Macbeth is a tragedy because it explores the downfall of an individual who has been corrupted by his own desires
Words to describe Macbeth (CANDID T-VID) - cowardly, ambitious (to a fault), nervous, doubtful, indecisive, duplicitous, tyrannical, violent, immoral, and dishonourable.
Words to describe Lady Macbeth - manipulative, dominant, 'masculine', powerful, controlling, deceitful.
Weather portents (sign/warning) - some people thought that thunder was a sign of imminentdeath and that an East windrepresentsevil, as alluded to in the bible.
Gender Roles - In the Elizabethan/Jacobean era, women were seen as subordinate to men, who were superior. Shakespeare uses Macbeth to subvert/challenge these traditional gender roles by providing an independent female lead, and a more feminine male titular character.
Women - delicate/fragile, caring/maternal, subservient, and gentle
Men - dominant, powerful, violent/aggression, loyal, and ambitious.
Macbeth's tragicflaw is ambition. He wants to be king and followsthrough on his planwithoutconsidering of the consequences for himself or the kingdom.
Macbeth can be seen as...
a play of political and social realism, which shows how an oppressivehierarchicalsocietyproducescorruptindividuals.
A moraltaleadvisingagainstregicide, which would have pleasedKingJames I.
Perspectives in Macbeth
feminist - looking at the way women are represented in the play and how genderroles are challenged through characters.
