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Mind Map by charlotte weston, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by charlotte weston
almost 7 years ago
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Macbeth themes
- Ambition and power
- Shakespeare examines good and bad of ambition and power
- The fatal flaw
- In a tragic play the fatal flaw refers to the basic mistake in the central
characters personality which drives their actions. Macbeth is basically
a good man who goes wrong. He is driven by a need for power which
sets him on a path to destruction. His wife shares his fatal flaw
- I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but
only / Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself And
falls on th'other -- / [Enter Lady Macbeth] / How
now? What news? (Act 1 Scene 7)
- Macbeth has been thinking about whether or not he should
murder Duncan. He reaches the conclusion that the only thing
that is motivating him (his 'spur') is ambition which he
compares to a horse leaping over an obstacle ('vaulting
ambition'). As for the horse and rider, what is on the other side
of the obstacle is unknown - it could, of course, be disaster.
However, before Macbeth can complete the thought and turn
away from the crime, he is interrupted by Lady Macbeth
entering. Had she not appeared at this point, the outcome
might have been different.
- Macbeth has been thinking about whether or not he should
murder Duncan. He reaches the conclusion that the only thing
that is motivating him (his 'spur') is ambition which he
compares to a horse leaping over an obstacle ('vaulting
ambition'). As for the horse and rider, what is on the other side
of the obstacle is unknown - it could, of course, be disaster.
However, before Macbeth can complete the thought and turn
away from the crime, he is interrupted by Lady Macbeth
entering. Had she not appeared at this point, the outcome
might have been different.
- I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but
only / Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself And
falls on th'other -- / [Enter Lady Macbeth] / How
now? What news? (Act 1 Scene 7)
- In a tragic play the fatal flaw refers to the basic mistake in the central
characters personality which drives their actions. Macbeth is basically
a good man who goes wrong. He is driven by a need for power which
sets him on a path to destruction. His wife shares his fatal flaw
- Leadership
- In Macbeth, Shakespeare shows us three very different leaders.
Duncan is not a good king as although he is kind and generous, he
is weak. Macbeth is strong but becomes a bullying dictator.
Malcolm seems to strike a healthy balance and combines the good
qualities of both men
- The king-becoming graces - / As justice, verity,
temp'rance, stableness, / Bounty, perseverance, mercy,
lowliness, / Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude - / I
have no relish of them, but abound / In the division of
each several crime, / Acting it many ways. (Act 4 Scene
3)
- Malcolm lists the qualities of a good king or leader when he is
testing Macduff's loyalty. As part of the test Malcolm pretends that
he has none of these qualities either. It is clear is that Macbeth
does not have any of these virtues; if anything he displays the
absolute opposites. Even his courage, clearly reported at the start
of the play, has deserted him as he terrorises and murders those
around him.
- Malcolm lists the qualities of a good king or leader when he is
testing Macduff's loyalty. As part of the test Malcolm pretends that
he has none of these qualities either. It is clear is that Macbeth
does not have any of these virtues; if anything he displays the
absolute opposites. Even his courage, clearly reported at the start
of the play, has deserted him as he terrorises and murders those
around him.
- The king-becoming graces - / As justice, verity,
temp'rance, stableness, / Bounty, perseverance, mercy,
lowliness, / Devotion, patience, courage, fortitude - / I
have no relish of them, but abound / In the division of
each several crime, / Acting it many ways. (Act 4 Scene
3)
- In Macbeth, Shakespeare shows us three very different leaders.
Duncan is not a good king as although he is kind and generous, he
is weak. Macbeth is strong but becomes a bullying dictator.
Malcolm seems to strike a healthy balance and combines the good
qualities of both men
- Greed
- As part of Macbeth's ambition he becomes greedy and
selfish. He cannot accept that Banquo's descendants
will become kings after him and sets out to alter the
prediction by having Banquo and Fleance murdered.
He is even unprepared to share power with his wife as
he puts her to one side, making secretive decisions
and apparently not even caring when she dies.
