how to start a macbeth essay

How to Write a Macbeth Essay ( OCR GCSE English Literature )

Revision note.

English Senior Content Creator

How to Write a Macbeth Essay

Paper 2 of your OCR GCSE English Literature exam will include questions on your anthology poetry, unseen poetry and on the Shakespeare play you’ve been studying.

You will have 50 minutes to complete one Macbeth question from a choice of two options:

A question based on an extract (of about 40 lines) from Macbeth or 

A “discursive” essay question, which is not based on any extract

You will not have access to a copy of Macbeth for either of these two questions, so it’s important you know the plot of the play really well, and that you have memorised some references and quotes from the play to use in your essay.  For the Macbeth essay, OCR examiners state that you need to use evidence from elsewhere in the play, even for the extract-based question : to get a Grade 9, it’s not enough to rely on the text from the extract. See our Macbeth Quotations and Analysis revision note page for some great quotations to learn.

How do you start a Macbeth essay?

It’s always daunting when you have 50 minutes to write one long answer. So how do you start writing? It might sound odd, but the answer is don’t start writing.

The single most important thing you can do to get the highest mark on your Macbeth essay is to write an essay plan before you start your answer. For both the extract-based question and the discursive essay, examiners award the highest marks to students who create a “coherent line of argument” and who maintain a “focus on the question” and a “critical style”. What do these phrases actually mean?

By creating a plan before you start writing, you can make sure that your essay covers all three of these points.

Your plan could look something like this:

How do you structure a Macbeth essay?

As we’ve seen, examiners give the highest marks to students who have managed to create a “coherent line of argument” throughout their essay. We’ve seen that the best way to achieve this is to create a plan, and to use that plan to structure your essay clearly and logically. 

To achieve a grade 9, OCR recommends that students include an introduction , clearly organised paragraphs and a conclusion .  If you look at the example plan above, you will see that the example plan includes a “ thesis statement ” and “ topic questions ”. See how to include these into your essay below:

Top tips for structuring your Macbeth essay:

Always begin with a clear thesis statement that sets out your argument:

Your thesis statement should only be one or two sentences in length

Include three or four paragraphs in your essay:

Including more paragraphs can result in a rambling essay that doesn’t always answer the question - less is more when writing a focused, coherent essay

Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence:

This is one sentence that sets out the argument of the paragraph

Topic sentences should always be directly related to your thesis statement and the key words of the essay question

All the evidence (quotations or textual references) you include in any paragraph should help you prove your topic sentence

Finish your essay with a short conclusion:

The conclusion shouldn’t include any new evidence

It should sum up how you have proved your thesis statement 

Some schools and teachers teach students a “scaffold” for writing essay paragraphs. This usually takes the form of an acronym, like PEE (Point, Evidence, Explanation).

However, more and more, OCR examiners are recommending students don’t follow these fixed structures. This is because they restrict your ability to bring in additional pieces of evidence, explore contextual factors, extend your explanation to include different interpretations, or include your own opinions.

To see an example of how to include these elements in your essay, see our model answer for the OCR Macbeth extract question , and a model answer for the Macbeth discursive essay question .

Macbeth essay top exam tips

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Author: Nick Redgrove

Nick is a graduate of the University of Cambridge and King’s College London. He started his career in journalism and publishing, working as an editor on a political magazine and a number of books, before training as an English teacher. After nearly 10 years working in London schools, where he held leadership positions in English departments and within a Sixth Form, he moved on to become an examiner and education consultant. With more than a decade of experience as a tutor, Nick specialises in English, but has also taught Politics, Classical Civilisation and Religious Studies.

Macbeth Essays

There are loads of ways you can approach writing an essay, but the two i favour are detailed below., the key thing to remember is that an essay should focus on the three aos:, ao1: plot and character development; ao2: language and technique; ao3: context, strategy 1 : extract / rest of play, the first strategy basically splits the essay into 3 paragraphs., the first paragraph focuses on the extract, the second focuses on the rest of the play, the third focuses on context. essentially, it's one ao per paragraph, for a really neatly organised essay., strategy 2 : a structured essay with an argument, this strategy allows you to get a much higher marks as it's structured to form an argument about the whole text. although you might think that's harder - and it's probably going to score more highly - i'd argue that it's actually easier to master. mainly because you do most of the work before the day of the exam., to see some examples of these, click on the links below:, lady macbeth as a powerful woman, macbeth as a heroic character, the key to this style is remembering this: you're going to get a question about a theme, and the extract will definitely relate to the theme., the strategy here is planning out your essays before the exam, knowing that the extract will fit into them somehow., below are some structured essays i've put together., macbeth and gender.

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Theme of Guilt in Macbeth

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129 Macbeth Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best macbeth topic ideas & essay examples, 👍 good essay topics on macbeth, 📌 most interesting macbeth topics to write about, 👍 good research topics about macbeth, ❓ macbeth essay questions.

Writing an essay on Shakespearean tragedies may be tricky for some students. There are a lot of ideas to put in your paper, and that may puzzle you. That’s why we’ve prepared a short guide on how to write Macbeth essay.

Macbeth is a tragedy by William Shakespeare based on the true story of Scottish king Macbeth. The play tells us about a Scottish general who heard a prophecy from a trio of witches and decided to bring predictions to fulfillment. This is a drama about the jeopardy of excessive lust for power and betrayal of friends.

Some researchers state that William Shakespeare adopted the plot from Holinshed’s Chronicles, a popular history of England, while others argue that the plot of the play was borrowed from George Buchanan. Before you start your Macbeth essay, you should do thorough research on facts and fiction around the play.

