust no one
Characters
Themes
Symbols
Events
Language
1. Duncan’s trust
flaw: Duncan trusts
his followers too
much and allows
himself to become
vulnerable as he’s
too open as a King.
2. Macbeth’s trust
development:
Macbeth in the
beginning of the
play was trusting of
his piers and those
who were below
him in the
hierarchy. Though
as the play
progressed his
ambition overtook
him and his trust
depleted til he was
paranoid and finds
everyone
untrustworthy.
3. The Witches: The
witches come
across as
trustworthy as
they’re beings that
hold great amounts
of power in relation
to their prophecy
giving. They’re
shown as a reliable
- Trust: Macbeth’s
depleting amount of
trust, Duncan’s flaw
of trusting his
companions too
much, the witches
appearance of
reliability as they
have mystical
powers.
- Kingship/Power:
Macbeth’s trust
depletes as he
becomes king and for
the longer he
remains paranoid the
less trust he has for
people.
- Tyranny: Macbeth’s
tyranny over
Scotland leads him to
become an unfaithful
ruler and illustrates
that the more power
you have the less
trustworthy you
become of people in
the case of Macbeth.
Excluding Duncan.
- Time: Over time
Duncan gains more
and more trust for
his followers. The
longer Macbeth
remains king the less
trust he has for
- The “Equivocator”:
Macbeth is fooled by
the witches that show
him the truth
deceptively which
leads him to a broken
path of destruction.
- The swamp: the lair of
the witches that
Macbeth and Banquo
stumble upon.
- Fort Dunsinine: lair in
which the trust loop
cycles.
- Macbeth murdering
the previous Thane of
Cawdor for his
treason.
- Macbeth and Banquo
receiving their
prophecies from the
witches.
- Duncan giving all of
his trust to Macbeth
for his bravery and
achievements
- Macbeth betraying
Duncan’s trust and
killing him
- Macbeth showing no
trust or loyalty in
Banquo and killing
him, attempting to
slay his son also
- Macbeth not trusting
his two hired
mercenaries and
decides to hire a third.
- Macbeth doesn’t trust
any of his informers of
the information he
gives them and
threatens them if
they’re lying
- Macbeth further
trusting the witches as
the first prophecy was
true so he goes back
for a double-dip, heh.
- “Whence cam’st thou,
worthy Thane?” ActI,
SII, L49
- “Stay, you imperfect
speakers, tell me
more” ActIII, SI, L69
- “Worthy Macbeth” Act
I, SII, L148
- “He was a gentleman
on whom I built an
absolute trust” Act I,
S IV, L15
- “We love him highly,
And shall continue our
graces” Act I, SIV, L29
- “As the weird women
promised” Act III, SI,
L2
- “ But who did bid thee
join wit us?”,
“Macbeth” Act III,
SIII, L1
- “If thou speak false,
upon the next tree
shall thou hang alive,
till famine cling the
tree” AV, SV, L38
(actions/thoughts/d
ialogue)
(setting too!)
Shakespeare’s moral: Control your greed or it will destroy you
Characters
Themes
Symbols
Events
Language
1. Macbeth: Macbeth’s
ambition for power
starts of with his
sanity in tact but as
his power grows so
does his loss for his
own sanity.
Macbeth eventually
loses his sense of
control over
himself.
2. Lady Macbeth:
constantly criticises
Macbeth to get a
hold of himself
when he’s taking
his greed too far.
She tells him that
after his first
manslaughter he
finds no remorse
after that. She
eventually breaks
under the pressure
of greed and guilt
which ends in her
death.
3. The previous Than
of Cawdor: couldn’t
control his greed
and ended up
causing a war
between two
countries after his
- Ambition: Macbeth
faces a rapid growth
in his ambition as he
becomes more and
more power hungry
which ends up
defeating him in the
long run.
- Human nature: the
three characters
stated show an
example of human
nature; they all can’t
control themselves
over power and are
too selfish to
consider their future
or the domino effect
of what they’re
doing.
- Fate: the greed in the
beginning that the
characters experience
develops into a
strong urge of
ambition which ends
up in the destruction
of the three as they
do not take care for
their actions much
and just take blind
footsteps forward.
- Blood: blood is a sign
of guilt and death but
it also represents
murder. Murder is the
three character’s main
focus which they aim
to kill Duncan that
follows through to
their destruction in the
path that unravels
after that.
