Shakespeare's purpose in his plays revolves around societal critique, particularly focusing on themes like patriarchal societies, masculinity, and power dynamics.
Masculinity theme
Masculinity is explored in Shakespeare's plays, questioning whether male rulership is inherently superior and the consequences of such dominance.
Original sin theme
Shakespeare engages with the theme of original sin, highlighting human propensity towards evil and the struggle for redemption within Christian moral frameworks.
Biblical
The three witches represent the holy trinity and that is Biblical reference
Divine right of Kings
That a kings authority was given by god
emasculation
making a man feel less masculine
epitome
a person that is the perfect representation of something. e.g. Lady Macbeth is the epitome of evil
femme fatale
a woman trying to achieve something by employing her femininity such as seduction
foil
Banquo is the foil of Macbeth
Great chain of being
theres a clear hierarchy with god being the top then the king
hamartia
a character's fatal flaw. such as macbeth's hamartia is his ambition
hubris
excessive pride
regicide
killing a monarch
Shakespeare warns the audience about regicide
detrimental consequences
carcass (a shell) of your former self
Shakespeare emphasises the unchecked ambition
excessive ambition will lead to your rapid demise (downfall)
Shakespeare intent is that: betrayal of God's will, will always be punished
can't escape eternal damnation in hell
THUD MITCH V
tragic hero
hamartia
unchecked
duplicitous
motif
irresistible
tyrannical
chremamorphism
hubris
violating divine order
Macbeth is a tragic hero because he has hamartia
Macbeth's hamartia is his unchecked ambition
Hamartia - fatal flaw or error in judgement which leads to downfall
Unchecked ambition is when someone wants something so badly they are willing to do anything to get it
The motifs used throughout the play include blood, darkness and sleep which all contribute to the theme of guilt
Irresistible refers to the idea that Macbeth cannot resist the temptation to become king