To give you ideas on how and what to write in your essay, check the tips below:

• Check our Macbeth essay samples to acquire knowledge on characters: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, King Duncan, Banquo, Malcolm, Macduff, Three Witches, and others. Each character is unique, and it’s quite easy to write a paper on each of them. Make a meticulous analysis of each of them, if you decide to write an essay on Macbeth characters. Use dialogues and monologues as supporting arguments to your ideas.
• In your Macbeth essay introduction provide readers with the thesis statement and a summary you’re going to discuss in the paper. Specify what exactly you will depict or analyze. Sometimes, you may need to write the intro after you finish the body and already have done an in-depth analysis of text and critique materials.
• When writing body paragraphs, describe the essay topic in detail. Start each section with a short statement, provide a supporting quote, explain it, and make a conclusion. You can always analyze IvyPanda Macbeth essay titles to learn various points of view on each character and event.
• In the Macbeth essay conclusion, reiterate a topic and your analysis. You should not only summarize the information you’ve gathered and analyzed in the paper body. You have to get back to the intro and provide clear and extensive answers on the questions you raised. Try not to leave any further questions for your readers. Here’s the secret: some professors read the conclusion first. So make it persuasive and give a complete portion of information.

You may be wondering how to use essay examples that you may find on our website. It is super easy. First of all, look through the titles to get some topic ideas.

Then, look through the sample and learn how to create your outline. Think about what you can write in your essay. Check the bibliography: there you can find useful sources for the research.

Indeed, any paper on Shakespeare’s play may concern a variety of topics. So check out our Macbeth essay examples and think of the topics which you can choose.

