Good luck!
Due Monday 27/06/11
Macbeth Essay Notes
Compare and contrast the Shakespearean transformation you have studied in class to its
original text.
Transformation: to change in appearance, condition, nature or character, especially
complete or extensive change
It is important that you argue to what extent transformation has worked in the play or film
within the character, setting, theme, language or symbols.
1. Transformation of Macbeth from good to evil
Macbeth is depicted as a divided man - on one hand he has a moral code which recognises
his duties as a host, subject and kinsman to Duncan, but on the other hand his burning
ambition to be king overpowers his better nature.
In the Middle Ages, people believed that “fluids” determined a person’s physical and mental
qualities. The four humours are: Blood, Phlegm, Choler (or yellow bile) and Melancholy (or
black bile).
Good Macbeth
Loyal and Honour of Macbeth: scene where
Macbeth had doubts and did not want to go
through with killing Duncan (Act 1, Scene 7).
Courageous and gifted military leader (Act 1,
scene 2, 68).
Evil Macbeth
“Methought, I heard a voice cry, ‘Sleep no
more! Macbeth does murder sleep – the
innocent sleep” emphasises the
transformation of Macbeth from a loyal
subject to a regal killer, sleeping the king in
his innocent sleep (Act 2, scene 2).
Corrupted by power and ambition e.g. Killing
of Banquo and Macduff’s family. Macbeth is
titled “The dead butcher” by Malcom.
2. Appearances hide truth/reality
Lady Macbeth represses her better nature but the constant repression takes a toll and guilt
leads to sleepwalking, near-madness and death. The transformation from a perfect hostess
in front of Duncan into the perfect accomplice to murder is emotionally exhaustive and
destructive when guilt overwhelms her.
Equivocation means “the use of the words in one sense while meaning the opposite in order
to deliberately mislead or confuse”. This is evident in the character of Lady Macbeth, the
theme that appearances are deceptive and setting of Macbeth’s castle is a safe and peaceful
“home”.
Witches appear to be helpful fortune tellers but witches were associated with darkness and
death. In the play/film, Macbeth uses popular beliefs of witches and witchcraft to illustrate
supernatural beings who spoke prophecies. Witches were believed to be able to: see in to
the future, make themselves invisible and they are excited in drawing out the evilness in
human beings and how it corrupts them then kills them. They are the best disguising
themselves to hide the truth.
Perfect hostess, faithful wife, compassionate
Perfect accomplice to murder
Good luck!
woman
Lady Macbeth shows some human
compassion when she mentions that she
cannot kill Duncan herself because he
reminds her late father.
“Fair and noble hostess, We are your guest
tonight” suggests she is hospitable and
welcoming to Duncan (Act 1, scene 6).
Due Monday 27/06/11
Deceitful- Lady Macbeth puts up a “honoured
hostess” but her murderous intentions are
clear to the readers (Act 1, scene 7).
Dangerous- Lady Macbeth tells Macbeth look
like an “innocent flower” but be “a serpent
underneath” (Act 1, scene 5).
3. Usurpation (forceful removal of a rightful king) and divine rights of the king
Duncan is deceived not because he is a fool, but because, good himself, he suspects no evil
in others – and, tragically for him, he does not learn from his mistake in having trusted the
former Thane of Cawdor.
God was situated at the ‘top’ of the chain as the supreme ruler. He was represented by the
king or queen who was divinely appointed to rule over Earth. The act of regicide- killing the
king or queen- would rupture the Great Chain of Being, plunging the universe into turmoil
and offending God. In the play, day become dark as night, a falcon killed by an owl and
Duncan’s horses turned wild and ate each other (Act 2, scene 2).
The desire to be king transforms a person to commit monstrous acts of violence. E.g.
Macbeth murders Duncan in his sleep with daggers. He committed the greatest treachery of
all, the murder of King Duncan and usurps the throne, “I have done the deed” (Act 2, scene
2).
Activities - Language
Symbols – A symbol is an object, creature, person, action or situation which is part of a
larger thing. This larger thing is often abstract or inexpressible and needs something
more real to give it meaning.
e.g. A flag is a symbol of a nation
What are the symbols in the play Macbeth?
a. Macbeth’s castle
b. Witches
c. Macbeth
d. Lady Macbeth
Macbeth: Retold film
a. Milk
b. Restaurant
Irony of situation – In ironical situations there is a contrast between what someone
thinks or says and the true state of affairs.
e.g. The transformation of Macbeth to violent killer of Duncan will bring him fame, money
and happiness. But this contrasts with (is opposite to) the true state of affairs which involves
the loss of happiness and ultimately death.
Can you find any other ironic situations in the film/play?
Soliloquy – When a character speaks his deepest thoughts aloud to himself when he is
alone. This dramatic technique enables the audience to know what is going on in the
“privacy” of a character’s mind.
e.g. “...the bell invites me. Hear it not, Duncan, for it is a knell | That summons thee to
heaven or to hell” reveals that Macbeth is determined to complete his transformation to a
regal killer and achieve “happiness”.
Where can we use this soliloquy in your transformational essay?