Ambition and Power

• What is the setting of Macbeth?

  Medieval, feudal Scotland
• What does Shakespeare highlight about ambition in Macbeth?

  It can lead to downfall and destruction
• How does Macbeth's ambition affect his character?

  It drives him to commit murder
• Who is the weak king in Macbeth?

  Duncan
• What does Macbeth's ambition lead him to do?

  He murders Duncan to gain power
• What is Malcolm's leadership style compared to Macbeth's?

  Malcolm balances good qualities, Macbeth does not
• What does Malcolm list as qualities of a good king?

  Justice, mercy, courage, and temperance
• How does Macbeth's greed manifest in the play?

  He wants to kill Banquo and Fleance
• What does Macbeth believe about Banquo's descendants?

  They will inherit the throne after him
• What does Macbeth compare his ambition to?

  A horse leaping over an obstacle
• How does Lady Macbeth influence Macbeth's actions?

  She persuades him to commit murder
• What is the outcome of Macbeth's ambition and actions?

  It leads to his own destruction
• What is the role of the Witches in Macbeth?

  They predict Macbeth's rise to power
• How does Shakespeare portray the theme of leadership in Macbeth?

  Through contrasting characters like Duncan and Macbeth
• What does the phrase "vaulting ambition" imply about Macbeth?

  His ambition leads to overreaching and failure
• What does Lady Macbeth do after Duncan's murder?

  She helps cover up the crime
• How does Macbeth's character change throughout the play?

  He becomes increasingly tyrannical and paranoid
• What is the significance of the phrase "screw your courage to the sticking-place"?

  It encourages Macbeth to commit murder
• How do ambition and greed affect Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's relationship?

  • Shared ambition initially unites them
  • Guilt and paranoia create distance
  • Their ambitions ultimately lead to their downfall
• What is the role of fate in Macbeth?

  • Witches' prophecies set events in motion
  • Macbeth's belief in fate drives his actions
  • Questions the nature of free will
• How does Shakespeare use symbolism in Macbeth?

  • Blood symbolizes guilt and murder
  • Darkness represents evil and chaos
  • Weather reflects the moral state of Scotland
• What is the significance of Lady Macbeth's sleepwalking scene?

  • Reveals her guilt and mental unraveling
  • Symbolizes the consequences of their actions
  • Highlights the theme of appearance vs. reality
• How does the character of Macduff contrast with Macbeth?

  • Macduff represents loyalty and justice
  • Macbeth embodies ambition and tyranny
  • Their conflict symbolizes the struggle between good and evil