• Dramatic Irony in Macbeth Essay Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to amuse the audience and to show the level of deception developed by the main character. The porter gives a clear picture of what is about to happen.
• Supernatural Elements of Act I and II in Macbeth In the play, the supernatural things are central to the plot of the play as they provide a basis for action as Shakespeare meant them to fit in putting the play together.
• Betrayal in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” The betrayer, Macbeth betrays the King, friend and other subjects in the kingdom. However when Macbeth is told he has just been chosen as the Thane of Cawdor, scenes of the possibilities of him as […]
• Unchecked Ambition in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” However, in Act 1, scenes 1 to 4, the audience is introduced to Macbeth’s increasing fear and the developing desire to be the king. It appears that the desire to be the king overrides his […]
• William Shakespeare: Hamlet and Macbeth It is important to examine the role that the setting plays in Hamlet and Macbeth in relation to the tragic flaw and developments of the plot.
• Character Analysis of “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare The unplanned overnight stay of King Duncan and his entourage at Macbeth’s castle precipitates Macbeth’s first fateful decision: to murder King Duncan and clear the way for the witches’ prophecy to come true.
• Shakespeare Tragedies: Macbeth and King Lear At the beginning of the play, he decides to abdicate his throne and divide his kingdom among his three daughters. This choice eventually undermines the ethical integrity of this character, and he murders murder to […]
• Literary Character Analysis of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” The very reason that made me write about this character was how he is depicted as a hero in the opening pages of the play, and only to learn how weak he is from his […]
• The Life and Work of William Shakespeare: His Contribution to the Contemporary Theater In addition, the plays and sonnets of William Shakespeare continue to set the standard for the study of the English language in its dramatic context in institutes of higher learning and performance training.
• The Use of Hands as a Motif in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” The play presents readers with the world of royalty and the well-knit state; the world of Duncan, his two sons, Banquo, Macbeth and the whole of Scotland and England.
• The Downfall of Macbeth Nonetheless, he goes on to murder the king and his character takes a turn for the worst as he kills the chamberlains who would give witness of the king’s death and he claims he killed […]
• Macbeth & Frankenstein: Compare & Contrast In the being of the play, we assume that Macbeth is akin to the king, a loyal soldier, and a person “full of the milk of human kindness”.
• “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare: Language and Tropes Typically, ‘the end of something means the onset of another.’ Using this as a viewpoint that provides a lead to what Macbeth is all about, the fact that ‘we will proceed no further in this […]
• Omens in The “Macbeth” Play by William Shakespeare The supernatural was an aspect of the plot structure used to add tension and drama to the occurrences and situations and manifested in various ways. To conclude, the owl and raven were utilized as omens […]
• Comparison of the Opening Scene of Macbeth by Orson Welles and The Tragedy of Macbeth by Roman Polanski The opening scene of The Tragedy of Macbeth starts with the words “fair is foul and foul is fair” that Polanski takes from the end of the Shakespeare’s scene.
• Supernatural in “Macbeth” Play by Shakespeare The supernaturally manufactured predictions lure Macbeth and Banquo with the idea of power, leading Macbeth to plot the cruel murder of Duncan.
• Themes in the Tragedy of Macbeth by Shakespeare The character of Macbeth is used by Shakespeare to illustrate a man who lacks the strength of moral fiber under the affection of guilt and ambition.
• The “Macbeth” Film by Rupert Goold While Shakespeare’s play happened in the 11th century in Scotland, the movie’s design is more similar to the events of the 20th century. Corresponding to the era of the first half of the 20th century, […]
• Concept of Power in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” While The government is the system that makes laws and ensures that they are followed, it is the person who wields power who is responsible for the equality and impartiality of its enforcement.
• Analyzing the Adaptation of the Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” Furthermore, the names of all the characters in both films are the same except for a little twist in the spelling of names like Mcbeth and Mcduff.
• Macbeth and Hamlet Characters Comparison The queens in Hamlet and Macbeth play a pivotal role in the life of the heroes of the play. She is portrayed as a mother who, in her awareness of Hamlet’s crisis, feels guilty and […]
• Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” and Sophocles’ “Oedipus” The idea of a person being in the center of the action and trying to overcome some problems connected with doom, fate and some other supernatural forces become peculiar to this kind of art.
• The Play “Macbeth” by Shakespeare and the Film “Maqbool” by Bhardwaj Bhardwaj’s Maqbool is a great example of how the weather sets the tone for the story, it is not the backdrop in the film, but an active force expressing the psychological state of the characters.
• Emotions and Outward Actions in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” In this regard, in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the relationship of inward emotions and outward actions is relevant in fully conveying the interplay of themes in this tragedy.
• Characters’ Traits in Shakespeare’s Macbeth As weird as it might sound, Lady Macbeth is very emotional; as a matter of fact, the crimes that she committed can be attributed to her emotionality rather than her greed, though the latter has […]
• Macbeth Versions Comparison Film Analysis The use of classic settings in the design of the play helps in portraying the role that gangsters play in the original play of Macbeth and helps present it in the modern world.
• Power and Evocation of Horror: The Macbeth Witches’ Chant Among them are the rhymes, the rhythm of the words, the interpolation of a chorus, the increasing complexity of the lines as the poem progresses, and the vivid and horrifying imagery.
• Jeffrey R. Wilson: Macbeth and Criminology The genre of tragedy used in Macbeth poses the question to the reader: who is responsible for committing a crime – the individual or the society?
• Intro to Theatre: “Macbeth” Shakespeare’s theatrical performances are widespread all over the world and do not lose their relevance, both due to the problems raised by the playwright and the various interpretations of his works. One of such plays is the production of Macbeth directed by Bodinetz (2020) and created by the troupe of Digital Theater +. The performance […]
• The Story of Macbeth by W. Sheakspeare: Relationship and Strengths Between Macbeth and His Wife Lady Macbeth reads a letter her husband had written about the witches’ prophecy and manipulates him to kill King Duncan and take over the kingdom.
• Shakespeare and His View on Kingship: Macbeth, King Lear and Othello At the same time, it is beyond doubt in the basement Macbeth’s character is clean and as a soldier, he is true to his job and his king.
• Representing the Heroic: Macbeth and Odysseus In Homer’s Odyssey, the noble nature of the hero is made clear in the way that his servants speak of him and strive to behave as he would expect.
• Shakespearean Macbeth as a Tragic Hero In addition to fighting for his king, Macbeth is quickly and well rewarded for his efforts as King Duncan makes him the new Thane of Cawdor in addition to his already holding the title of […]
• Shakespear’s “Macbeth”: Main Character Change Analysis Macbeth is essentially the story of a character who lives his life in a state of confusion to the degree that the only constant in his life changes.
• Chaucer’s ‘Miller’s Tale’ and Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ Chaucer’s The Miller’s Tale and in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, to be more exact, we will find out how the notion of poetic justice is represented by examples of the main characters of the works mentioned.
• An Explication on Shakespeare’s Macbeth However, Macbeth’s wife is murdered and the news is broken to him, and he is drifted into a life of futility and remorsefulness.
• Literary Elements in “Macbeth” Poem In addition, use of Symbolism imagery and symbolism creates a better picture in audience mind, concerning the themes that the play covers; such as where dark is used to represent evil.
• King Macbeth in Shakespeare’s Play and History He proved to be a courageous man and ambitious because he wanted to become the king, and the only way he could do it was by killing the king.
• Macbeth: An Analysis of the Play by Shakespeare Macbeth’s treachery springs from his reliance to the witches who gave him prophecy that results in his endless creation of enemies.
• Oedipus King vs. Macbeth: Drama Comparison The concept reflects the foundation of the decent authority through showing the tendencies of power both in the ancient times and in the period of Renaissance.
• Drama Macbeth: Shakespeare’s Play and Wells’ Film However, the play communicates the meaning of the text in a better way as compared to the film by Orson Wells.
• Macbeth by Shakespeare and Oedipus by Sophocles Comparison In Act 1 Scene 3 of Macbeth, we have the three witches who greet him and inform him that he is to become the “Thane of Cawdor,” the title that he will receive that evening, […]
• Shakespeare Literature: Prophecy and Macbeth Morality The divination made by the witches pushes Macbeth further into immorality as he is made to believe that he deserves the position of king. In addition, Macbeth abandons reason and morality so as to make […]
• Philosophy of Literature: Shakespearean Tragedy In addition, it is also an indication of the facts that human beings are always nosy and ready to participate in other people’s issues.
• British Literature: Beowulf vs. Macbeth They are as follows: the presentation of the heroes, the consideration of the ethical themes, and the final stages of the plays the latter help to draw some ethical conclusions based on the peculiarity of […]
• The Ambitions and Immoral Decision in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• Analyzing Macbeth’s Conscience Throughout Shakespeare’s Play “Macbeth”
• Murder and Power in William Shakespeare’s Play “Macbeth”
• Unprincipled Ambition in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Use of Supernatural to Create Suspense in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Psychological Victimization of William Shakespeare’s Protagonist in “Macbeth”
• Responsibility for Planning to Kill Duncan in William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Dramatic Techniques to Create a Sense That Macbeth Is Not in Control of His Own Thoughts and Deeds
• An Analysis of Jam-Packed With Malfeasance and Darkness in the Play “Macbeth” by Shakespeare
• The Application of Imagery in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• Witches, Supernatural, and Evil in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• The Banquet Scene of William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Analyzing Macbeth’s Weak Character in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Ambition Often Results in Greed as Portrayed in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Psychoanalytical Criticism of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Women as The Driving Action of the Play in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• William Shakespeare’s Manipulation of the Audience Through “Macbeth”
• Suspense and the Supernatural in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• Sharing the Blame in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Macbeth’s Tragic Downfall in William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• The Characterization of Macbeth in Relation to the Development of Scotland in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• Role Reversal in William Shakespeare’s Play “Macbeth”
• The Butcher and His Fiend Like Queen in William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Supernatural Forces Create a Suspense Atmosphere in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• The Archetypal Tragic Hero Characteristics of William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” and Sophocles’ “Oedipus”
• An Analysis of Macbeth as a Victim of Circumstances in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• Power, Ambition, and Treason in William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• The Breakdown of Lady Macbeth in William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Unbridled Ambition in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• The Art of Appeasement and the Political, Religious, and Social Issues Reflected in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Parallels Between Macbeth and Satan in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• Some of the Ways in Which Shakespeare Portrays an Atmosphere of Evil in “Macbeth”
• An Analysis of Lady Macbeth’s Character in “Macbeth” by Shakespeare
• The Blood Imagery in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• Macbeth’s Representation of Ambition in William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• The Attract of Wicked in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• The Manipulations, Greed, and Guilt in William Shakespeare’s Play “Macbeth”
• Stereotypical Images of Women in “Macbeth” by Shakespeare
• Symbolism and Imagery in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• Subjective Reality to the Viewer in the Play “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• The Betrayal of Human Nature in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• Treatment of Gender Disruption in William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” and “Macbeth”
• Significance of Act Four Scene One in William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Role of Women in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• Recurring Images in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• Similarities Between the Philosophies From Machiavelli’s “The Prince” and Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• The Aristotelian Standards of a Tragic Hero in the Tragedy of “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• Struggles of the Conscience in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• The Battle Between Good and Evil in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Sleep and Its Meaning in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• Relationship Between Spouses in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• A Musical Analysis of “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• What Did Macbeth’s Character, Words, and Actions Show About Changes in His Character?
• Who Are the Women in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”?
• When Power Falls Into the Wrong Hands in “Macbeth”?
• Why Are the Period and Place Important in “Macbeth”?
• What Makes William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” a Pessimistic Play?
• How Ambitions and Immoral Decision Play a Part in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”?
• How and Why Does Macbeth Turn a War Hero Into an Evil Murderer?
• Did the Three Witches Push Macbeth to Kill Duncan?
• What Are the Attitudes Towards Gender Can Be Seen in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”?
• What Part Does the Supernatural Play in “Macbeth”?
• Was Macbeth Responsible for His Downfall?
• Does Shakespeare Present Lady Macbeth as Good or Evil?
• Can One Feel Pity for Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”?
• What Dramatic Techniques Are Used in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”?
• How Did Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s Relationship Change Throughout the Play?
• What Did Macbeth Say About Good and Evil?
• Does Shakespeare Present Lady Macbeth as Fiend-Like?
• Does Macbeth Have Power?
• How Did Macbeth Turn From “Nobel Macbeth” to “A Bloody Butcher”?
• What Does Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” Have to Say About Kingship?
• Did Macbeth Suffer From Fate?
• What Are the Character Traits of Lady Macbeth?
• Does Macbeth Have Free Will?
• What Are the Influences of the Witches’ Prophecies on Macbeth’s Actions?
• How Are the Themes of Appearance and Reality Presented in “Macbeth”?
• How Are Characters Presented as Disturbed in “Macbeth”?
• Was Macbeth Considered the Tragic Hero of the Play?
• How Did Lady Macbeth and Witches Change?
• What Are the Differences and Similarities Between “Medea” and “Macbeth” Plays?
• What Factors Lead Macbeth to Kill Duncan?
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10 things to know when studying Shakespeare's Macbeth

