Key Points
‣ Eponymous character - macbeth the tragic hero
‣ Through Macbeth, Shakespeare explores conflict between autonomy and predestination
⤷ Though it is said that his hamartia is his unchecked ambition his innate morality and
reluctance to defy natural and societal order through regicide demonstrates that this
trait is not inherently his
⤷ It is of greater significance how easily corrupted he is by others, primarily lady macbeth
- As a masterful manipulator she is able to exploit his insecurity and fear of
emasculation and catalyses his descent to a cycle of interminable evil
Macbeth
⤷ Though macbeth would like to believe he is in control of his fate and able to ‘disdain
fortune’ his capacity to be steered by others undermines this
- His ambition and desire to overcome fate was never his own and is the
culmination of others’ power over him
‣ Explores conflict, both internal and external
⤷ Internal - conflict between predestination and self-determination and fear of rejection of
morality and consequence
- Fluctuation between these ideas until act 3 when Macbeth resigns himself to
uncontrolled evil
⤷ External - macbeth interprets masculine ideals of honour and bravery as bloodlust
Focussed analysis Supporting quotes
Point 1 - equates violence with honour 1.2 Cap ‘brave Macbeth - well he
‣ Initial presentation as violence as something to be rewarded deserves that name’ ‘Valour’s
(‘well he deserves that name’) minion’ ‘disdaining fortune’
‣ Macbeth fulfils his manly, warrior’s purpose of being 1.2 Cap ‘unseam’d him from the
heartless and violent on the battlefield nave to th’chaps’
⤷ When this detached killing extends into his life 3.4 M ‘I am in blood Stepped in
outside of battle it becomes ruinous so far that, should I wade no
⤷ Through the play we see a shift in violence from more, Returning were as tedious
violence that can be honoured because of its as go o'er’
respectable nature to cold, detached murder 5.3 M ‘i’ll fight till from my bones
‣ Comes to understanding that the use of this detached my flesh be hack’d’
violence outside of battle can only bring him harm as in this
context it is no longer respectable nor can it be left behind as
it were in battle
‣ Shakespeare suggests there is an extent to which violence
has a place - beyond this it does not reap the same rewards
Point 2 - exploration of autonomy 1.2 Cap ‘disdaining fortune’
‣ macbeth’s initial prevarication about the theme of murder 1.3 M ‘speak I charge you’
and reluctance to challenge fate 1.3 M ‘If chance will have me
⤷ Demonstrates an understanding of predestination king, why chance may crown me
and an unwillingness to challenge this order without my stir’
‣ Contradicted by attempts to control supernatural and 1.3 M ‘come what come may,
manipulate it to his aid time and the hour run through the
⤷ Though he understands the inevitable power of fate, roughest day’
in his thirst for power he is overcome by his ‘vaulting 1.5 M ‘stars, hide your fires, let
ambition’ not light see my black and deep
⤷ Disregards his reluctance and puts faith in his desires’
autonomy 1.7 M ‘Vaulting ambition which
‣ Shakespeare critical of the rejection of natural order o’erleaps itself’
⤷ Suggests no one has true autonomy and that there is
a greater power at play
⤷ Congruous with contemporary attitudes to god
⤷ To challenge predestination is to challenge gods will
- Macbeth rejects all hope of heaven or redemption
with this decision
‣ Eponymous character - macbeth the tragic hero
‣ Through Macbeth, Shakespeare explores conflict between autonomy and predestination
⤷ Though it is said that his hamartia is his unchecked ambition his innate morality and
reluctance to defy natural and societal order through regicide demonstrates that this
trait is not inherently his
⤷ It is of greater significance how easily corrupted he is by others, primarily lady macbeth
- As a masterful manipulator she is able to exploit his insecurity and fear of
emasculation and catalyses his descent to a cycle of interminable evil
Macbeth
⤷ Though macbeth would like to believe he is in control of his fate and able to ‘disdain
fortune’ his capacity to be steered by others undermines this
- His ambition and desire to overcome fate was never his own and is the
culmination of others’ power over him
‣ Explores conflict, both internal and external
⤷ Internal - conflict between predestination and self-determination and fear of rejection of
morality and consequence
- Fluctuation between these ideas until act 3 when Macbeth resigns himself to
uncontrolled evil
⤷ External - macbeth interprets masculine ideals of honour and bravery as bloodlust
Focussed analysis Supporting quotes
Point 1 - equates violence with honour 1.2 Cap ‘brave Macbeth - well he
‣ Initial presentation as violence as something to be rewarded deserves that name’ ‘Valour’s
(‘well he deserves that name’) minion’ ‘disdaining fortune’
‣ Macbeth fulfils his manly, warrior’s purpose of being 1.2 Cap ‘unseam’d him from the
heartless and violent on the battlefield nave to th’chaps’
⤷ When this detached killing extends into his life 3.4 M ‘I am in blood Stepped in
outside of battle it becomes ruinous so far that, should I wade no
⤷ Through the play we see a shift in violence from more, Returning were as tedious
violence that can be honoured because of its as go o'er’
respectable nature to cold, detached murder 5.3 M ‘i’ll fight till from my bones
‣ Comes to understanding that the use of this detached my flesh be hack’d’
violence outside of battle can only bring him harm as in this
context it is no longer respectable nor can it be left behind as
it were in battle
‣ Shakespeare suggests there is an extent to which violence
has a place - beyond this it does not reap the same rewards
Point 2 - exploration of autonomy 1.2 Cap ‘disdaining fortune’
‣ macbeth’s initial prevarication about the theme of murder 1.3 M ‘speak I charge you’
and reluctance to challenge fate 1.3 M ‘If chance will have me
⤷ Demonstrates an understanding of predestination king, why chance may crown me
and an unwillingness to challenge this order without my stir’
‣ Contradicted by attempts to control supernatural and 1.3 M ‘come what come may,
manipulate it to his aid time and the hour run through the
⤷ Though he understands the inevitable power of fate, roughest day’
in his thirst for power he is overcome by his ‘vaulting 1.5 M ‘stars, hide your fires, let
ambition’ not light see my black and deep
⤷ Disregards his reluctance and puts faith in his desires’
autonomy 1.7 M ‘Vaulting ambition which
‣ Shakespeare critical of the rejection of natural order o’erleaps itself’
⤷ Suggests no one has true autonomy and that there is
a greater power at play
⤷ Congruous with contemporary attitudes to god
⤷ To challenge predestination is to challenge gods will
- Macbeth rejects all hope of heaven or redemption
with this decision
