Key vocab

• How does Shakespeare react to society in his writings?

  He critiques Jacobean and Elizabethan society
• What societal aspect does Macbeth criticize?

  Violence as proof of manhood
• What warning does Macbeth convey to the nobles?

  Not to kill the King to change society
• What is a patriarchy?

  A society run by men for men
• How do the witches in Macbeth gain power?

  Through the supernatural due to their ugliness
• What is Lady Macbeth's status in a patriarchal society?

  She has no power on her own
• What does Lady Macbeth need to reclaim her status?

  To produce an heir
• What question does Shakespeare raise about masculinity?

  Are men the best rulers?
• How does Lady Macbeth represent evil in Macbeth?

  She corrupts Macbeth into regicide
• How do the witches manipulate Macbeth?

  By influencing his ambition and actions
• What is the Great Chain of Being?

  Natural order with God at the top
• How does Macbeth's character change in relation to the Great Chain of Being?

  He becomes more animal-like after killing the King
• How does original sin relate to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth?

  They enact sin and disrupt civilization
• What does Shakespeare aim to restore in his plays?

  The natural order of society
• How does redemption manifest in Macbeth?

  Macbeth and Lady Macbeth refuse redemption
• What is the significance of conscience in Shakespeare's plays?

  Characters wrestle with good and evil choices
• How does Shakespeare use soliloquies in his plays?

  To reveal characters' true thoughts
• What is the purpose of characters in Shakespeare's plays?

  To represent Shakespeare's ideas
• How do the themes in Shakespeare's plays relate to contemporary issues?

  They reflect ongoing societal challenges
• Why is the audience's familiarity with Christian ideas significant?

  It shapes their understanding of themes
• How does Shakespeare portray women's roles in his plays?

  Through complex characters like Lady Macbeth
• What is the impact of Shakespeare's writing style on his themes?

  It enhances the depth of his messages
• How do characters' societal roles influence their decisions?

  They shape their motivations and actions
• How do Shakespeare's personal beliefs influence his works?

  They inform the themes and characterizations
• What implications do characters' decisions have on the narrative?

  They drive the plot and themes forward