Monday 8th, August 2022

Jess Laven graduated in 2020 with an ATAR of 96.60. In this article, Jess runs through 10 top tips for success when studying Shakespeare's Macbeth . Check out ATAR Notes' Text Guide for Macbeth here . 📚

It is possible that you’ll study Shakespeare’s Macbeth during your high school career, particularly for an English exam. You’re probably having regicidal thoughts at the mere mention of Shakespeare, let alone Macbeth , but it doesn’t have to be this way.

In 2020, I managed to achieve full marks on my external English exam, which was based on Macbeth . I’ve compiled my top 10 tips for studying Shakespeare’s Macbeth that will help you to ace your external English exam without a trace of blood on your hands.

1. Read both the original and translated versions

My school’s copies of Macbeth had a translated version of the script alongside the original Shakespearean version. Full translations are also available for free online.

I recommend reading both versions. You need to be familiar with the original play since this is what you’ll be assessed on; however, reading more than 17,000 words that you don’t understand isn’t productive by itself.

In the original script, Lady Macbeth calls on the spirits that tend on mortal thoughts to unsex her. While it’s important to know how she phrases this infamous quote, reading the modern version will allow you to understand the meaning behind the words. In this instance, Lady Macbeth is asking the spirits that assist murderous thoughts to make her less like a woman and more like a man.

2. Read the script more than once

In Year 12, my peers and I read the original Shakespearean version of Macbeth as a class. In addition to this, I took it upon myself to read the translated version twice, including once on the weekend before my Monday exam to ensure it was fresh in my memory.

It is unlikely that you will fully understand Macbeth after reading the play only once, so reading it a second and potentially a third time is crucial. Doing so is also useful when it comes to compiling quotes, which I will elaborate on shortly.

When I read the translated version, I would consistently refer to the original version, which was conveniently right next to the translation in my copy of the play. This is important because you need to remember and quote the language Shakespeare used in his original play.

3. Don't watch a movie adaption as a substitute for reading the play

If you’re thinking of watching one of the movie adaptions as a substitute for reading the play, think again. While such movies may give you a better understanding of some aspects of Macbeth , they are all significantly different from the original play.

If you choose to watch any Macbeth movie adaptions, ensure that it is to complement the knowledge you gain from reading the play. Also, be careful not to confuse the movies with the play because some inconsistencies could cause you to get your facts wrong in your exam. 

4. Don't call Macbeth a book

Sometimes it’s the little things. My Year 12 English teacher couldn’t stress enough that Macbeth is not a book. In actual fact, Macbeth is a play, and the 17,000 words I mentioned earlier make up the script. 

When you refer to Macbeth , whether it be in your essay writing, verbally or otherwise, always refer to it as a play or text. This will show that you truly understand the context in which Macbeth came to be.  

5. Underline Macbeth when referring to the play

Since “Macbeth” is both the title of the play and a character within the play, you need to differentiate between these in your writing to provide clarity. Therefore, whenever you refer to the play in your writing, always underline “ Macbeth ,” as has been done throughout this article. The reason why you shouldn’t use italics is that this won’t be an option when you’re handwriting an external exam.

6. Practise writing Macbeth essays

I have no doubt that you’ve all heard the saying, “practice makes perfect.” While you should keep in mind that “perfect” is as real as Macbeth’s hallucinations (nonexistent), the message behind these words holds true: you should regularly write analytical essays to help you improve your essay writing skills. Since this is a progressive exercise, you should practise writing Macbeth essays well in advance of your exam to allow time for you to improve. You should also practise writing with pen and paper in exam conditions to reflect the environment you’ll be in for your exam.

Research Macbeth essay questions or ask your teacher for a list and then start writing. Seek feedback from your teacher to help you identify where you need to improve. This will help you to write a well-structured and grammatically and factually accurate essay that showcases your knowledge and, ultimately, responds to the essay prompt. There is no better way to test your knowledge of a topic than to explain it to others, whether it be in essay or spoken form.

7. Do your own research

Hopefully, your teacher will provide you with lots of resources and insight that will give you a strong understanding of the play; however, you should do your own research too. This will give you more ideas about the quotes you should memorise and how you can analyse them. Since the number of quotes available to you during the exam will be limited to your memory, it’s important to know how to spin quotes so you can use them in a range of ways for a range of prompts.

