Shakespeare’s Views and Values and
Themes
 It is important to consider what statements
Shakespeare is making about humanity through
‘Macbeth’.
 What views and values does he show through the play?
 When discussing the themes and ideas of the play, you
must discuss them as Shakespeare’s views and values.
VIEWS AND VALUES
Shakespeare suggests that it is wrong to seek
greater power than the position that is given
to you in the social order.
He reveals that ambition to overthrow
authority will eventually lead to destruction.
Macbeth
Macbeth is “brave” and “valiant”, not naturally inclined to
commit evil deeds, yet he deeply desires power.
He makes his changing morality clear by asking in an aside
for the “stars to hide their fires” should they reveal his
dark and deadly purpose or intent to kill King Duncan.
(I.iv.52)
Spurred on by Lady Macbeth, his “vaulting ambition”
quickly goes out of control.
His paranoia about being caught and desire to maintain
leads him to further murders, until he loses all sign of a
moral conscience and appears to have gone mad with
power.
Lady Macbeth
More determined than Macbeth, she goes to the
extent of calling on evil spirits to allow her to
obtain her goals.
Lady Macbeth leads her husband on mercilessly to
kill Duncan and urges him to be strong in the
murder’s aftermath.
However, she is eventually driven to distraction by
the effect of Macbeth’s repeated bloodshed on her
conscience and she cannot withstand the
consequences of what she has done.
She is also driven insane, but ends up taking her
own life.
Quotes:
If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me,
without my stir (Macbeth, Act I, Scene iii).
Macbeth hopes in an aside that fate not murder, may bring
him his kingdom instead.
I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only
vaulting ambition, which o’er-leaps itself and falls on the
other. (Macbeth, Act I, Scene vii).
Macbeth has nothing but his ambition to drive him to
commit the deed and act rashly.
VIEWS AND VALUES
Shakespeare suggests that deception is an
undeniable part of society.
By showing how deception brings Macbeth’s
destruction, he makes clear his value that
people should be honest and match their
actions to their words.
The idea of things not being as they appear:
-The ambiguous statements and prophecies of the
witches. They actively confuse Macbeth, at Hecate’s
orders.
-The Thane of Cawdor is identified as a traitor,
demonstrating that traitors are common (the title is
ironically awarded to Macbeth, foreshadowing his
future)
-Lady Macbeth and Macbeth both try to hide their
inner desires and put on the appearance of loyalty to
Duncan; they continue to disguise their actions.
-Duncan cannot see past people’s outwards
appearances.
Nothing is but what is not
 Macbeth is eventually destroyed through
the false hope offered by the apparitions
prophecies.
 There are many references to people
wearing clothing that does not fit them.
(“Now does he feel his title/Hang loose about
him, like a giant’s robe /Upon a dwarfish
thief” )
 There are many references to people
wearing masks.
Fair is foul and foul is fair. (Witches, Act I, Sc i)
The witches comment on what is going to happen. What
looks beautiful is ugly and what seems evil is good. This sets
the tone for the play.
Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t.
(Lady Macbeth, Act I, Sc v)
Lady Macbeth wants Macbeth to appear as if he is still the
loyal servant of the king, trustworthy and loyal, and strike
when he least expects it.
There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face
(Duncan, Act I, Scene iv)
A naive comment, and ironic, given the fate of Duncan. He
believes that it is easy to see a man’s true self by looking into
his face.
Away and mock the time with fairest show,
False face must hide what the false heart doth know
(Macbeth, Act I, Scene vii)
Macbeth knows he must conceal his crimes.
There’s daggers in men’s smiles (Donalbain, Act II, Scene iii)
After learning of his father’s death, Donalbain does not trust
those “loyal servants” around him
VIEWS AND VALUES
-Shakespeare shows that when someone is
tempted by evil, they should turn away
rather than engage in it.
-He also suggests that good will triumph
over evil.
-Evil actions will upset the natural order of
the world.
-When meeting the witches, Macbeth is quickly “rapt
withall” and becomes completely absorbed by their
prophecies.
-However, Banquo’s response is to not become
involved.
“But ‘tis strange! And oftentimes, to win us to our
harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths,
win us with honest trifles, to betray’s in deepest
consequence.”
-Lady Macbeth calls upon the powers of evil to give
her the strength to follow through on her plans.
-Throughout the play, we see Macbeth and his wife
in a constant struggle between the ‘good’ and ‘evil’;
within themselves.
-After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth believes he
has committed his soul to hell and can “sleep no
more.”
-Macbeth’s actions become increasingly horrific and
he is described as a “hell-hound”.
-Macbeth’s qualities as an evil tyrant are clearly
compared to the kingly qualities of a good king
shown by Malcolm and also the King of England.
Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o’ the milk of human
kindness (Lady Macbeth, Act I, Scene v)
-Lady Macbeth fears that her husband’s conscience and
humanity will prevent him from committing the crime.
Come thick night, and pall in the dunnest smoke of Hell, that my
keen knife not see the wound it makes not heaven peep through
the blanket of the dark, to cry, “Hold, hold!” (Lady Macbeth, Act
1, scene v)
Come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts! Unsex me here,
and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty.
(Lady Macbeth, Act I, Scene v).
“Not in the legions/ of horrid hell can come a devil more
damned/In evils, to top Macbeth.” (Macduff, Act IV, scene iii)
VIEWS AND VALUES
-Shakespeare makes it clear that a king must
have honourable qualities or “king-becoming
graces”.
-A true king rules for the good of their subjects,
not for their own power.
-Violence is necessary to defend the state, but
violence used for personal gain is a misuse of
power and has terrible consequences.
-Duncan is always referred to as a “king”, while
Macbeth soon becomes known as the “tyrant”.
-When Malcolm tests Macduff ‘s loyalty in Act IV, he
makes clear the kingly qualities: “Justice, Verity
(honesty)... Mercy... Devotion... Courage” (IV, iii, 90-93).
-These qualities are displayed through the actions of
Duncan and Malcolm, but Macbeth shows the opposite.
-Macbeth brings only chaos and death to Scotland,
symbolized in the bad weather and bizarre supernatural
events, his violence is not just, but power-mad!
-The violence of the battles in Act I and Act V is justified.
-When Malcolm regains his position as King, order is
quickly restored.