- Fort Dunsinine: the
place in which Duncan
is murdered also
Macbeth and his wife
end up being defeated
in the same place.
- The witches
prophecies:
foreshadows the
creation of Macbeth’s
power rampage and
also the downfall of
Macbeth’s reign.
- The first war: shows
that greed caused the
first Thane’s death
and that he didn’t
control his desires.
- The death of Banquo:
Macbeth getting too
greedy and slaying
Banquo because of
paranoia which sparks
Macbeth’s craze and
leads to his death.
- Macbeth’s ignorant
rage towards the end
where he’s preparing
for battle shows that
he’s lost his sense of
dignity with his sanity
which leads to his
death.
- “Whose murder is
fantastical” AI, SIII,
L147
- “Equivocates him in a
sleep and, giving him
the lie, leaves him”
Act II, SIII, L34
- “Things had begun
make strong
themselves by ill. So,
prithee, go with me.”
AIII, SII, L55
- “Answer me” AIV, SI,
L50
- “Confident tyrant” AV,
SIV, L47
(actions/thoughts/d
ialogue)
(setting too!)
Shakespeare’s moral: Don’t judge a book by its cover
Characters
(actions/thoughts/dial
ogue)
Themes
Symbols
(setting too!)
Events
0. King Duncan judges
Macbeth as worthy to be
his new Thane of Cawdor.
(Act I, Scene IV, 13)
“My worthy Cawdor”
I.IV.48
1. Macbeth’s trust of the
witches prophesies. He
believes they’re telling
him the right thing.
2. Lady Macbeth is
judged by both King
Duncan and Macduff
as a nurturing woman.
(‘this not for you to
hear what I can speak
the repetition in a
woman’s ear) & (Fair
and noble hostess)
3. King Duncan was too
trusting with the first
thane of Cawdor.
“mind’s construction in
face”I.IV.14 & “gentleman
on whom I built and
absolute trust”I.IV.15
4. Lady Macbeth calls
upon the darkness to
unsex her and to kill King
Duncan
“the raven himself is
hoarse” I.V.38 & “unsex
me” I.V.39
5. Lady Macbeth isn't a
nurturing woman
“ have plucked my nipple
from his boneless gums,
and dashed his brains out”
Good vs Evil:
-Macbeth proves to be
both ‘good’ (a good
soldier, kinsman,
husband), but also evil
(deceitful, greedy and
murderous)
-Macbeth seeks out the
witches, knowing that
they’re evil, to tell him
about his future
The war at the start of
the play sets the scene
for the rest of the play;
Cawdor betrayed King
Duncan, when the King
trusted him. This event
repeats itself over and
over in the rest o f the
play.
High officials praising
Macbeth to King Duncan
Appearance and
Reality:
-Lady Macbeth is
seemingly a good hostess
(she even faints when she
‘hears’ of the king’s
murder!!!) despite being
the driving force of the
murder
-Human nature:
individuals are easily
pressured into doing
things they wouldn’t
normally do.
Macbeth and Lady
Macbeth’s castle/home:
should be a place of safety
for the guests; is
everything but this.
-The letter Macbeth
sends Lady Macbeth:
Macbeth expressed his
feelings about the event to
his wife; she took the
letter as incentive to
manipulate him and kill
Duncan
Macbeth and Banquo meet
the witches and they say
the
When both Duncan and
Macduff was at Macbeth's
castle
After reading the letter,
Lady Macbeth has decided
to manipulate Macbeth
into killing King Duncan
and she call upon the
darkness to help her was
well
.
Language
Shakespeare’s moral: What goes around, comes around (karma)
Characters
Themes
Symbols
Events
Lady Macbeth always
told Macbeth not to
overthink his guilt
that he killed the
king. In the end that
is how she died
“ The queen, my
Lord, is dead” V.V.27
“Thou not minister to
a mind diseased”
V.III.40
“ The thane of Fife
had a wife; where is
she now?” V.I.41
“Look how she rubs
her hands” V.I.27
“Yet here’s a spot”
V.I.31
“These deeds must
not be thought after
these ways so; it will
make us mad”
II.II.34
Guilt:
-The guilt and shame
of the characters that
have committed evil
deeds will eventually
destroy their peace of
mind
Sleep – At night Lady
Macbeth sleeps walks
while rubbing her hands
and absentmindedly
talks about her guilt.