8. Compile a list of quotes to memorise

I compiled a list of more than 60 quotes and noted down the basic meaning of each quote, as well as what themes each quote related to and how. Recording themes like this will help you to make sure you have a broad range of quotes and an in-depth understanding of how each quote can be analysed to suit a range of possible essay prompts.

I wrote my list of quotes in chronological order – the order that they appeared in the play – to help me remember the act and scene numbers. While remembering the quotes themselves is more important than remembering the acts and scenes they came from, this is still worth doing to showcase your knowledge.

The scripts you read may express act and scene numbers as Roman numerals, but you can write them in our everyday numerical form. If you are writing Act 4, Scene 2, you would write these numbers in brackets with a full stop between them, as follows: (4.2).

If you are a visual person, finding a small picture that represents each quote may be a memory strategy you would like to try. For example, for Lady Macbeth’s well-known quote, “Look like th' innocent flower, But be the serpent under ’t,” you could have an image of a flower or a snake.

9. Focus on the Elizabethan Era

Macbeth was written in the Elizabethan era. The language you use and the way you analyse the play should reflect this fact.

For example, when analysing Macbeth’s themes, such as gender, femininity or masculinity, do not do so with a modern lens. We may see Lady Macbeth’s dominance and ambition as a testament to the strength of women from a contemporary perspective. Nevertheless, in the Elizabethan era, her behaviour would have been considered unnatural.

Similarly, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relationship is unique for the Elizabethan era, which is evident when we compare it to that of Macduff and Lady Macduff. In that time, such relationships would be loving and mutually respectful, but, unnatural as she is, Lady Macbeth holds power over Macbeth. This allows her to influence their plans for regicide and acts as the initial catalyst for Macbeth’s downfall.

In terms of language use, there are words we use today that don’t reflect the context of the play. For instance, when Macbeth killed King Duncan, he committed regicide, not murder. This is because regicide specifically refers to the act of killing a king or queen, while murder is broader.

Familiarise yourself with the Elizabethan era and the language that reflects the time and the characters’ royal status.

10. Access ATAR Notes' resources

I used the ATAR Notes Text Guide on Macbeth to help me understand the play and identify and analyse important quotes. I also attended ATAR Notes’ free English lecture during their annual September lecture series. I recommend taking advantage of resources such as these to give you the edge in your English exam.

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Simplified macbeth essay guide: summary, key themes, topics and examples.

By Evans Jan 07 2021

Have you ever been so excited about something that you threw reason out of the window? Maybe a palm reader tells you that you will marry your celebrity crush and you end a long term relationship to pave way for this celebrity crush? We have all been silly at some point in life, ambition making us forsake the voice of reason. This is basically what Macbeth is all about; a prophecy that ruins the life of a gallant soldier as he attempts to bite more than he can chew. Before we learn how to write a Macbeth essay, let's begin by looking at the summary and key themes in Macbeth

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Summary of Macbeth

Shakespeare's Macbeth starts with two Scotland generals, Macbeth and Banquo. The two are on their way after fighting two separate enemies. On the way, they meet with three witches who prophesy that Macbeth will be made thane and will later on become king of Scotland. They also tell Banquo that although he will never become king, he will sire a line of kings. When the first part of the prophecy is fulfilled, Macbeth is full of ambition that he does not see reason. He kills King Duncan and becomes the king in his place. Afraid of the rest of the prophecy coming true, Macbeth, instigated by his wife, kills Banquo, and his downfall begins. Macbeth will destroy anything and anyone to protect his power. He is so determined to ensure that the last part of the prophecy does not come true, which only leads to people hating his tyrannical rule and him facing an untimely death.

You might also like: Simplified Beowulf essay guide: Themes, Topics, and Examples

Macbeth key themes

'Ambition is a drug that makes its addicts potential madmen .' Before the prophecy, Macbeth seems okay with his life. However, the moment he learns that he can become much more, he loses all control and allows ambition to blind him. At first, he kills King Duncan against his better judgment. However, once he kills to clinch power, he can't seem to stop. He kills whoever tries to oppose him, and finally, he ends up dead.

Supernatural

The supernatural plays a massive role in Macbeth. Macbeth is thrown into a frenzy when the witches tell him that he will be made thane and that later on, he will become king of Scotland. When the first part happens on its own, Macbeth decides to give the prophecy a push and kills King Duncan. Later on, he will do anything to make sure that the rest of it doesn't come to pass.

Guilt plays quite a significant theme in Macbeth. Macbeth feels guilty for killing King Duncan and Banquo. He chooses to deal with that guilt by killing more people, which makes it worse. Macbeth is not the only one being eaten up by guilt. Lady Macbeth slowly loses her sanity after encouraging her husband to kill against his better judgment. She begins sleepwalking, believing that the king's blood is in her hands and there is nothing she can do to wash it off. She does not get a way out of the guilt that is slowly costing her sanity.

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How to write a Macbeth essay

There's nothing as sweet as getting lost in one of Shakespeare's tragic drama. Macbeth is an interesting play to read. However, reading it for school might not be as fun since it involves a lot more than just reading a beautiful story for its beauty. You have to read it, understand it, and analyze it for whatever essay you are supposed to write. Lucky for you, you do not need to worry about that. Paperperhour.com has a team of the best writers who excel in writing literary essays. You do not have to worry about failing in your Macbeth assignment with the right writer.

Macbeth essay topics

There are so many topics that one can write about when it comes to Macbeth. In some cases, the professor will provide you with a given topic and ask you to write a Macbeth essay on it. However, you might be required to choose the essay topic for yourself in some cases. You do not need to worry about how to go about it in such a case. Paper per hour  has provided a list of Macbeth essay topics that you can choose from.

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Critical essay topics for Macbeth

• Macbeth is the villain of the play. discuss 
• Discuss the influence that the witches have on Macbeth.
• What is the role of the women in Macbeth? How does society treat women?
• Is Lady Macbeth responsible for bringing Macbeth to power or for ruining him?
• What do Macbeth's visions symbolize?

