MACBETH BOOKLET│GCSE ENG LIT
Macbeth Booklet
Character Analysis 2 – 19
Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
The Witches
Banquo
Macduff
Context 19 – 25
Writing for a King
Historical Context / Macbeth’s Origins
Witches / Witchcraft
Religion
Setting
Targeting Grade 8/9
The Great Chain of Being (GCOB)
The Divine Right of Kings / Gunpowder Plot
Themes 25 - 51
Ambition
Abuse of Power and Kingship
Appearance vs Reality
Gender
Guilt, Innocence, and Paranoia
Act Summaries 51 - 55
Act 1
Act 2
Act 3
Act 4 W. Shakespeare
Act 5 Written – 1606 -
Past Paper Questions 55 - 70 Set – 11th C -
1
, MACBETH BOOKLET│GCSE ENG LIT
Character Analysis
Macbeth
Macbeth’s character has been purposefully crafted by Shakespeare to symbolise the perils
of ambition
Macbeth Is the eponymous character who is presented is a tragic hero, starting from a
position of glory and success to a position of weakness and misfortune
o Macbeth’s Hamartia (Fatal flaw) is argued to be his unchecked ambition – he can’t
restrain himself from going after what he wants, regardless of the moral
consequences
Shakespeare uses Macbeth’s noble status to represent the significance of his downfall – he
warns those that even in the highest position of power and authority, it is possible to
succumb to ambition and greed
Macbeth has a tense, passionate relationship with Lady Macbeth, allowing Shakespeare to
examine gender roles, marital relations and power in society.
o Macbeth allows himself to be overpowered by his wife as she emasculates him by
challenging his male characteristics, forcing him to descend from a brave, masculine
warrior to a passive feminine coward
His character is significant in terms of philosophy, religion and morality – his personality is
defined by his ambition and guilt
o One could argue that he is constantly fixated on the future he desires
o Equally, you could argue that Macbeth is constantly haunted by his crimes
Shakespeare explores the idea of predestination; Macbeth’s life seems to be controlled by
fate, but whether his life was foretold or whether is actions changed his fate is up for debate
Shakespeare has used Macbeth to highlight the importance of Gender in the play
Macbeth is used as a symbol for toxic and repressive masculinity, ultimately associating
manhood with violence
Macbeth’s fears of being emasculated by his wife, and the ‘feminine’ traits he inherits allows
Shakespeare to use his character to explore femininity
Macbeth has a desire for more – despite him being successful in battle, having a loyal wife
and being appointed Thane of Cawdor, this still doesn’t fulfil his desire of power.
o He believed the idea that the ideals of valour, power and violence become
synonymous with masculinity – if he doesn’t pursue kingship, he will be exposed as
effeminate
Lady Macbeth is the only one close enough to him who he allows to manipulate and control
him
o The power dynamics change as the play progresses, from Macbeth treating her as
his equal and his wife, to her having the ultimate power and control.
Ambition is viewed to be his hamartia, but his disputed masculinity is his weakness
o Any challenge to his manhood is enough to convince him to commit any crime.
o It is arguable that what Macbeth’s ambition 0strives for, more than to be king, is to be
indisputably ‘manly’.
2
, MACBETH BOOKLET│GCSE ENG LIT
In a Jacobean Society, religion played a major role, driving Shakespeare to mention faith as
a core ideology
The play is intentionally full of sinners and treachery, evident by Macbeth
Macbeth rarely mentions God by name, but the idea of Heaven and Hell plays heavily into
the decisions he makes – evident by his worry for where his immortal soul may end up.
o Macbeth mentions jumping ‘the life to come’ implying the idea he is sacrificing an
eternal life in Heaven so he can enjoy power and status during his finite life on Earth.
Significantly, his coping mechanism for his guilt and temptations is to turn his back on God
o He acknowledges the consequences for committing regicide, yet choses to do so
anyway. He frets that Duncan’s virtues as a good king will somehow cry out against
the murder
Killing Duncan is a landmark decision in his moral path, one that he has consciously chosen
and will eventually, end his good ways and embrace corrupt temptation.
