MACBETH: EXAMPLE ESSAYS
MACBETH : EXAMPLE ESSAYS
The essays below were all written by students. Written feedback has been provided below.
EXAMPLE ESSAY 1
Question:
In what ways does Shakespeare make the relationship between Macbeth and Banquo so
compelling?
Notes:
Shakespeare - Focus on the writer’s techniques
Relationship - Focus on theme
Macbeth and Banquo - Focus on character
Compelling - Powerful
TIMED ESSAY B/A GRADE - BORDERLINE L7
Finished with 2 mins to spare - 50 minute written exam CIE (extract question)
Answer:
Shakespeare makes the relationship between Macbeth and Banquo so compelling through
the exploration of the themes: deception, death and the good versus evil. The discussion of
such themes leads us, as the audience, to come to the conclusion that Macbeth is a sinister
character who has somehow managed to befriend an honest, decent man, Banquo which
leads to a relationship filled with tension.
Feedback
– Themes - deception, death, good vs evil
– Good focus on audience and our understanding of character
– A thesis - not the most complex (Macbeth is sinister, Banquo is good, therefore
their relationship is tense) - could include the change in their relationship over time /
different ways in which we can be interested by their relationship
COPYRIGHT © 2021 SCRBBLY
, MACBETH: EXAMPLE ESSAYS
Firstly, by discussing the theme of deception through quotations such as “I wish your horses
swift and sure of foot”, Shakespeare is able to depict Macbeth as an evil man who will go
as far as killing his loyal friends in order to be able to have his legacy as king go on. The verb
“wish” with its positive connotation of joy captures the audience’s attention and draws it
to how such a positive verb has been transformed into one filled with negativity and the
desire for death. The transformation of the verb “wish” allows for the audience to also see
the implied opposite meanings of “swift” and “sure” which lead to an interpretation of slow
and unsteady, both of which are the opposite of what one would want when riding a horse.
Due to the opposite meaning of the phrase being interpreted, one can see how Macbeth’s
deception, in order to not bear a “fruitless crown”, has driven him to be like a “serpent”, a
cold blooded killer. Given that the play was set in the Jacobian era, where loyalty was one
of the biggest qualities that men could have, Shakespeare shows Macbeth to be unmanly
and cowardly by betraying the loyalty of his friend, highlighting the tension which fills the
relationship.
Feedback:
– Good close analysis of language - but slightly off topic
– Good focus at the end of the passage on the question
– Excellent use of short quotations
– Seems to lose focus in the centre, not enough discussion of the relationship itself until
the end
– Slightly incorrect ideas at times - Macbeth’s legacy can’t go on because he has no
children - the student meant “have his reign go on” rather than “his legacy”
– No clear topic sentence
Furthermore, through showing the theme of death to play a key role in Macbeth and
Banquo’s relationship, Shakespeare vividly captures the tension which fills that relationship
and makes it so compelling. The gothic semantic field created by Shakespeare, with
quotations such as “Banquo, thy soul’s flight...find heaven;”, “blood upon thy face” and
the stage directions “Enter the Ghost of Banquo...in Macbeth’s place” creates a frightening
atmosphere for the audience and shows how dark and negative the relationship between the
two really is. The noun “soul’s” with its connotations of the afterlife and mortality, creates
a sinister tone and this, being spoken by Macbeth, shows how Macbeth is a sinister man.
Alternatively, one could see the use of “soul’s” to be a subtle hint that Macbeth does not
really wish for Banquo to die and that he would like his soul to live on, showing a softer side
to Macbeth and this could be seen as Macbeth’s deeper feelings not being of such a negative
tone as his actions are. This however is highly unlikely as Macbeth had just antagonised and
sent murderers to look for and kill Banquo along with Fleance. In addition, the use of stage
directions “Enter the Ghost of Banquo” adhere to the rule of show and do not tell and this
allows the audience to experience the events as they unfold and the noun “Ghost” once again
reinforces the sinister atmosphere that is present. This allows the audience to feel frightened
COPYRIGHT © 2021 SCRBBLY
MACBETH : EXAMPLE ESSAYS
The essays below were all written by students. Written feedback has been provided below.
