Themes and context - Macbeth

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  • Created by: rubyboast
  • Created on: 05-04-18 11:31
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  • Themes and Context
    • Ambition
      • Main Theme of Macbeth
        • Motivates him to commit terrible deeds.
        • ambition is dangerous - out of control.
        • makes people ruthless and selfish.
      • Macbeth's biggest weakness.
        • fatal flaw.
        • Macbeth didn't want to kill Duncan = moral.
        • At the end of the play he has lost everything and dies.
      • Can be good or bad.
        • Desires to help others.
        • Malcolm and Macduff are ambitious for their country.
        • Banquo is ambitious for his son's once he has heard the prophecies.
          • He is not violent like Macbeth.
      • Lady Macbeth thinks Macbth is not ruthless enough.
    • Loyalty and Betrayal.
      • Characters show loyalty through their actions.
        • Macduff is loyal to Scotland.
        • The thanes are loyal to Duncan.
        • Banquo doesn't let the prophecies affect him.
      • Loyalty = rewarded. Betrayal = punished.
        • Duncan has the previous thane of Cawdor executed.
          • Circular structure - Macbth is killed in the ned.
        • Macbteth betrays his own sense of right and wrong.
        • Macduff's loyalty to Scotland leads I'm to betray is family.
      • Macbeth pretends to be loyal.
        • puts his desires ahead of his loyalty to the king.
        • Lady Macbeth fakes appearance.
        • Juxtaposition - Lady Macbeth is plotting to kill Duncan but still welcomes him to their castle.
      • Lady Macbeth has a lust for power.
    • Reality and Appearance.
      • Appearance can be deceptive.
        • Equivocator.
        • Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to appear good.
      • Meanings of words are unclear.
        • Witches use language to trick Macbeth.
        • Characters are using paradoxes.
      • Characters trust appearances.
        • Duncan trusts Macbeth - but dies for it.
        • Macbeth trusts witches.
    • Fate and Free Will.
      • Fate = everything has already been decided
      • Free wil = humans choose their own course of action.
      • Macbeth has been doomed from the start.
        • Witches prophecies.
        • Lady macbeth thinks Macbeth is fated to be king.
      • Or was it Free Will?
        • He didn't want to kill Duncan - control.
        • Only acts because he hears his future - prophecies.

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