Macbeth soon after the murder has a moral and identity crisis
o This is exposed through his inability to cope by how he will ‘sleep no more’, and how
he is unable to ‘say Amen’
o He knows that what he has committed will demonstrate that his life on Earth is now
over – he has strayed from God’s path, and so ultimately has lost God’s protection.
Shakespeare constructs Scotland after the murder as a godless, hellish land to match its
king
o Crops fail, strange cries fill the air and the country lives in eternal darkness –
Macbeth’s mental state mirrors the state of his kingdom
o Shakespeare suggests that living without God is the worst fate a man can have
With a patriarchal society, Homosociality was incredibly common
With a public domain incredibly male orientated, women were expected to stay home whilst
the men were running the country
Men were emotionally and psychologically attuned to each other due to the lack of
feminine company in society.
The military standards and the influence this had on society also meant that male solidarity
and loyalty were important valued
o Similarly in society, whilst in battle soldiers relied on each other meaning desertion
was unthinkable
Macbeth’s moral crisis evolves from the ideal of male friendship – Killing Duncan means
betraying a friend, relative and his king.
o This heinous act goes against everything Macbeth has been taught to value and
uphold
o Similarly, killing Banquo would be a shocking act – particularly for a Jacobean
audience, with Banquo being Macbeth’s closest friend, killing one another would be
a preposterous act.
Tragic Hero’s and the Renaissance Theatre were popular in Shakespeare’s plays
Hamartia – a tragic flaw that causes their downfall, in this sense Macbeth’s unchecked
ambition
Hubris – excessive pride and disrespect for the natural order, evident by how Macbeth
challenges the GCOB
Catharsis – where the audience feels pity and fear for the protagonist in their undoing.
3
, MACBETH BOOKLET│GCSE ENG LIT
Shakespeare purposefully ensures that we encourage Macbeth, and want to see him
succeed and avoid detection, despite knowing his wrongdoings.
o This ultimately creates a moral crisis for the audience, guaranteeing they will be
more engaged with the topic and debate it
o Equally, the audiences investment in Macbeth makes his turn towards pure villainy
more painful for the audience.
It is debateable whether the audience relates to his desires, and to a certain extent,
whether they are force to admit that he is wrong and that his tragic death is deserved and
justful.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS –
Macbeth’s unchecked ambition is ultimately what drives the play, as his demand for more
and him succumbing to temptation leads him to end the play in a much lower position than
when he started
o Shakespeare explores how the issue isn’t ambition itself, but how Macbeth allows
himself to be controlled by it – Macbeth is oblivious to morality and the natural order
o Macbeth challenges the GCOB, with Shakespeare teaching audiences the
importance of self-awareness, conscience and self-restraint.
o This is relevant to the Jacobean time period, where many plotted to kill the king and
were fearful of espionage.
Macbeth murdering Duncan makes him guilt-ridden and tragically remorseful –
Shakespeare explores the idea how Macbeth can be viewed as a nihilistic character, one
surrounded by blood, darkness and death
o Although his unchecked ambition leads to his downfall, his guilt makes his undoing
unbearable for himself and the audience
o Macbeth is engulfed by a psychological state of unescapable regret, with
Shakespeare suggesting that the real punishment for regicide isn’t execution, but
guilt.
o Shakespeare proposes that no one can cope with the guilt our conscience creates,
nor can we live with the knowledge of our own evil.
Both internal and external conflict is explored in the play, particularly conflicts between good
and evil, the supernatural and the natural, and free will and fate.
o Macbeth associates violence with manhood and masculinity – whenever his male
domination is challenged, he responds with violence and anger in fear of showing
signs of weakness and femininity
o Equally, cruelty and violence are linked with the masculine ideals of honour and
bravery – with men being noble and fin warriors, Macbeth interprets this as a
bloodlust. Shakespeare could hint at the idea that ideals such as bravery and honour
are used to disguise injustice.
o Shakespeare demonstrates how violence and bloodshed are used to maintain
tyranny and corruption – Macbeth’s reign is plagued by disease and murder, and he
uses violence to reaffirm his leadership.
Macbeth declares that ‘blood will have blood’ evoking the idea that his violent
act will only lead to more, progressive violence and bloodshed.
o Shakespeare portrays power as being elusive and tricky, and explores how the main
characters fight for power. He exposes how what matters more in the play is the fight
for power, rather than the power itself.
