Macbeth
Characters:
Duncan
Duncan as King contrasts Macbeth as King. He is compassionate whereas Macbeth is cruel
and violent. Duncan is the god appointed Kind so under him Scotland is prosperous. When
Macbeth seized power, Scotland became chaotic as Macbeth is corrupt. Duncan’s flaw is
that he is too good; he’d never fathom that Macbeth would kill him, which ultimately leads
to his downfall.
Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth is at the beginning ambitious and controlling, whereas Macbeth is fearful and
guilty. This ultimately swaps. This defied conventions at the time as women at the time were
views as weak and inferior to men, as they lived in a misogynistic society. Society’s view of
women, means that she can only get what she wants through Macbeth. Lady Macbeth
contrasts Lady Macduff, Lady Macbeth is controlling and manipulative whereas Lady
Macduff is a caring mother, and she has children, which connotes innocence and purity.
Macbeth
Macbeth is gullible and easily manipulated by the witches, who use him to bring chaos to
Scotland and its monarchy. Throughout the play Macbeth goes from feeling guilty to
becoming a sadist, and eventually loses his free will doing whatever the witches want. He
also goes from doing what his wife wants, to what he wants, reverting their roles back to
the typical conventions.
The witches
The witches are also manipulative and use Macbeth to create chaos in Scotland, this then
makes the audience question fate vs free will. Makes the audience question whether any of
this would of happened if they hadn’t told Macbeth his prophecies. Macbeth becoming king
goes against the divine right of kings, suggesting that Macbeths reign and the witches are
unholy and unnatural. The witches gain more and more control over Macbeth, so much that
his first words parallel those of the witches ‘so foul and fair a day I have not seen’. This
ultimately leads to his downfall as the witches give him a false sense of hope as they tell him
‘none of woman born can harm Macbeth’.
Banquo
Banquo and Macbeth are initially alike, they are Thanes and both receive prophecies form
the witches together. They are both ambitious, but Banquo is cautious unlike Macbeth and
chooses loyalty over honour. Banquo is interested by the witches but doesn’t trust them,
unlike Macbeth who is compelled by them and does whatever they want. Banquo is killed as
he is cunning and good, unlike Macbeth, which threatens his power and reign. Banquo exists
to allow the audience to compare how Macbeth strays away from someone he is at the
beginning of the [play to someone who is a tyrant and murderer.
Macduff
,Macduff is the good version of Macbeth, which is why their names are similar and their
wives are ladies. Macduff is loyal to Scotland and he puts his family in danger because of it.
He has children, unlike the Macbeths, and children symbolise purity, which sets apart good
and evil.
, Key quotes from the captain
Quote Chapter Language technique analysis Context
For brave Macbeth- well he 1.2 Tone- praiseful and kind Macbeths brave and
deserves that name Brave- connotations savage nature is praised
Like Valour’s minion… 1.2 Simile Shakespeare is
suggesting that Macbeth
is the servant of bravery.
Unseamed him from the nave to 1.2 Graphic imagery Cut open Macdonald
th’ chaps and fix’d his head upon and cut him from his
our battlements navel to his jaw and put
his head upon a stick.
Yes, as sparrows, eagles, or the 1.2 Hyperbolic Captain illustrates to
hare, the lion Metaphor Duncan who brave
Macbeth was in the
battle. Meant to be
comical as he says
Macbeth was as scared
as a lion is of a hare- not
at all.
Characters:
Duncan
Duncan as King contrasts Macbeth as King. He is compassionate whereas Macbeth is cruel
and violent. Duncan is the god appointed Kind so under him Scotland is prosperous. When
Macbeth seized power, Scotland became chaotic as Macbeth is corrupt. Duncan’s flaw is
that he is too good; he’d never fathom that Macbeth would kill him, which ultimately leads
to his downfall.
Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth is at the beginning ambitious and controlling, whereas Macbeth is fearful and
guilty. This ultimately swaps. This defied conventions at the time as women at the time were
views as weak and inferior to men, as they lived in a misogynistic society. Society’s view of
women, means that she can only get what she wants through Macbeth. Lady Macbeth
contrasts Lady Macduff, Lady Macbeth is controlling and manipulative whereas Lady
Macduff is a caring mother, and she has children, which connotes innocence and purity.
Macbeth
Macbeth is gullible and easily manipulated by the witches, who use him to bring chaos to
Scotland and its monarchy. Throughout the play Macbeth goes from feeling guilty to
becoming a sadist, and eventually loses his free will doing whatever the witches want. He
also goes from doing what his wife wants, to what he wants, reverting their roles back to
the typical conventions.
The witches
The witches are also manipulative and use Macbeth to create chaos in Scotland, this then
makes the audience question fate vs free will. Makes the audience question whether any of
this would of happened if they hadn’t told Macbeth his prophecies. Macbeth becoming king
goes against the divine right of kings, suggesting that Macbeths reign and the witches are
unholy and unnatural. The witches gain more and more control over Macbeth, so much that
his first words parallel those of the witches ‘so foul and fair a day I have not seen’. This
ultimately leads to his downfall as the witches give him a false sense of hope as they tell him
‘none of woman born can harm Macbeth’.
Banquo
Banquo and Macbeth are initially alike, they are Thanes and both receive prophecies form
the witches together. They are both ambitious, but Banquo is cautious unlike Macbeth and
chooses loyalty over honour. Banquo is interested by the witches but doesn’t trust them,
unlike Macbeth who is compelled by them and does whatever they want. Banquo is killed as
he is cunning and good, unlike Macbeth, which threatens his power and reign. Banquo exists
to allow the audience to compare how Macbeth strays away from someone he is at the
beginning of the [play to someone who is a tyrant and murderer.
Macduff
,Macduff is the good version of Macbeth, which is why their names are similar and their
wives are ladies. Macduff is loyal to Scotland and he puts his family in danger because of it.
He has children, unlike the Macbeths, and children symbolise purity, which sets apart good
and evil.
, Key quotes from the captain
Quote Chapter Language technique analysis Context
For brave Macbeth- well he 1.2 Tone- praiseful and kind Macbeths brave and
deserves that name Brave- connotations savage nature is praised
Like Valour’s minion… 1.2 Simile Shakespeare is
suggesting that Macbeth
is the servant of bravery.
Unseamed him from the nave to 1.2 Graphic imagery Cut open Macdonald
th’ chaps and fix’d his head upon and cut him from his
our battlements navel to his jaw and put
his head upon a stick.
Yes, as sparrows, eagles, or the 1.2 Hyperbolic Captain illustrates to
hare, the lion Metaphor Duncan who brave
Macbeth was in the
battle. Meant to be
comical as he says
Macbeth was as scared
as a lion is of a hare- not
at all.
