THEMES:
Ambition
Portrayal:
- Ambitiondrivestheplot,seenintheMacbeths’desireforthecrown.
- DangerousandsinfulinJacobeansociety,violatingtheGreatChainofBeing.
- Corrupting,leadingtoviolence,lossofnobility,andguilt.
- Darkandconsuming,asMacbethcallsithis“blackanddeepdesires.”
Symbol:
- Thecrown(Macbeth'sdesireforthe"goldenround").
- Thedaggerhallucination(physicalmanifestationofviolentambition).
- Themetaphorofthe"vaultingambition"thatoverleapsitselfandleadstoafall.
Quotes:
- "GlamisandThaneofCawdor!Thegreatestisbehind."(1.3)
- "Stars,hideyourfires!Letnotlightseemyblackanddeepdesires."(1.4)
- "YetdoIfearthynature;itistoofullo’th’milkofhumankindness."(1.5)
- "Ihavenospur...butonlyvaultingambition,whicho’erleapsitself...andfallsonth’other"
(1.7)
- "Thriftlessambition,thatwillravinup/Thineownlives’means!"(2.4)
, Guilt,Innocence,Paranoia,andFear
Portrayal-Guilt/Paranoia:
- GuiltandparanoiadrivetheMacbethstoinsanity.
- Macbethsuffershallucinations,fear,andinsomnia,fuelingviolence.
- LadyMacbethinitiallyrepressesguiltbutlaterlosescontrol,obsessivelywashing
imaginaryblood.
- Paranoia,“fullofscorpions,”spursMacbeth’sfrenziedmurders.
- Innocence,showninDuncanandMalcolm,contraststheircorruption.
Portrayal-Fear:
- Fear,linkedtoguilt,drivesMacbethtofurthermurder.
- ParanoiaandfearconflictwithJacobeanmasculinity,whichhestrugglestouphold.
- Macbethfeelstrappedandconstrained:“cabined,cribbed,confined,boundin/Tosaucy
doubtsandfears.”
- HeattemptstocombatfearthroughtheWitches’prophecies,buthiscourageis
eventually“cowed.”
- LadyMacbethcriticizeshimas“soldierandafeard,”callinghisreactionsimpostorsof
truefear.
Symbol:
- Blood(symbolizesindeliblesinandguilt).
- Hallucinations(daggerandghostsymbolizeMacbeth'scrumblingrealityand
conscience).
- insomnia/LackofSleep(symbolizessacrificeofserenityandconstanttorment).
- Darkness/Night(concealscrimesandreflectsturningawayfromGod).
Quotes:
- "WillallgreatNeptune’soceanwashthisbloodclean?"(2.2)
- "Alittlewaterclearsusofthisdeed."(2.2)
- "Hissilverskin,lacedwithgoldenblood."(2.3)
- "O,fullofscorpionsismymind,dearwife!"(3.2)
- "Hence,horribleshadow!Unrealmockery,hence!"(3.4)
- "ButnowIamcabined,cribbed,confined,boundin/Tosaucydoubtsandfears."(3.4)
- "Out,damnedspot!Out,Isay!"(5.1)
- "Naught’shad,all’sspent/Whereourdesireisgotwithoutcontent."(3.2)
Ambition
Portrayal:
- Ambitiondrivestheplot,seenintheMacbeths’desireforthecrown.
- DangerousandsinfulinJacobeansociety,violatingtheGreatChainofBeing.
- Corrupting,leadingtoviolence,lossofnobility,andguilt.
- Darkandconsuming,asMacbethcallsithis“blackanddeepdesires.”
Symbol:
- Thecrown(Macbeth'sdesireforthe"goldenround").
- Thedaggerhallucination(physicalmanifestationofviolentambition).
- Themetaphorofthe"vaultingambition"thatoverleapsitselfandleadstoafall.
Quotes:
- "GlamisandThaneofCawdor!Thegreatestisbehind."(1.3)
- "Stars,hideyourfires!Letnotlightseemyblackanddeepdesires."(1.4)
- "YetdoIfearthynature;itistoofullo’th’milkofhumankindness."(1.5)
- "Ihavenospur...butonlyvaultingambition,whicho’erleapsitself...andfallsonth’other"
(1.7)
- "Thriftlessambition,thatwillravinup/Thineownlives’means!"(2.4)
, Guilt,Innocence,Paranoia,andFear
Portrayal-Guilt/Paranoia:
- GuiltandparanoiadrivetheMacbethstoinsanity.
- Macbethsuffershallucinations,fear,andinsomnia,fuelingviolence.
- LadyMacbethinitiallyrepressesguiltbutlaterlosescontrol,obsessivelywashing
imaginaryblood.
- Paranoia,“fullofscorpions,”spursMacbeth’sfrenziedmurders.
- Innocence,showninDuncanandMalcolm,contraststheircorruption.
Portrayal-Fear:
- Fear,linkedtoguilt,drivesMacbethtofurthermurder.
- ParanoiaandfearconflictwithJacobeanmasculinity,whichhestrugglestouphold.
- Macbethfeelstrappedandconstrained:“cabined,cribbed,confined,boundin/Tosaucy
doubtsandfears.”
- HeattemptstocombatfearthroughtheWitches’prophecies,buthiscourageis
eventually“cowed.”
- LadyMacbethcriticizeshimas“soldierandafeard,”callinghisreactionsimpostorsof
truefear.
Symbol:
- Blood(symbolizesindeliblesinandguilt).
- Hallucinations(daggerandghostsymbolizeMacbeth'scrumblingrealityand
conscience).
- insomnia/LackofSleep(symbolizessacrificeofserenityandconstanttorment).
- Darkness/Night(concealscrimesandreflectsturningawayfromGod).
Quotes:
- "WillallgreatNeptune’soceanwashthisbloodclean?"(2.2)
- "Alittlewaterclearsusofthisdeed."(2.2)
- "Hissilverskin,lacedwithgoldenblood."(2.3)
- "O,fullofscorpionsismymind,dearwife!"(3.2)
- "Hence,horribleshadow!Unrealmockery,hence!"(3.4)
- "ButnowIamcabined,cribbed,confined,boundin/Tosaucydoubtsandfears."(3.4)
- "Out,damnedspot!Out,Isay!"(5.1)
- "Naught’shad,all’sspent/Whereourdesireisgotwithoutcontent."(3.2)
