Key themes

• Divine chain of being


  Structure of Jacobean society and it's relationship with the wider world. Macbeth breaks this consequences= warning to audience
• Violence

  Macbeth's violence established early on. Asserts kingship through tyrannical violence. Violence becomes cyclical
• Fate and the supernatural 


  Conflict over religion in Jacobean society, everyone felt anxious about where their soul would go and their fate as they were not faithful to one religion. Displayed through Macbeth's wavering confidence in prophecies. Witches face no punishment
• Ambition


  Quality that makes Macbeth corruptible. Macbeth's hamartia (fatal flaw) he is conscious of this weakness trying to stop it through internal battles(soliloquies ) allows the audience to feel empathy
• Sleep

  Uncertain boundary life and death. Sleep is corrupted by Duncan's murder. Significant Duncan is killed in sleep not able to pray or see a priest
• Time and reality


  Witches suggest fate and reality can be altered to avoid consequences. Reality gradually becomes distorted
• Blood


  Blood=metaphor for guilt. Should signify the stability of the kingdom it is a stain constantly tgere