4
Macbeth Booklet
Character Analysis 2 – 19
Macbeth
Lady Macbeth
The Witches
Banquo
Macduff
Context 19 – 25
Writing for a King
Historical Context / Macbeth’s Origins
Witches / Witchcraft
Religion
Setting
Targeting Grade 8/9
The Great Chain of Being (GCOB)
The Divine Right of Kings / Gunpowder Plot
Themes 25 - 51
Ambition
Abuse of Power and Kingship
Appearance vs Reality
Gender
Guilt, Innocence, and Paranoia
Act Summaries 51 - 55
Act 1
Act 2
Act 3
Act 4 W. Shakespeare
Act 5 Written – 1606 -
Past Paper Questions 55 - 70 Set – 11th C -
1
, MACBETH BOOKLET│GCSE ENG LIT
Character Analysis
Macbeth
Macbeth’s character has been purposefully crafted by Shakespeare to symbolise the perils
of ambition
Macbeth Is the eponymous character who is presented is a tragic hero, starting from a
position of glory and success to a position of weakness and misfortune
o Macbeth’s Hamartia (Fatal flaw) is argued to be his unchecked ambition – he can’t
restrain himself from going after what he wants, regardless of the moral
consequences
Shakespeare uses Macbeth’s noble status to represent the significance of his downfall – he
warns those that even in the highest position of power and authority, it is possible to
succumb to ambition and greed
Macbeth has a tense, passionate relationship with Lady Macbeth, allowing Shakespeare to
examine gender roles, marital relations and power in society.
o Macbeth allows himself to be overpowered by his wife as she emasculates him by
challenging his male characteristics, forcing him to descend from a brave, masculine
warrior to a passive feminine coward
His character is significant in terms of philosophy, religion and morality – his personality is
defined by his ambition and guilt
o One could argue that he is constantly fixated on the future he desires
o Equally, you could argue that Macbeth is constantly haunted by his crimes
Shakespeare explores the idea of predestination; Macbeth’s life seems to be controlled by
fate, but whether his life was foretold or whether is actions changed his fate is up for debate
Shakespeare has used Macbeth to highlight the importance of Gender in the play
Macbeth is used as a symbol for toxic and repressive masculinity, ultimately associating
manhood with violence
Macbeth’s fears of being emasculated by his wife, and the ‘feminine’ traits he inherits allows
Shakespeare to use his character to explore femininity
Macbeth has a desire for more – despite him being successful in battle, having a loyal wife
and being appointed Thane of Cawdor, this still doesn’t fulfil his desire of power.
o He believed the idea that the ideals of valour, power and violence become
synonymous with masculinity – if he doesn’t pursue kingship, he will be exposed as
effeminate
Lady Macbeth is the only one close enough to him who he allows to manipulate and control
him
o The power dynamics change as the play progresses, from Macbeth treating her as
his equal and his wife, to her having the ultimate power and control.
Ambition is viewed to be his hamartia, but his disputed masculinity is his weakness
o Any challenge to his manhood is enough to convince him to commit any crime.
o It is arguable that what Macbeth’s ambition 0strives for, more than to be king, is to be
indisputably ‘manly’.
2
, MACBETH BOOKLET│GCSE ENG LIT
In a Jacobean Society, religion played a major role, driving Shakespeare to mention faith as
a core ideology
The play is intentionally full of sinners and treachery, evident by Macbeth
Macbeth rarely mentions God by name, but the idea of Heaven and Hell plays heavily into
the decisions he makes – evident by his worry for where his immortal soul may end up.
o Macbeth mentions jumping ‘the life to come’ implying the idea he is sacrificing an
eternal life in Heaven so he can enjoy power and status during his finite life on Earth.
Significantly, his coping mechanism for his guilt and temptations is to turn his back on God
o He acknowledges the consequences for committing regicide, yet choses to do so
anyway. He frets that Duncan’s virtues as a good king will somehow cry out against
the murder
Killing Duncan is a landmark decision in his moral path, one that he has consciously chosen
and will eventually, end his good ways and embrace corrupt temptation.
Macbeth soon after the murder has a moral and identity crisis
o This is exposed through his inability to cope by how he will ‘sleep no more’, and how
he is unable to ‘say Amen’
o He knows that what he has committed will demonstrate that his life on Earth is now
over – he has strayed from God’s path, and so ultimately has lost God’s protection.
