In the 1606 play Macbeth, Shakespeare constructs the theme of choice as a recurring motif
where the morally right decision is rewarded with divine approval while decision to violate the
natural laws brings destruction to both the state and oneself. Through presenting Macbeth’s
initial choice to uphold the Divine Right of Kings, his gradual choice towards aligning with evil
supernatural powers, and finally the tragic consequences of his wrong choices, Shakespeare
reinforces the importance of upholding your place in the Great Chain of Being, choosing to
alienate oneself away from evilness and witchcraft as suggested by James I’s doctrine in
Daemonologie.
Early on in the play, Shakespeare presents Macbeth as the embodiment of masculinity and
nobleness in order to praise his inherently morally right choice of upholding the Divine Right
of Kings. Macbeth’s choice to be loyal is praised by all, as when he is introduced off-stage by
the epithet "Brave Macbeth," suggesting Macbeth’s inherent goodness in choosing to serve
King Duncan. His masculinity is constructed as a moral position; he has chosen the path of
bravery admired by Jacobean society when he uses his "brandished steel" to execute the
enemies. In particular, the noun "execution" legitimises his choice to kill, reinforcing how right
choices intrinsically lead to legitimate approval and loyalty. Moreover, the word "smoked"
emphasises Macbeth’s speed at which he slaughters, suggesting as if the blood of the
enemy never cools despite the coldness of the Scottish highlands, emphasising Macbeth’s
eager, determined desire to kill for the King. "Smoked" could alternatively be interpreted as
showcasing Macbeth’s eager, almost performative urge to choose to serve the King, as he
has literally turned into a force of nature. Furthermore, his choice to brutally "unseam" the
traitor Macdonald from the "nave to the chops" displays him willfully conducting violence for
the King’s interest. However, this graphic imagery may also unsettle the Jacobean audience,
foreshadowing how his violent choice to "unseam" at this stage will be utilized in the same
way to make Scotland "bleed” later on. Hence, Shakespeare has constructed Macbeth as a
"worthy" figure deserving of praise for his choice to serve the King, yet subtly hints at the
versatile nature of human will because his violence appears unsettling.
As the play progresses, Shakespeare presents how choosing to align with supernatural
powers leads to the corruption of even the most noble figures, in order to warn his audience
against the psychological influence from the witches and instead impose focus on self moral
integrity. Macbeth, after choosing to become "rapt" with the witches, finds his mind becomes
"full of scorpions," where the adjective "full" suggests how his mind is no longer a place of
reasoning, but a vessel of venomous thoughts—incapable of making the right choices. This
explains his further tyrannical violence on stage because in choosing to consult with the
witches, he has lost his sense of moral reasoning. In particular, the "scorpions" link to the
Furies in the Greek classics, who carried whips of scorpions in order to incite madness in the
guilty mind, suggesting how Macbeth has made a morally damned choice (regicide) and is
now being punished. Furthermore, Shakespeare presents Macbeth’s deliberate choice to
align with evil in his soliloquy in Act one where he admits how Duncan’s virtue will "plead
like angels," "trumpet-tongued," but still chooses to satisfy his "vaulting ambition." The
celestial imagery of "angels" elevates Duncan to a heavenly level, suggesting how he is
protected and endorsed by God, while the auditory image of "trumpets" reinforces how this is
a fact universally acknowledged. However, Macbeth knows he has "no spur" or reason such
as necessity or duty to kill Duncan, yet still makes the choice, emphasising how unchecked
ambition leads to unethical, impulsive choices—resonating with the Gunpowder Plot of 1605
where a choice to disguise treason beneath a facade of loyalty led to unrest in England.
where the morally right decision is rewarded with divine approval while decision to violate the
natural laws brings destruction to both the state and oneself. Through presenting Macbeth’s
initial choice to uphold the Divine Right of Kings, his gradual choice towards aligning with evil
supernatural powers, and finally the tragic consequences of his wrong choices, Shakespeare
reinforces the importance of upholding your place in the Great Chain of Being, choosing to
alienate oneself away from evilness and witchcraft as suggested by James I’s doctrine in
Daemonologie.
Early on in the play, Shakespeare presents Macbeth as the embodiment of masculinity and
nobleness in order to praise his inherently morally right choice of upholding the Divine Right
of Kings. Macbeth’s choice to be loyal is praised by all, as when he is introduced off-stage by
the epithet "Brave Macbeth," suggesting Macbeth’s inherent goodness in choosing to serve
King Duncan. His masculinity is constructed as a moral position; he has chosen the path of
bravery admired by Jacobean society when he uses his "brandished steel" to execute the
enemies. In particular, the noun "execution" legitimises his choice to kill, reinforcing how right
choices intrinsically lead to legitimate approval and loyalty. Moreover, the word "smoked"
emphasises Macbeth’s speed at which he slaughters, suggesting as if the blood of the
enemy never cools despite the coldness of the Scottish highlands, emphasising Macbeth’s
eager, determined desire to kill for the King. "Smoked" could alternatively be interpreted as
showcasing Macbeth’s eager, almost performative urge to choose to serve the King, as he
has literally turned into a force of nature. Furthermore, his choice to brutally "unseam" the
traitor Macdonald from the "nave to the chops" displays him willfully conducting violence for
the King’s interest. However, this graphic imagery may also unsettle the Jacobean audience,
foreshadowing how his violent choice to "unseam" at this stage will be utilized in the same
way to make Scotland "bleed” later on. Hence, Shakespeare has constructed Macbeth as a
"worthy" figure deserving of praise for his choice to serve the King, yet subtly hints at the
versatile nature of human will because his violence appears unsettling.
As the play progresses, Shakespeare presents how choosing to align with supernatural
powers leads to the corruption of even the most noble figures, in order to warn his audience
against the psychological influence from the witches and instead impose focus on self moral
integrity. Macbeth, after choosing to become "rapt" with the witches, finds his mind becomes
"full of scorpions," where the adjective "full" suggests how his mind is no longer a place of
reasoning, but a vessel of venomous thoughts—incapable of making the right choices. This
explains his further tyrannical violence on stage because in choosing to consult with the
witches, he has lost his sense of moral reasoning. In particular, the "scorpions" link to the
Furies in the Greek classics, who carried whips of scorpions in order to incite madness in the
guilty mind, suggesting how Macbeth has made a morally damned choice (regicide) and is
now being punished. Furthermore, Shakespeare presents Macbeth’s deliberate choice to
align with evil in his soliloquy in Act one where he admits how Duncan’s virtue will "plead
like angels," "trumpet-tongued," but still chooses to satisfy his "vaulting ambition." The
celestial imagery of "angels" elevates Duncan to a heavenly level, suggesting how he is
protected and endorsed by God, while the auditory image of "trumpets" reinforces how this is
a fact universally acknowledged. However, Macbeth knows he has "no spur" or reason such
as necessity or duty to kill Duncan, yet still makes the choice, emphasising how unchecked
ambition leads to unethical, impulsive choices—resonating with the Gunpowder Plot of 1605
where a choice to disguise treason beneath a facade of loyalty led to unrest in England.