- For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind; / For
them, the gracious Duncan have I murdered, / Put
rancours in the vessel of my peace, / Only for
them, and mine eternal jewel / Given to the
common enemy of man, / To make them kings, the
seed of Banquo kings. / Rather than so, come Fate
into the list, / And champion me to th'utterance.
(Act 3 Scene 1)
- As Macbeth completely believes the
Witches' predictions he must also believe
that Banquo's descendants will inherit the
throne after him ('the seed of Banquo
kings'). He thinks that everything he has
done has ultimately been for their benefit
('For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind');
he has even put his soul ('mine eternal
jewel') in danger. His greed means that he
wishes to keep power for himself and his
own family. So he concludes that the only
way forward is to try to alter the prediction
by murdering Banquo and Fleance.
- As Macbeth completely believes the
Witches' predictions he must also believe
that Banquo's descendants will inherit the
throne after him ('the seed of Banquo
kings'). He thinks that everything he has
done has ultimately been for their benefit
('For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind');
he has even put his soul ('mine eternal
jewel') in danger. His greed means that he
wishes to keep power for himself and his
own family. So he concludes that the only
way forward is to try to alter the prediction
by murdering Banquo and Fleance.
- For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind; / For
them, the gracious Duncan have I murdered, / Put
rancours in the vessel of my peace, / Only for
them, and mine eternal jewel / Given to the
common enemy of man, / To make them kings, the
seed of Banquo kings. / Rather than so, come Fate
into the list, / And champion me to th'utterance.
(Act 3 Scene 1)
- As part of Macbeth's ambition he becomes greedy and
selfish. He cannot accept that Banquo's descendants
will become kings after him and sets out to alter the
prediction by having Banquo and Fleance murdered.
He is even unprepared to share power with his wife as
he puts her to one side, making secretive decisions
and apparently not even caring when she dies.
- The fatal flaw
- Shakespeare examines good and bad of ambition and power
- Evil and the supernatural
- Wicked thoughts and actions
- The Witches' predictions encourage Macbeth to think wicked thoughts and
carry out evil deeds. As well as murder, Macbeth is also guilty of lying,
deception, cowardice, seeking out further contact with evil forces, behaving
brutally with both physical and verbal violence and showing a lack of love
and concern for others.
- Present fears / Are less than horrible imaginings. / My thought, whose murder
yet is but fantastical, / Shakes so my single state of man that function / Is
smothered in surmise, and nothing is, / But what is not. (Act 1 Scene 3)
- Before the first murder of the play takes place there is a slow build
up as Macbeth wrestles with his conscience. The wicked thoughts
he has are almost worse than the actual deeds ('Present fears /
Are less than horrible imaginings'). He becomes more concerned
with what might happen rather than reality ('nothing is, but what
is not') and uses evil methods to achieve his desires. Once
Duncan's murder has taken place, a line has been crossed and
further acts of wickedness keep on coming.
- Before the first murder of the play takes place there is a slow build
up as Macbeth wrestles with his conscience. The wicked thoughts
he has are almost worse than the actual deeds ('Present fears /
Are less than horrible imaginings'). He becomes more concerned
with what might happen rather than reality ('nothing is, but what
is not') and uses evil methods to achieve his desires. Once
Duncan's murder has taken place, a line has been crossed and
further acts of wickedness keep on coming.
- Present fears / Are less than horrible imaginings. / My thought, whose murder
yet is but fantastical, / Shakes so my single state of man that function / Is
smothered in surmise, and nothing is, / But what is not. (Act 1 Scene 3)
- The Witches' predictions encourage Macbeth to think wicked thoughts and
carry out evil deeds. As well as murder, Macbeth is also guilty of lying,
deception, cowardice, seeking out further contact with evil forces, behaving
brutally with both physical and verbal violence and showing a lack of love
and concern for others.
- The activities of the witches
- The Witches' appearance at the start of the play in
the middle of a thunderstorm (apparently of their
own creation) sets the tone for what is to follow. As
well as predicting the future, controlling the
weather and casting evil spells, they also discuss
the wicked acts they carry out against ordinary men
and women. In a couple of scenes they interact
with Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft.
