Macbeth - themes

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Theme: ambition - motivation & danger
1) Is the main theme of Macbeth. 2) It motivated Macbeth to do bad things, changes him from "valiant" soldier, to a "dead butcher". 3) Play shows how ambition is dangerous & can spiral out of control - the more people he kills it's easier each time.
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Theme: ambition - the Macbeth's biggest weakness
1) L.Mac and Mac eventually destroyed by ambition (suicide) - is a warning to balance ambition. 2) Is their fatal flaw - leads to murder of family & friends. 3) Macbeth doesn't want to kill Duncan, his ambition makes him - shows the power of ambition
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Theme: ambition - good or bad
1) Only Macbeth's corrupted by ambition. 2) Good if motivates to do good things, selflessly. 3) Malcom & Macduff are ambitious towards Scotland, selflessly to help others. 4) Banquo ambitious for sons after hearing Witches ideas - becoming kings.
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Theme: loyalty and betrayal - shown through characters
1) Mac pretends to be loyal. 2) Country - Macduff loyal to Scotland, goes to Eng to ask Malcom for defence, rather leave family unprotected than have bad king. 3) King - thanes are loyal to Duncan. 4) Banquo loyal to self - won't listen to witches.
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Theme: loyalty and betrayal - rewarded and punished
1) Loyalty rewarded - Mac rewarded "Thane of Cawdor" at start for winning fight. 2) Betrayal is punished - Duncan has old "Thane of Cawdor" executed for betrayal. 3) Mac betrays own sense of right & wrong (leads to loss of self-worth & his suicide).
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Theme: loyalty and betrayal - Macbeth's pretend to be loyal
1) Mac originally loyal to Duncan - more shocking when puts own desires ahead of kings. 2) L Mac fakes loyalty appearance, nice to Duncan while plotting his murder (juxtaposition - L Mac plots to kill Duncan & welcomes him into their castle).
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Theme: kingship - king didn't have to be old king's son
1) Mac becomes king, even though not heir to throne (3rd). 2) Mac wins throne by killing & framing his sons - gradually other characters realise what Mac's done.
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Theme: kingship - Malcom describes good & bad rulers
1) Macbeth is a bad ruler - he's a "tyrant" (selfish). 2) When becomes king, day turns to night & horses eat each other. 3) Bad king = bloody, malicious, false, deceitful,
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Card 2

Front

Theme: ambition - the Macbeth's biggest weakness

Back

1) L.Mac and Mac eventually destroyed by ambition (suicide) - is a warning to balance ambition. 2) Is their fatal flaw - leads to murder of family & friends. 3) Macbeth doesn't want to kill Duncan, his ambition makes him - shows the power of ambition

Card 3

Front

Theme: ambition - good or bad

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Theme: loyalty and betrayal - shown through characters

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Theme: loyalty and betrayal - rewarded and punished

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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