Shakespeare s views and values: THEMES, SYMBOLS AND MOTIFS

Shakespeare s views and values: THEMES, SYMBOLS AND MOTIFS

It is important to consider what statements Shakespeare is making about humanity through Macbeth. What views and values does he show through the play? When discussing the themes and ideas of the play, you must discuss them as Shakespeare s views and values.

VIEWS AND VALUES Shakespeare suggests that it is wrong to seek greater power than the position that is given to you in the social order. He reveals that ambition to overthrow authority will eventually lead to destruction.

Macbeth is brave and valiant, not naturally inclined to commit evil deeds, yet he deeply desires power. Macbeth makes his changing morality clear by asking in an aside for the stars to hide their fires should they reveal his dark and deadly purpose or intent to kill King Duncan. (Act 1 Scene 4 Ln 52) Spurred on by Lady Macbeth, his vaulting ambition quickly goes out of control. His paranoia about being caught and desire to maintain leads him to further murders, until he loses all sign of a moral conscience and appears to have gone mad with power.

Lady Macbeth More determined than Macbeth, she goes to the extent of calling on evil spirits to allow her to obtain her goals. Lady Macbeth leads her husband on mercilessly to kill Duncan and urges him to be strong in the murder s aftermath. However, she is eventually driven to distraction by the effect of Macbeth s repeated bloodshed on her conscience and she cannot withstand the consequences of what she has done. She is also driven insane, but ends up taking her own life.

Quotes: If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, without my stir (Macbeth, Act I, Scene 3). Macbeth hopes in an aside that fate not murder, may bring him his kingdom instead. I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only vaulting ambition, which o er-leaps itself and falls on the other. (Macbeth, Act I, Scene 7). Macbeth has nothing but his ambition to drive him to commit the deed and act rashly.

VIEWS AND VALUES Shakespeare suggests that deception is an undeniable part of society. By showing how deception brings Macbeth s destruction, he makes clear his value that people should be honest and match their actions to their words.

The idea of things not being as they appear is shown through: The ambiguous statements and prophecies of the witches. They actively confuse Macbeth, at Hecate s orders. The Thane of Cawdor is identified as a traitor, demonstrating that traitors are common (the title is ironically awarded to Macbeth, foreshadowing his future) Lady Macbeth and Macbeth- both try to hide their inner desires and put on the appearance of loyalty to Duncan; they continue to disguise their actions. Duncan cannot see past people s outwards appearances. Nothing is but what is not

The idea of things not being as they appear is shown through: Macbeth is eventually destroyed through the false hope offered by the apparitions prophecies. There are many references to people wearing clothing that does not fit them. ( Now does he feel his title/hang loose about him, like a giant s robe /Upon a dwarfish thief ) There are many references to people wearing masks.

Fair is foul and foul is fair. (Witches, Act I, Sc 1) The witches comment on what is going to happen. What looks beautiful is ugly and what seems evil is good. This sets the tone for the play. Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under t. (Lady Macbeth, Act I, Sc 5) Lady Macbeth wants Macbeth to appear as if he is still the loyal servant of the king, trustworthy and loyal, and strike when he least expects it. There s no art to find the mind s construction in the face (Duncan, Act I, Scene 4) A naive comment, and ironic, given the fate of Duncan. He believes that it is easy to see a man s true self by looking into his face..

Away and mock the time with fairest show, False face must hide what the false heart doth know (Macbeth, Act 1, Scene 7) Macbeth knows he must conceal his crimes. There s daggers in men s smiles (Donalbain, Act II, Scene 3) After learning of his father s death, Donalbain does not trust those loyal servants around him

VIEWS AND VALUES Shakespeare shows that when someone is tempted by evil, they should turn away rather than engage in it. He also suggests that good will triumph over evil. Evil actions will upset the natural order of the world.

When meeting the witches, Macbeth is quickly rapt withall and becomes completely absorbed by their prophecies. However, Banquo s response is to not become involved. But tis strange! And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray s in deepest consequence. Lady Macbeth calls upon the powers of evil to give her the strength to follow through on her plans.