Shakespeare constructs Scotland after the murder as a godless, hellish land to match its
king
o Crops fail, strange cries fill the air and the country lives in eternal darkness –
Macbeth’s mental state mirrors the state of his kingdom
o Shakespeare suggests that living without God is the worst fate a man can have
With a patriarchal society, Homosociality was incredibly common
With a public domain incredibly male orientated, women were expected to stay home whilst
the men were running the country
Men were emotionally and psychologically attuned to each other due to the lack of
feminine company in society.
The military standards and the influence this had on society also meant that male solidarity
and loyalty were important valued
o Similarly in society, whilst in battle soldiers relied on each other meaning desertion
was unthinkable
Macbeth’s moral crisis evolves from the ideal of male friendship – Killing Duncan means
betraying a friend, relative and his king.
o This heinous act goes against everything Macbeth has been taught to value and
uphold
o Similarly, killing Banquo would be a shocking act – particularly for a Jacobean
audience, with Banquo being Macbeth’s closest friend, killing one another would be
a preposterous act.
Tragic Hero’s and the Renaissance Theatre were popular in Shakespeare’s plays
Hamartia – a tragic flaw that causes their downfall, in this sense Macbeth’s unchecked
ambition
Hubris – excessive pride and disrespect for the natural order, evident by how Macbeth
challenges the GCOB
Catharsis – where the audience feels pity and fear for the protagonist in their undoing.
3
, MACBETH BOOKLET│GCSE ENG LIT
Shakespeare purposefully ensures that we encourage Macbeth, and want to see him
succeed and avoid detection, despite knowing his wrongdoings.
o This ultimately creates a moral crisis for the audience, guaranteeing they will be
more engaged with the topic and debate it
o Equally, the audiences investment in Macbeth makes his turn towards pure villainy
more painful for the audience.
It is debateable whether the audience relates to his desires, and to a certain extent,
whether they are force to admit that he is wrong and that his tragic death is deserved and
justful.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS –
Macbeth’s unchecked ambition is ultimately what drives the play, as his demand for more
and him succumbing to temptation leads him to end the play in a much lower position than
when he started
o Shakespeare explores how the issue isn’t ambition itself, but how Macbeth allows
himself to be controlled by it – Macbeth is oblivious to morality and the natural order
o Macbeth challenges the GCOB, with Shakespeare teaching audiences the
importance of self-awareness, conscience and self-restraint.
o This is relevant to the Jacobean time period, where many plotted to kill the king and
were fearful of espionage.
Macbeth murdering Duncan makes him guilt-ridden and tragically remorseful –
Shakespeare explores the idea how Macbeth can be viewed as a nihilistic character, one
surrounded by blood, darkness and death
o Although his unchecked ambition leads to his downfall, his guilt makes his undoing
unbearable for himself and the audience
o Macbeth is engulfed by a psychological state of unescapable regret, with
Shakespeare suggesting that the real punishment for regicide isn’t execution, but
guilt.
o Shakespeare proposes that no one can cope with the guilt our conscience creates,
nor can we live with the knowledge of our own evil.
Both internal and external conflict is explored in the play, particularly conflicts between good
and evil, the supernatural and the natural, and free will and fate.
o Macbeth associates violence with manhood and masculinity – whenever his male
domination is challenged, he responds with violence and anger in fear of showing
signs of weakness and femininity
o Equally, cruelty and violence are linked with the masculine ideals of honour and
bravery – with men being noble and fin warriors, Macbeth interprets this as a
bloodlust. Shakespeare could hint at the idea that ideals such as bravery and honour
are used to disguise injustice.
o Shakespeare demonstrates how violence and bloodshed are used to maintain
tyranny and corruption – Macbeth’s reign is plagued by disease and murder, and he
uses violence to reaffirm his leadership.
Macbeth declares that ‘blood will have blood’ evoking the idea that his violent
act will only lead to more, progressive violence and bloodshed.
o Shakespeare portrays power as being elusive and tricky, and explores how the main
characters fight for power. He exposes how what matters more in the play is the fight
for power, rather than the power itself.
4