Analysis essay topics for Macbeth Essay

• Analyze the prophecies given by the witches. Do all the prophecies come to pass?
• What are the roles of Macduff and Malcolm?
• Analyze contributions of two minor characters
• The role of light and darkness in the play
• Development of Macbeth as a character in the play
• Analyze Banquo's reaction to the witches' prophecy
• Look at the lies, and the half-lies told in the play and their significance.
• Analyze Macbeth as a tragedy drama

Comparative essay topics for Macbeth

• Compare and contrast Macbeth and Banquo. Are there any similarities between them? What sets them apart? Can we easily dismiss Macbeth as the villain of the play?
• How do Macbeth and Banquo react to the news of the prophecy? How does the prophecy bring out their true selves?
• Compare between Macbeth, the main character, and Vladimir Putin. How are they similar? What differences do they have?

Controversial essay topics on Macbeth

• Describe the seven sin in Macbeth
• How does Macbeth fit in the Greek mythology?
• Who is responsible for the death of Macbeth?
• Who would make the best king for Scotland?

Why you should let paper per hour write the Macbeth essay for you

Getting the right essay topic is the first step to answering a Macbeth question. However, if you are not yet sure of what to write about, worry not; our experts are here to help you out. You do not need to struggle with a Macbeth essay while we have experts whose joy comes from working on such essays . With paper per hour, you are assured of:

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Macbeth William Shakespeare

Macbeth essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Macbeth by William Shakespeare.

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Macbeth Essays

Serpentine imagery in shakespeare's macbeth sarah downey.

The snake has long been used as a symbol of sly subtlety. A serpent's presence has been characterized by cunning cynicism dating as far back as biblical times, when the snake persuaded Eve to eat the forbidden fruit of Eden's garden. Even the...

Macbeth's Evolution David Sauvage

In Shakespeare's Macbeth, Macbeth undergoes a profound and gradual evolution throughout the play. He regresses from a logical, compassionate, caring, and conscientious man, to an entirely apathetic, amoral paradigm of cynical numbness. Macbeth's...

Jumping the Life to Come Alex Hoffer

A central theme of William Shakespeare's Macbeth is the title character's willingness to accept his fate. Macbeth's attitude toward the prophecies of the witches varies depending on how much he likes the prediction. At first, he follows along with...

Deceptive Appearances in Macbeth Sonia Jain

There is truth to Duncan's line "There's no art to find the mind's construction in the face," for throughout Shakespeare's play Macbeth, both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are not what they most often appear to be. Even Macbeth does not know the extent...

Unity in Shakespeare's Tragedies Chris Hadfield

Separating qualities common to one 'set' or 'type' of Shakespeare's plays which are not common to the plays as a whole is a difficult task: it would no doubt be possible to find evidence of any feature uniting 'the Tragedies' within any of...

Inevitability and the Nature of Shakespeare's Tragedies Chris Hadfield

In Greek tragedy, inevitability plays an important role, portraying the protagonists as pawns of the fates, whose roles in the tragedy are distributed arbitrarily and without justice. The outcomes of these roles are decided before the play even...

Sleep and Nature Shira Traison

In Shakespeare's, Macbeth, there seems to be an uncanny connection between the images of sleep and nature. The play refers to the results of nature being thwarted, and since sleep is the primarily natural function of every human being, its seems...

The Elizabethan Chain of Being in Shakespeare's Macbeth Julianna Castaneda

The collective minds of people in England during the time of Shakespeare struggled to explain the unexplainable; they struggled to understand randomness and human nature. They believed that from the beginning of time a certain cosmic order had...

Gender Transition in Macbeth Anonymous

Come you spirit,

That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here.

--Lady Macbeth

More so than any other Shakespearean play, Macbeth functions the most vividly as a psychoanalysis of the state of humanity's development of a sense of sexual self. Now, in a...

The Appearance of Fairness Michael Wainwright

Starting with the witches' assertion that âfair is foul, and foul is fair,â? it is clear that Macbeth is a play in which appearances will be deceiving and morality will be muddled. From the dialogue between King Duncan, Malcolm, and the wounded...

Macbeth's Moral Quandary Michael Wainwright

In Scene 2 of Act 2, Lady Macbethâs master plan to promote her husband to the throne finally comes to fruition. For the first time in the play, however, Lady Macbeth reveals some degree of weakness in her inability to actually murder Duncan with...

Mocking Time With Fairest Show: Tragic Macbeth Makes Time His Foe Christina Gulas

Time plays a crucial role in Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth. Like all Shakespearian tragedies, the main character is necessarily at odds with time. By its very nature, a tragedy must end with the death of the hero. The hero, therefore, must bide...

Re-Creation and Immortal Fame: The Search for Eternal Life in Macbeth and Coriolanus Christina Gulas

In Shakespeare's time, having children was, arguably, even more important than it is today. In a society dominated by rules of inheritance and birthright, children were important, not only as the means of carrying on a name and genetic material,...

Ambiguity Leads the Way Jean-Francois Carrier

Dramatic tragedies are by definition plays that enact the struggle and downfall of their main character or characters. "The Tragedy of Macbeth", by William Shakespeare, is a perfect example of this; the entire play portrays the fatalistic...

Unholy Mothers: Mothers as Negative Characters in Richard III, Cymbeline, Hamlet, Macbeth and The Tempest Barret Buchholz

Unholy Mothers: Mothers as Negative Characters in Richard III, Cymbeline, Hamlet, Macbeth and The Tempest

by, Barret Buchholz

April 15, 2005

The mothers presented in Shakespeare's plays encompass a broad range of social positions, personalities,...

Responsibility for Tragedy in Othello and Macbeth Anonymous

The tragedy in both Othello and Macbeth is found not so much in the scattering of bodies covering the stage at the end of each play, but instead in the degeneration of the plays' respective protagonists. Men championed by Shakespeare at the...

Character Juxtaposition: The Twoness of Macbeth Anonymous

Character Juxtaposition: The Twoness of Macbeth

Shakespeare's Macbeth relays the tale of a Scottish general, at first presenting a seemingly brave and noble warrior. Macbeth is eventually prompted by ambition to seek the throne upon hearing a...