EXAMPLE ESSAY 1
Question:
In what ways does Shakespeare make the relationship between Macbeth and Banquo so
compelling?
Notes:
Shakespeare - Focus on the writer’s techniques
Relationship - Focus on theme
Macbeth and Banquo - Focus on character
Compelling - Powerful
TIMED ESSAY B/A GRADE - BORDERLINE L7
Finished with 2 mins to spare - 50 minute written exam CIE (extract question)
Answer:
Shakespeare makes the relationship between Macbeth and Banquo so compelling through
the exploration of the themes: deception, death and the good versus evil. The discussion of
such themes leads us, as the audience, to come to the conclusion that Macbeth is a sinister
character who has somehow managed to befriend an honest, decent man, Banquo which
leads to a relationship filled with tension.
Feedback
– Themes - deception, death, good vs evil
– Good focus on audience and our understanding of character
– A thesis - not the most complex (Macbeth is sinister, Banquo is good, therefore
their relationship is tense) - could include the change in their relationship over time /
different ways in which we can be interested by their relationship
COPYRIGHT © 2021 SCRBBLY
, MACBETH: EXAMPLE ESSAYS
Firstly, by discussing the theme of deception through quotations such as “I wish your horses
swift and sure of foot”, Shakespeare is able to depict Macbeth as an evil man who will go
as far as killing his loyal friends in order to be able to have his legacy as king go on. The verb
“wish” with its positive connotation of joy captures the audience’s attention and draws it
to how such a positive verb has been transformed into one filled with negativity and the
desire for death. The transformation of the verb “wish” allows for the audience to also see
the implied opposite meanings of “swift” and “sure” which lead to an interpretation of slow
and unsteady, both of which are the opposite of what one would want when riding a horse.
Due to the opposite meaning of the phrase being interpreted, one can see how Macbeth’s
deception, in order to not bear a “fruitless crown”, has driven him to be like a “serpent”, a
cold blooded killer. Given that the play was set in the Jacobian era, where loyalty was one
of the biggest qualities that men could have, Shakespeare shows Macbeth to be unmanly
and cowardly by betraying the loyalty of his friend, highlighting the tension which fills the
relationship.
Feedback:
– Good close analysis of language - but slightly off topic
– Good focus at the end of the passage on the question
– Excellent use of short quotations
– Seems to lose focus in the centre, not enough discussion of the relationship itself until
the end
– Slightly incorrect ideas at times - Macbeth’s legacy can’t go on because he has no
children - the student meant “have his reign go on” rather than “his legacy”
– No clear topic sentence
Furthermore, through showing the theme of death to play a key role in Macbeth and
Banquo’s relationship, Shakespeare vividly captures the tension which fills that relationship
and makes it so compelling. The gothic semantic field created by Shakespeare, with
quotations such as “Banquo, thy soul’s flight...find heaven;”, “blood upon thy face” and
the stage directions “Enter the Ghost of Banquo...in Macbeth’s place” creates a frightening
atmosphere for the audience and shows how dark and negative the relationship between the
two really is. The noun “soul’s” with its connotations of the afterlife and mortality, creates
a sinister tone and this, being spoken by Macbeth, shows how Macbeth is a sinister man.
Alternatively, one could see the use of “soul’s” to be a subtle hint that Macbeth does not
really wish for Banquo to die and that he would like his soul to live on, showing a softer side
to Macbeth and this could be seen as Macbeth’s deeper feelings not being of such a negative
tone as his actions are. This however is highly unlikely as Macbeth had just antagonised and
sent murderers to look for and kill Banquo along with Fleance. In addition, the use of stage
directions “Enter the Ghost of Banquo” adhere to the rule of show and do not tell and this
allows the audience to experience the events as they unfold and the noun “Ghost” once again
reinforces the sinister atmosphere that is present. This allows the audience to feel frightened
COPYRIGHT © 2021 SCRBBLY
