Thesis

• Lady Macbeth is constructed to defy the women's expectation of the time. Shakespeare grants her character with aberration as she deviates from her expected traits (such as obedient and subservient). Some may perceive this as Shakespeare advocating for the equality of women. However, that statement could be deemed as controversial as Lady Macbeth is later punished for her gender subversion.
• Shakespeare portrays the theme of supernatural in the play by presenting witchcraft to be the catalyst and driver of all the evil deeds that occur. He utilises the Witch's to catalyse Macbeth's downfall through their contradictory and evil nature. Shakespeare uses the theme of supernatural to appease King James as he was immensely intrigued by the thought of witchcraft, displayed through the book he wrote - Demonology.
• The theme of deception is portrayed through many aspects of Macbeth substantially contributing to the development of the play. Appearance is suggestive to the act of performing, whereas reality is suggestive to the state of things as they actually exist.
• Shakespeare conveys guilt throughout the play as an incurable disease which causes destruction within the character of Macbeth. Guilt galvanises the eponymous protagonist's action and drives him to his fatal fall.
• Macbeth's downfall could be argued that it stemmed external factors of the play - Lady Macbeth's manipulation, the Witch's deception - however, it is ultimately due to his own character flaw of ambition. Shakespeare could be implying that one's own characteristics determine their fate. Therefore, Macbeth's death is a direct ramification of his own actions.
• Gender was a rigid and strict construction in the Jacobean era: women were perceived as highly inferior to men. However, Shakespeare challenges the traditional gender roles between the characters of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth initially during the first half of the play.