-Lady Macbeth is sleep
walking and she tries to
clean her hands (from
blood) due to her guilt
while the doctor
watches. In the end she
kills herself.
(actions/thoughts/
dialogue)
Fate:
-Will ensure that
people get what they
deserve.
(setting too!)
Blood: Macbeth says
that ‘blood will have
blood’
-Macbeth is killed, just
like the original Thane
of Cawdor was
-Just like Macbeth’s
loyalty for Duncan
wavered, so do his own
men’s loyalty.
Language
Shakespeare’s moral: Ambition is driven by another factor
Characters
Themes
Symbols
Events
Macbeth’s ambition is
driven by Lady
Macbeth’s
manipulation.
“such I account thy
love” I.VII.39
“durst do it, then you
were a man” I.VII.49
Ambition: is driven
by different external
factors. We should be
careful what we allow
to drive our actions.
The war against Norway
is over and Macbeth is
victorious.
When Macbeth had
written a letter to Lady
Macbeth explaining
about the witches
prophecies.
(actions/thoughts/
dialogue)
-Lady Macbeth’s
ambition started with
the letter
“ shalt be what thou
art promised” act I
scene iv line 14
“ That I may pour my
spirits in thine ear”
I.V.24 & “chastise
with the valour of my
tongue” I.V.24
Also Lady Macbeth
calls on the darkness
to unsex her and kill
Duncan
-Macduff’s actions are
driven by his love for
his wife and children
and Scotland
Good vs evil:
Human beings have a
choice about whether
they allow good or evil
actions to be made
Human nature:
Human beings can be
easily influenced when
tempted by something
that means a whole lot
to them.
(setting too!)
Lady Macbeth reads the
letter that was written
from Macbeth about the
witches prophecies.
To fulfilLady Macbeth’s
ambition she had to
manipulate Macbeth.
-The death of his family
gave Macduff ambition
to avenge them and kill
Macbeth
-Macduff gave Malcolm
incentive to come back
and reclaim the throne
of Scotland.
Language
Shakespeare’s moral: bad things happen at night.
Characters
Themes
Symbols
Events
Language
(II.1, 2)-Fleance
expresses his concern
of the night.
(II.3, 51)-Lennox
describes the nature
of the night of
Duncan’s death.
(II,.2, 46)-Macbeth
calls on darkness to
remove fear.
(III.3, 13)- Banquo
describes the
weather, foreshadows
bloodshed.
(I.6 49, I.6, 59)-Lady
Macbeth calls upon
dark spirits and
states that the sun
(light) will never see
tomorrow, meaning
that night (darkness)
will stay forever.
Blood: is spilled in the
darkness, rather than
in broad daylight.
Night time.
Weather/storms
Darkness
Lady Macbeth’s candle.
Evil spirits.
Death of King Duncan
Death of Banquo
(Lady) Macbeth calling
upon evil spirits.
Unruly
Seeling Night
Thick Night.
(actions/thoughts/
dialogue)
Darkness: is
synonymous with evil
deeds.
Weather/nature: Is
in tune with the
actions of man kind.
Ambition: that is
driven by evil
intentions are only
acted upon at night.
Loyalty
(setting too!)
Shakespeare’s moral: Power Corrupts.
Characters
Themes
Symbols
Events
Language
(IV.3 13.)-Malcolm
expresses his
thoughts on King
Macbeth.
(IV. 3.12) Malcolm
describing the recent
deeds Macbeth has
done and the changes
he has gone through.
(IV.3.40) Malcolm
stating the despair of
the country due to
Macbeth’s rule.
Blood.
Loyalty.
Corruption.
Appearance and
Reality.
Kingship/Tyranny.
Ambition .
Good vs Evil.
Fate/Reason.
Power.
Bloody Dagger.
Armed Head.
Crowned Child with a
tree.
Bloody Child.
The death of King
Duncan.
Death of Banquo.
Macduff recruiting
Malcolm.
The moving of Burnham
wood.
Death of Lady Macbeth.
Rebellion of Scotland.
Death of King Macbeth.
Tyrant.
King.
Butcher.
Most Royal Sir.
“the Devil himself could
not pronounce a title
more hateful…”
(actions/thoughts/
dialogue)
(setting too!)