Macbeth Theme The battlefield thunder and lightning Enter

Macbeth Theme

“The battlefield: thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches” • The stage directions refer to a “battlefield” which introduces theme, the battle between good and evil. • “thunder and lightning” the tumultuous weather suggests upheaval and fear. This foreshadows what Scotland will be like under Macbeth’s reign. • “three Witches”. The witches are the personification of evil in the play. The presence of the witches in the opening scene is ominous.

“Fair is foul, and foul is fair” • The witches speak in riddles. This is augmented by the use of alliteration. • This suggests that evil spreads confusion and upheaval. • The scene ends with the witches casting a spell. • This is a bad omen for the rest of the play

“all’s too weak, /For brave Macbethwell he deserves that name. ” • Valour and strength on the battlefield is linked to goodness. • The issue of loyalty and treason is linked to theme, the battle between good and evil

“What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won” • Duncan awards the title held by the traitor to Macbeth. • This is ironical as Macbeth’s disloyalty will be even greater.

“So foul and fair a day I have not seen” • Macbeth’s first words are identical to the words used by the witches. • This makes us question his connection to evil.

“you should be women, /And yet your beards forbid me to interpret. ” • The witches look like neither males nor females. • This links nature to theme of good and evil. Unnatural things are associated with evil.

“The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do you dress me in borrowed robes? ” • Clothing imagery is used to indicate when someone is in their rightful position.

“This supernatural soliciting/Cannot be ill, cannot be good” • Macbeth is fully aware that communication with the witches cannot produce good. • This connects Macbeth’s thoughts of regicide with theme, the battle between good and evil.

“look like th’ innocent flower, /But be the serpent under’t” • Lady Macbeth advises Macbeth to use deceit in order to fool others of his intention to kill Duncan. • Appearance and reality is linked to theme of good and evil.

“But here, upon this bank and shoal of time, /We’d jump the life to come. ” • In his soliloquy opening the turning point scene, Act 1 scene 7, Macbeth reveals he would willingly forgo heaven in the after-life to be king now. • The reference to “the life to come” reminds the reader of theme. • This suggests that the regicide of Duncan by Macbeth would be the triumph of evil over good.

“I would…Have pluck’d my nipple from his boneless gums/And dash’d the brains out. ” • Lady Macbeth wants to persuade Macbeth to proceed with regicide. • She would rather commit an unnatural, nonmaternal act than break a promise. • This comment reminds us of the witches, their behaviour and their appearance. • This effectively suggests that Lady Macbeth, and what she is proposing, is evil.

“False face must hide what the false heart doth know” • The turning point scene ends. Macbeth has decided to kill Duncan. • The repetition of “false” emphasises deception. • Appearance and reality is used to show that just by deciding to kill Duncan, Macbeth has already progressed in evil.

The Dagger Scene • This begins with a series of questions reflecting Macbeth’s confusion and anxiety as to whether or not to kill Duncan. • Macbeth seems to grow more resolute as he contemplates committing regicide. • Murder is personified which suggests the growth is resolution is accompanied by Macbeth’s further progression in evil.

“I could not say ‘Amen’/When they did say ‘God bless us’ • The king is viewed as appointed by God. Therefore, regicide is against God’s order. • Macbeth has progressed deeply in evil by killing Duncan. • His inability to say ‘Amen’ suggests he is eternally damned. • The tone of these lines suggests he is distressed by this.

“The night has been unruly” • The murder of Duncan has disturbed God’s order and spread evil throughout Scotland. • The disorder in nature is used to convey this. • In theme, the battle between good and evil, evil can be seen to triumph.

“That darkness does the face of earth entomb/When living light should kiss it? ” • The evil unleashed by Macbeth’s murder of Duncan continues to spread. • Darkness is linked to evil deeds. • The use of contrast, “entomb” and “living light” conveys the extent by which the natural order has been disturbed by this act. • This suggests evil is continuing to triumph

“Know, that it was he in times past which held you so/ under fortune, which you thought had been our/ innocent self. • Since murdering Duncan Macbeth becomes more adept at dissembling. • He easily lies to encourage the murder of Banquo and Fleance. • The use of appearance and reality highlights that Macbeth continues to progress in evil.

“O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!” • Macbeth remains troubled. He wishes to secure his reign and is dwells on the witches’ prophecy to Banquo. • Scorpions are linked to evil due to their nocturnal and predatory habits. This suggests Macbeth’s mind is consumed with evil. • This links to theme suggesting evil continues to spread and defeat good.

Banquet Scene • Despite Macbeth’s descent to evil the supernatural has an ambiguous attitude toward him. • Banquo’s ghost haunts Macbeth as a punishment for his murder. • Macbeth’s mental state seems in disarray. • This suggests there is no profit from trafficking with evil.

“Loves for his own ends, not for you” • Hecate berates the other witches. Her complaint is that Macbeth is merely using evil as a means to an end. • This suggests that evil can not be trusted by any one. • The reader’s awareness of what is in store for Macbeth contributes to his characterisation as a tragic hero.

“our suffering country/Under a hand accurs’d” • Tyranny is linked to theme of good and evil as evidence of evil. • The use of word choice, “accurs’d” is a reminder of theme.