- Her husband's to Aleppo gone, master o'th'Tiger: / But in a sieve I'll thither sail, / And
like a rat without a tail, / I'll do, I'll do, and I'll do........ I'll drain him dry as hay: / Sleep
shall neither night nor day / Hang upon his penthouse lid; / He shall live a man
forbid. / Weary sennights nine times nine, / Shall he dwindle, peak and pine. (Act 1
Scene 3)
- One of the Witches describes how a sailor's wife has
insulted her and how she plans to take her revenge
('I'll do, I'll do, and I'll do'). She plans to follow his
ship (The Tiger) and drain the life out of him by not
allowing him to sleep. She is going to keep this up
for 567 days ('sennights nine times nine' or 7 × 9 ×
9). As both Macbeth and, particularly, his wife
discover, sleep deprivation is an awful punishment.
- One of the Witches describes how a sailor's wife has
insulted her and how she plans to take her revenge
('I'll do, I'll do, and I'll do'). She plans to follow his
ship (The Tiger) and drain the life out of him by not
allowing him to sleep. She is going to keep this up
for 567 days ('sennights nine times nine' or 7 × 9 ×
9). As both Macbeth and, particularly, his wife
discover, sleep deprivation is an awful punishment.
- Her husband's to Aleppo gone, master o'th'Tiger: / But in a sieve I'll thither sail, / And
like a rat without a tail, / I'll do, I'll do, and I'll do........ I'll drain him dry as hay: / Sleep
shall neither night nor day / Hang upon his penthouse lid; / He shall live a man
forbid. / Weary sennights nine times nine, / Shall he dwindle, peak and pine. (Act 1
Scene 3)
- The Witches' appearance at the start of the play in
the middle of a thunderstorm (apparently of their
own creation) sets the tone for what is to follow. As
well as predicting the future, controlling the
weather and casting evil spells, they also discuss
the wicked acts they carry out against ordinary men
and women. In a couple of scenes they interact
with Hecate, the goddess of witchcraft.
- The disruption of nature
- The opening of the play takes place in the middle of a thunderstorm. A
further storm rages on the night of Duncan's murder and many highly
unnatural occurrences are reported in Act 2 Scene 4. In the final scenes of
the play, it seems that the trees have come to life as Birnam Wood moves
to Dunsinane and Macbeth is defeated by Macduff who was not naturally
born.
- The night has been unruly: where we lay, / Our
chimneys were blown down, and, as they say, /
Lamentings heard i'th'air, strange screams of death /
And prophesying with accents terrible / Of dire
combustion and confused events, New hatched to
th'woeful time. The obscure bird / Clamoured the
livelong night. Some say, the Earth / Was feverous
and did shake. (Act 2 Scene 3)
- Moments before Macduff announces the discovery of Duncan's dead body,
Lennox talks about events that were occurring while the murder was taking
place. These include strong winds, strange ghostly cries in the night, an owl
screeching (thought to be a bad omen) and even an earthquake. The natural
world has been disturbed and disrupted following the unnatural killing of a
king.
- Moments before Macduff announces the discovery of Duncan's dead body,
Lennox talks about events that were occurring while the murder was taking
place. These include strong winds, strange ghostly cries in the night, an owl
screeching (thought to be a bad omen) and even an earthquake. The natural
world has been disturbed and disrupted following the unnatural killing of a
king.
- The night has been unruly: where we lay, / Our
chimneys were blown down, and, as they say, /
Lamentings heard i'th'air, strange screams of death /
And prophesying with accents terrible / Of dire
combustion and confused events, New hatched to
th'woeful time. The obscure bird / Clamoured the
livelong night. Some say, the Earth / Was feverous
and did shake. (Act 2 Scene 3)
- The opening of the play takes place in the middle of a thunderstorm. A
further storm rages on the night of Duncan's murder and many highly
unnatural occurrences are reported in Act 2 Scene 4. In the final scenes of
the play, it seems that the trees have come to life as Birnam Wood moves
to Dunsinane and Macbeth is defeated by Macduff who was not naturally
born.