Madness in Hamlet and Macbeth Kelly Crossley

Hamlet and Macbeth are two of William Shakespeare's most famous plays. Each share not only fame, however, but format: Both feature main characters with tragic flaws that become their demise. In the cases of Hamlet and Macbeth, this flaw is...

An Analysis of Lady Macbeth's Gender Role throughout Macbeth Aline Tran

Shakespeare's Macbeth is a male dominated play. Most of the noticeable characters in Macbeth are male, including Macbeth, Macduff, Banquo, King Duncan, and Malcolm. Despite the lack of female power by numbers, Lady Macbeth proves to be a...

Macbeth's Tragic Flaw: The Collapse of Emotion August Trevor Sutton

Shakespeare frequently makes use of the adjective ‘weird’ in his tragedy Macbeth. Along with bringing to mind the supernatural and unearthly, the word also forces one to consider the nature of the word’s antonym – what is normal? Macbeth’s...

Fair is Foul, Foul is Fair: Paradox and Equivocation in Macbeth James R. Silvester

In the play Macbeth, some of the most significant characters rely upon their ability to equivocate, in order to hide their treacherously covetous, or purely malicious intentions. Most characters take part in these acts of subterfuge, but the three...

The Role of Intimacy in the Macbeths’ Marriage Anonymous College

The bulk of the drama in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is based in murder. Throughout the play, much of the dialogue and action have to do with plotting a homicide, carrying out the terrible deed, or being haunted by the guilt of taking another...

The Use of Contrast in Macbeth Lucy McCracken 12th Grade

‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare is a play in which great contrasts lie between its main characters. ‘Macbeth’ is a tragic play, set in eleventh century Scotland, which explores the psychological and political effects of the eponymous character,...

Regicide in Macbeth Anonymous 12th Grade

In 'Macbeth,' the eponymous character fulfils his own overwhelming thirst for power by committing what was viewed to be worst possible crime: regicide. This initial murder of King Duncan acts as a starting point for Macbeth's reign of terror, and...

• How to Write a Good Expository Essay About Macbeth

Table of contents:

Introduction and thesis

Body paragraphs.

If you want to write an expository essay about the play Macbeth and want to know how to start, it’s important to get your statement of purpose, or thesis, figured out first. An expository essay, remember, is based on factual information, endeavouring to explain to the reader something they might not know already.

First, start with an introduction, including a hook straight away to get your readers’ attention. Then you can approach your topic in one of five different ways: problem/solution, comparison, how-to, descriptive, and cause/effect. At this point you should write a thesis statement, or statement of purpose, explaining the main topic or point of your essay.

Here are a few samples of ideas for thesis statements about Macbeth.

Thesis idea 1: Macbeth’s character is the example of a tragic hero, someone who rises to the top and then because of his own fatal flaws, dooms himself to failure and death.

Thesis idea 2: Between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, she’s the one who is truly evil, as her ambition pushes Macbeth to go far beyond his own moral judgement.

Thesis idea 3: The themes of Macbeth in the full play include ambition, pride, betrayal, guilt, and the difference between appearances and reality.

Thesis idea 4: The three witches predict Macbeth’s future, but is that future his fate, or did his own free will play a part?

Thesis idea 5: When Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane, a prophecy is fulfilled, but Macbeth’s assumptions have doomed him.

As you move on into the body of your expository essay, each new paragraph should serve as a new point you are making, with the evidence to back your point in the paragraph itself. You should have at least three points in the essay body, and it’s a good idea to start by sitting down to outline the structure of your essay before you even begin writing it.

For example, if you are talking about the points in the play where free will contends with fate, you might talk about Macbeth’s decision to kill Duncan in one paragraph, and the fulfilment of the prediction about Macbeth being killed by someone ‘not born of woman’ in another, and then Macbeth’s own beliefs and assumptions about what Birnam Wood coming to Dunsinane means, and how that itself plays a part in his downfall, in yet another.

As you finish making the points you’ve previously outlined, it’s time to start thinking about a conclusion. To conclude your essay, briefly revisit all the points you’ve made, and then restate your thesis demonstrating what you’ve learned. If the thesis statement at the beginning of the essay is a question, then this should be the answer.

For instance, a conclusion to the thesis above about fate versus free will might look like: “Both fate and Macbeth’s own choices play a part in his rise to kingship and his downfall. As he consistently makes bad choices, the more negative parts of his fate begin to take over. He is truly doomed by his own hand, and the fate that was foretold for him could have been avoided if he’d chosen otherwise.”

Now you have the tools to write a great expository essay about Macbeth, so think about what aspect of the play captures your attention the most, and write about that. 

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Macbeth - Essay Questions Breakdown

Subject: English

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Assessment and revision

Last updated

27 July 2024

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A complete step-by-step guide for how to plan and write a Macbeth essay, which works both for coursework and exams under timed conditions. This document is perfect for guiding students with essay structuring and planning, as well as refining their knowledge of the play.

Tailored towards GCSE + iGCSE students, but also helpful for those studying at a higher level - check the preview for further info!

NOTE: this is a breakdown of the essay questions - if you’re looking for example essays, see our Macbeth - Example GCSE + iGCSE Essays, A*-C Grades (L9-L5) and our Macbeth - Example A-Level Essays

This digital + printable + PPT document includes the following:

-A full breakdown of the essay planning process

• Two example essay plans
• An annotated extract that guides students with how to select evidence
• Breakdown of keywords and focus of the essay question
• Support with developing clear, concise and thoughtful topic sentences
• Support with selecting the correct evidence to suit points
• Support with integrating contextual and thematic concepts

Reasons to love this resource:

• Perfect for expanding students’ knowledge and interpretations
• Help students to achieve higher grades
• Suitable for students of all levels
• Visual aids for additional support!

Need more Macbeth help? Grab our free resources here: Introduction to Macbeth

Macbeth Character Analysis

View our COMPLETE MACBETH BUNDLE here!

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A bundle is a package of resources grouped together to teach a particular topic, or a series of lessons, in one place.

MACBETH: COMPLETE BUNDLE!

