Macbeth

1
Macbeth

• Themes and Motifs

2
Theme of the Play

• According to G.R. Elliot, the theme of the play
  is that a "wicked intention must in the end
  produce wicked action unless it is not merely
  revoked by the protagonist's better feelings, but
  entirely eradicated by his inmost will, aided by
  Divine grace.
• This is seen most clearly in Act V, Scene 1,
  where the Doctor says, "More needs she the divine
  than the physician." It also seen throughout the
  play in Macbeth's murderous plots.

3
Theme Nothing is as it Seems

• Fair is foul, foul is fair." Basically, this
  means that appearances can be deceiving. What
  appears to be good can be bad, and this is seen
  in such things as the deceptive facade of Lady
  Macbeth and in the predictions of the witches.
• This theme of Fair being Foul is seen
  throughout the play. While the exact words are
  spoken by the weird sisters, similar ideas are
  presented by Duncan, Malcom, Macduff, Banquo, and
  even Macbeth.

4
Theme Ambition

• Ambition plays a major role in Macbeth.
• It is important to note that at the start of the
  play, Macbeth is referenced as a man of honor.
  In fact, the reason Duncan awards him the Thane
  of Cawdor title is because of his bravery and
  loyalty.
• Macbeth places ambition before his honor when
  Lady Macbeth presents him with her evil plan.
• The witches never make Macbeth or Lady Macbeth do
  anything. The two are responsible for their
  choices and the outcome.

5
Ambition

• In Macbeth, we see how unchecked ambition can
  never be fulfilled, and therefore quickly grows
  into a monster that will destroy anyone who gives
  into it.

6
Theme Fate

• In the beginning of the play, the weird sisters
  make predictions for Macbeth and Banquo.
  Throughout the story, the predictions play an
  active role in driving the plot.
• The reader is left to wonder Is it fate that
  drives the plot? Or are the actions of
  Macbeth/Lady Macbeth driven by their own
  ambition/lust for power?

7
Fate

• Macbeth tries to master fate, to make fate
  conform to exactly what he wants. But, of course,
  fate doesnt work that way. By trying to master
  fate once, Macbeth puts himself in the position
  of having to master fate always.
• At every instant, he has to struggle against
  those parts of the witches prophecies that dont
  favor him. Ultimately, Macbeth becomes so
  obsessed with his fate that he becomes
  delusional he becomes unable to see the
  half-truths behind the witches prophecies. By
  trying to master fate, he brings himself to ruin.

8
Motif Light vs. Dark

• Much of this play is filled with the struggle
  between light and darkness (symbolizing Macbeth--
  he asks for darkness to hide his desires in Act
  I, and then darkness shrouds the night of the
  murder).
• The light in the first two acts is King Duncan,
  but the struggle went in favor of darkness. This
  struggle occurs in every act of the play. 

9

• Also, in Act V, Scene vii, Macduff enters and
  says, "If thou Macbeth be'st slain and with no
  stroke of mine,/My wife and children's ghosts
  will haunt me still" (lines 15 - 16). Macduff
  can't rest until he gets revenge on the killer of
  his family, something Malcolm and Fleance (whose
  family was also killed by Macbeth) didn't
  say. Macduff is the hero of the play. He is the
  light that will soon come to a final climactic
  battle with the dark (Macbeth). There is also
  religious meaning to this God against the devil,
  Macbeth being the devil (remember how he couldn't
  say "Amen" in Act II?). This theme has been used
  in many contemporary stories it's an epic battle
  of good vs. evil. 

10
Light and Darkness

• Also, in Act V, Scene vii, Macduff enters and
  says, "If thou Macbeth be'st slain and with no
  stroke of mine,/My wife and children's ghosts
  will haunt me still" (lines 15 - 16). Macduff
  can't rest until he gets revenge on the killer of
  his family, something Malcolm and Fleance (whose
  family was also killed by Macbeth) didn't
  say. Macduff is the hero of the play. He is the
  light that will soon come to a final climactic
  battle with the dark (Macbeth). There is also
  religious meaning to this God against the devil,
  Macbeth being the devil (remember how he couldn't
  say "Amen" in Act II?). This theme has been used
  in many contemporary stories it's an epic battle
  of good vs. evil. 

11
Nature and the Unnatural

• Throughout the play, there is a recurring theme
  of things that are natural or things that are
  happening that are not natural or against nature.
• Examples of things that go against nature
• horses eating horses
• an owl killing a falcon
• Malcolm and Donalbain killing Duncan
• Fleance murdering Banquo

12
Motif Visions/Hallucinations

• Visions and hallucinations recur throughout the
  play and serve as reminders of Macbeth and Lady
  Macbeths responsibility for the deaths that are
  caused by their unchecked ambition.
• An example of this would be when Macbeth is
  about to kill Duncan and sees a dagger floating
  in the air. Covered with blood and pointed toward
  the kings chamber, the dagger represents the
  bloody course on which Macbeth is about to
  embark.

13
Hallucinations

• When Macbeth sees Banquos ghost, it is a
  manifestation of his conscience.
• Lady Macbeth has visions towards the end of the
  play, as she begins her descent into madness.
  Lady Macbeth sleepwalks and believes that her
  hands are stained with blood that cannot be
  washed away by any amount of water.
• The hallucinations are subconscious signs of the
  guilt felt by Macbeth and Lady Macbeth

14
Symbol Blood

• Blood is often used to symbolize guilt, or the
  lack of it. For example, in II.3.59-62, Macbeth
  has just murdered King Duncan and feels horribly
  guilty for his deed. Duncan had thought rather
  fondly of Macbeth, and had trusted him after his
  previous Thane of Cawdor had betrayed him.
  Macbeth, with blood covering his arms and hands,
  exclaims"With all great Neptune's ocean wash
  this bloodClean from my hand? No this my hand
  will ratherThe multitudinous seas
  incarnadine,Making the green one red."

15
Blood

• In II.3.110, Macbeth describes Duncan as having
  had "golden blood," which contrasts with his own.
  Duncan had no guilt and had done nothing to anger
  Macbeth, or to make him worthy of being murdered.
  In spite of this fact, Macbeth still murdered
  King Duncan and contaminated his blood in the
  process.Another example of the blood motif
  occurs in Act V. Macduff has come and challenged
  Macbeth to a sword fight to which Macbeth
  refused. This happened because Macbeth didn't
  want to shed anymore blood (kill people) than he
  already has and because more bloodshed is more
  guilt. Macbeth is already suffering from his
  guilt and more guilt would just cause more
  problems for him."Of all men else I have
  avoided thee.But get thee back! My soul is too
  much chargedWith blood of thine
  already." (V.viii.4-6)

16
Symbol The Weather

• The weather is symbolic of the actions going on
  within the play.
• For instance, in Act I, scene I, the witches say
  When shall we three meet again/In thunder,
  lighting, or in rain? This sets up the fact that
  the whenever the witches appear, it will be
  stormy in Scotland. Of course, Macbeth does
  not know this!