Throughout the play, we see Macbeth and his wife in a constant struggle between the good and evil ; within themselves. After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth believes he has committed his soul to hell and can sleep no more. Macbeth s actions become increasingly horrific and he is described as a hell-hound. Macbeth s qualities as an evil tyrant are clearly compared to the kingly qualities of a good king shown by Malcolm and also the King of England.

Yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o the milk of human kindness (Lady Macbeth, Act I, Scene 5) Lady Macbeth fears that her husband s conscience and humanity will prevent him from committing the crime. Come thick night, and pall in the dunnest smoke of Hell, that my keen knife not see the wound it makes not heaven peep through the blanket of the dark, to cry, Hold, hold! (Lady Macbeth, Act 1, scene 5) Come you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts! Unsex me here, and fill me from the crown to the toe top-full of direst cruelty. (Lady Macbeth, Act I, Scene 5). Not in the legions/ of horrid hell can come a devil more damned/in evils, to top Macbeth. (Macduff, Act 4, scene 3)

VIEWS AND VALUES Shakespeare makes it clear that a king must have honourable qualities or king-becoming graces. A true king rules for the good of their subjects, not for their own power. Violence is necessary to defend the state, but violence used for personal gain is a misuse of power and has terrible consequences.

Duncan is always referred to as a king, while Macbeth soon becomes known as the tyrant. When Malcolm tests Macduff s loyalty in Act 4, he makes clear the kingly qualities: Justice, Verity (honesty)... Mercy... Devotion... Courage (IV, iii, 90-93) These qualities are displayed through the actions of Duncan and Malcolm, but Macbeth shows the opposite. Macbeth brings only chaos and death to Scotland, symbolized in the bad weather and bizarre supernatural events, his violence is not just, but power-mad! The violence of the battles in Act 1 and Act 5 is justified. When Malcolm regains his position as King, order is quickly restored.

A symbol is something which represents a more important idea or concept. Motifs are symbols that occur frequently in a text. The motifs in Macbeth are: Blood Nature and the weather Darkness and Light Sleep

In Macbeth, sleep often symbolises death, illness and relates strongly to both guilt and betrayal. In Act 2, Banquo is troubled by the three witches prophecy and tells Macbeth this, referring to difficulty sleeping. Learning from Banquo that King Duncan is asleep, Macbeth, alone, follows an imaginary dagger to King Duncan s bedchamber where he will kill him in his sleep. Macbeth fears that he won t sleep again, because only the innocent sleep. After Banquo s murder (and Macbeth s vision of the ghost ), Macbeth s wife comforts him and suggests that he rest to recover himself. When Lady Macbeth is nearing her death, she becomes so overcome by her guilt that she is unable to sleep, or walks in her sleep.

Blood is everywhere in Macbeth, beginning with the opening battle between the Scots and the Norwegian invaders, which is described in harrowing terms by the wounded captain in Act I, scene 2 Once Macbeth and Lady Macbeth embark upon their murderous journey, blood comes to symbolise their guilt, and they begin to feel that their crimes have stained them in a way that cannot be washed clean.

In Macbeth, much of the plot revolves around disorder and chaos, whether the characters or audience realize it or not. Because of the constant struggle for power in the play, the nation is always at risk of disorder. If a strong leader is not present, many things can go wrong very easily and very quickly. Disorder causes problems for many people, the king included. Signs of disorder include a solar eclipse, an owl killing a falcon, and Duncan s horses running wild and eating each other. This is symbolic of the imbalance of order in society.

Macbeth s grotesque murder spree is accompanied by a number of unnatural occurrences in the natural realm. From the thunder and lightning that accompany the witches appearances to the terrible storms that rage on the night of Duncan s murder, these violations of the natural order reflect corruption in the moral and political orders. The appearance of these storms represent impending doom. Thunder also foreshadows the three witches appearance.