All hail to thee! This bundle contains everything you need to teach or study Shakespeare’s Macbeth in the form of digital and printable PDF documents. It’s perfect for students aged 14+. **Preview two of our documents for free, to check whether it’s right for you!** [Macbeth Complete Character Analysis](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-macbeth-character-analysis-12766603) [Introduction to Macbeth - Comprehensive Study Guide](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/introduction-to-macbeth-comprehensive-study-guide-12766594) [Watch Youtube videos of this bundle content here!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eC90hpWr8so&list=PLeLnxAMVPTM8UG0zuvt4dVEe7me7mmp19) **There are two levels to this bundle:** Core material for students aged 14-16 (GCSE and iGCSE) Extension material for students aged 16-18 (AS, A Level + IB) **With this bundle, students will be able to:** * Understand the structural elements and key moments of plot * Deepen their knowledge of characters, including understanding the deeper messages behind each one * Integrate the significance of the setting into their analyses and interpretations of the play as a whole * Gain confidence with understanding the dramatic form, with a focus on Shakespearean drama * Memorise a range of carefully chosen key quotations for use in essays and analysis * Develop their language, structure and form analysis skills, with guided support and examples * Identify and analyse the thematic and contextual details * Learn approaches to a range of essay question types: discursive, argumentative, close reading * Become confident with extract interpretation and analysis * Develop their knowledge of tragic conventions and apply them to the play * Expand their critical aptitude via exposure to key critical frameworks and critics’ quotations (for higher level students) * Write their own essays on Macbeth, after support with planning help and example A* / top grade model answers **Reasons to love this bundle:** * Downloadable pdfs documents, graphically designed to a high level * Visual aids (photographs and drawings) to support learning * Clearly organised categories that simplify the text for students * Print and digital versions - perfect for any learning environment * The unit has everything you need to start teaching or learning - starting with the basic story summary, going right up to deep contextual and critical wider readings. * Lots of tasks and opportunities to practice literary analysis skills - students will be guided through writing a literary analysis response to the play. **This is what you'll get with this digital and printable resource:** THE COMPLETE MACBETH COURSE * Introduction to Macbeth - Comprehensive Study Guide * Macbeth - Plot Summary + Structural Breakdown * Setting in Macbeth * Macbeth - Character Study Guide * Macbeth - Key Quotations * Macbeth - Complete Context Revision * Macbeth Key Themes Study Guide * Macbeth and Tragedy * Macbeth - Critical Interpretations + Critics' Quotations WORKSHEETS + LESSONS * Macbeth Text and Study Questions - ACT 1.1 * Macbeth Text and Study Questions - ACT 1.6 * Full Lesson: Religion in Macbeth ESSAY WRITING, QUESTIONS + EXAMPLE ANSWERS * Macbeth - How to Write Higher Level Essays * Macbeth - How to Plan Essays * Macbeth - GCSE + iGCSE Essay Questions * Example A-Level Essays, A*-C Grades * Macbeth - GCSE + iGCSE Model Essays, A*-C Grades (L9-L5) **Ready to print and teach, or start studying straight away! Please be sure to take a look at the preview images to see all the documents in this resource! Looking for other texts? Here are two more: [An Inspector Calls](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/an-inspector-calls-revision-bundle-12611113) [AQA GCSE Power and Conflict Poetry](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/aqa-power-and-conflict-poetry-bundle-12462323) You might also be interested in: [AQA GCSE English Paper 1 Complete Bundle](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/aqa-english-language-paper-1-complete-bundle-12542887) [Cambridge IGCSE Poetry Anthology 2023-2025, Songs of Ourselves Volume 2, Part 4](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/caie-cambridge-igcse-poetry-anthology-2023-2025-songs-of-ourselves-volume-2-part-4-12722377) [Cambridge A Level Poetry for 2023](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/cie-cambridge-a-level-poetry-for-2023-bundle-part-1-12735444) **Please review our content! We always value feedback and are looking for ways to improve our resources, so all reviews are more than welcome. Check out our full [shop](https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/ntabani) here

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Macbeth : sample paragraphs

Who is to blame?

Although Macbeth’s ambition is kindled by the witches, he must be held responsible for his gradual downfall. Because of his “overleaping” ambition he places too much trust in the witches (he states that they have “earnest of success” and refers to the prophecies as “ perfectest report”) Sensing his ambition, the witches are able to play their “hurly burly” and create moral confusion. They hover through the “filthy air” so that what is “fair” is “foul”. This use of antithesis clearly shows the extent to which they have corrupted Macbeth, but only because Macbeth is fascinated and corruptible and capable of eating on the “insane root” which so repels Banquo. In contrast, Shakespeare uses the character of Banquo to accentuate their differences. He identifies their ability to play mischief in order to ‘betray’s in deepest confidence”. Even before he greets Lady Macbeth, Macbeth reveals his capacity for deception owing to the fact that King Duncan did not appoint him as successor. He states, “let not light see my deep and dark desires.” As a result, the prophecies set in train the nightmarish sequence of events. Unfortunately, Macbeth does not have the strength of mind like Banquo to follow his conscience. He appreciates that one’s conscience will haunt the tyrant. “…………..” However, he is swayed by Lady Macbeth’s notion of “manly” strength and a promise. He does not have the strength to resist Lady Macbeth’s evil suggestions.

Lady Macbeth is to blame ? While Lady Macbeth contributes to the tragic turn of events because of her capacity for evil and her ruthless ambition, she is a subordinate character to Macbeth. Certainly, she cloaks herself in evil in order to convince Macbeth that he must not become the timid “cat in the adage”. Shakespeare uses a variety of persuasive tactics and figurative images to capture her manipulative spirit. For example, she convinces him that he should not break a “promise:”…. She infers that he is weak and cowardly if he does not ruthlessly achieve the object of his desire… “when you durst do it”… Unfortunately, she also convinces him that it is possible to dismiss one’s conscience by becoming tough and ruthless. She believes that conscience is “child’s play” and should not separate the courageous person from their goal even if it is evil. She belittles Macbeth’s nobility of character believing that he should show mind over matter and take what he believes is rightfully his. However, it is also evident that she believes she is working in Macbeth’s best interests, despite the fact that he has not declared to her the full importance of the witches’ prophecies in his very significant letter.

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