- Wicked thoughts and actions
- Appearance and reality
- Appearances can be deceptive - contrasts
- Seeing things
- The play is full of spirits,
ghosts, optical illusions and
visions. While some of these
are conjured up by the
witches, some are a result of a
guilty conscience. This is why
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
are particularly affected. It is
difficult for them to admit
what is happening, which is
why they are suspected of
madness.
- Mine eyes are made the fools
o'th'other senses, / Or else worth all
the rest. I see thee still, / And on thy
blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, /
Which was not so before. There's no
such thing: / It is the bloody business
which informs / Thus to mine eyes. (Act
2 Scene 1)
- In one of the most famous scenes of the play Macbeth
sees a vision of a dagger just like the one which he is
about to use to kill King Duncan. Lady Macbeth thinks
that her hands are covered in blood. Even though
Macbeth cannot believe his eyes and in reality knows
that he is having a hallucination, he is still fascinated by
the daggers appearance.
- In one of the most famous scenes of the play Macbeth
sees a vision of a dagger just like the one which he is
about to use to kill King Duncan. Lady Macbeth thinks
that her hands are covered in blood. Even though
Macbeth cannot believe his eyes and in reality knows
that he is having a hallucination, he is still fascinated by
the daggers appearance.
- Mine eyes are made the fools
o'th'other senses, / Or else worth all
the rest. I see thee still, / And on thy
blade and dudgeon gouts of blood, /
Which was not so before. There's no
such thing: / It is the bloody business
which informs / Thus to mine eyes. (Act
2 Scene 1)
- The play is full of spirits,
ghosts, optical illusions and
visions. While some of these
are conjured up by the
witches, some are a result of a
guilty conscience. This is why
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
are particularly affected. It is
difficult for them to admit
what is happening, which is
why they are suspected of
madness.
- Sleep and dreams
- After the murder of Duncan both Macbeth and his wife have trouble sleeping and
are tormented by guilty dreams . Lady Macbeth regularly sleepwalks and replays
events in her mind, troubled by what she has done. Eventually she drives herself
mad and dies, probably by suicide.
- LADY MACBETH: The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now?
What, will these hands ne'er be clean? No more o'that, my lord,
no more o'that. You mar all with this starting. DOCTOR: Go to, go
to; You have known what you should not. GENTLEWOMAN: She
has spoke what she should not, I am sure of that. Heaven knows
what she has known. (Act 5 Scene 1)
- The Doctor and one of the ladies-in waiting observe Lady Macbeth as she sleepwalks and goes over events in her
mind. She is thinking about the murders of Macduff's wife and of King Duncan and how Macbeth reacted when he
saw Banquo's ghost. These events all become muddled together in one continuous speech which suggests that Lady
Macbeth is losing her reason. The blood on her hands is, of course, not real but in her highly charged emotional
state she imagines that it is ('What, will these hands ne'er be clean?'). Her unconscious words and actions give her
away to the people watching.
- The Doctor and one of the ladies-in waiting observe Lady Macbeth as she sleepwalks and goes over events in her
mind. She is thinking about the murders of Macduff's wife and of King Duncan and how Macbeth reacted when he
saw Banquo's ghost. These events all become muddled together in one continuous speech which suggests that Lady
Macbeth is losing her reason. The blood on her hands is, of course, not real but in her highly charged emotional
state she imagines that it is ('What, will these hands ne'er be clean?'). Her unconscious words and actions give her
away to the people watching.
- LADY MACBETH: The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now?
What, will these hands ne'er be clean? No more o'that, my lord,
no more o'that. You mar all with this starting. DOCTOR: Go to, go
to; You have known what you should not. GENTLEWOMAN: She
has spoke what she should not, I am sure of that. Heaven knows
what she has known. (Act 5 Scene 1)
- After the murder of Duncan both Macbeth and his wife have trouble sleeping and
are tormented by guilty dreams . Lady Macbeth regularly sleepwalks and replays
events in her mind, troubled by what she has done. Eventually she drives herself
mad and dies, probably by suicide.
- Seeing things
- Appearances can be deceptive - contrasts
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