sample essay macbeth

Macbeth – A* / L9 Full Mark Example Essay

This is an A* / L9 full mark example essay on Macbeth completed by a 15-year-old student in timed conditions (50 mins writing, 10 mins planning).

It contained a few minor spelling and grammatical errors – but the quality of analysis overall was very high so this didn’t affect the grade. It is extremely good on form and structure, and perhaps could do with more language analysis of poetic and grammatical devices; as the quality of thought and interpretation is so high this again did not impede the overall mark. 

Thanks for reading! If you find this resource useful, you can take a look at our full online Macbeth course here . Use the code “SHAKESPEARE” to receive a 50% discount!

This course includes: 

• A full set of video lessons on each key element of the text: summary, themes, setting, characters, context, attitudes, analysis of key quotes, essay questions, essay examples
• Downloadable documents for each video lesson 
• A range of example B-A* / L7-L9 grade essays, both at GCSE (ages 14-16) and A-Level (age 16+) with teacher comments and mark scheme feedback
• A bonus Macbeth workbook designed to guide you through each scene of the play!

For more help with Macbeth and Tragedy, read our article here .

MACBETH EXAMPLE ESSAY:

Macbeth’s ambition for status and power grows throughout the play. Shakespeare uses Macbeth as an embodiment of greed and asks the audience to question their own actions through the use of his wrongful deeds.

In the extract, Macbeth is demonstrated to possess some ambition but with overriding morals, when writing to his wife about the prophecies, Lady Macbeth uses metaphors to describe his kind hearted nature: “yet I do fear thy nature, / It is too full o’th’milk of human kindness”. Here, Shakespeare presents Macbeth as a more gentle natured being who is loyal to his king and country. However, the very act of writing the letter demonstrates his inklings of desire, and ambition to take the throne. Perhaps, Shakespeare is aiming to ask the audience about their own thoughts, and whether they would be willing to commit heinous deeds for power and control. 

Furthermore, the extract presents Macbeth’s indecisive tone when thinking of the murder – he doesn’t want to kill Duncan but knows it’s the only way to the throne. Lady Macbeth says she might need to interfere in order to persuade him; his ambition isn’t strong enough yet: “That I may pour my spirits in  thine ear / And chastise with the valour of my tongue”. Here, Shakespeare portrays Lady Macbeth as a manipulative character, conveying she will seduce him in order to “sway “ his mind into killing Duncan. The very need for her persuasion insinuates Macbeth is still weighing up the consequences in his head, his ambition equal with his morality. It would be shocking for the audience to see a female character act in this authoritative way. Lady Macbeth not only holds control of her husband in a patriarchal society but the stage too, speaking in iambic pentameter to portray her status: “To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great”. It is interesting that Shakespeare uses Lady Macbeth in this way; she has more ambition for power than her husband at this part of play. 

As the play progresses, in Act 3, Macbeth’s ambition has grown and now kills with ease. He sends three murders to kill Banquo and his son, Fleance, as the witches predicted that he may have heirs to the throne which could end his reign. Macbeth is suspicious in this act, hiding his true intentions from his dearest companion and his wife: “I wish your horses swift and sure on foot” and “and make our faces vizards to our hearts”. There, we see, as an audience, Macbeth’s longing to remain King much stronger than his initial attitudes towards the throne He was toying with the idea of killing for the throne and now he is killing those that could interfere with his rule without a second thought. It is interesting that Shakespeare presents him this way, as though he is ignoring his morals or that they have been “numbed” by his ambition. Similarly to his wife in the first act, Macbeth also speaks in pentameter to illustrate his increase in power and dominance. 

In Act 4, his ambition and dependence on power has grown even more. When speaking with the witches about the three apparitions, he uses imperatives to portray his newly adopted controlling nature: “I conjure you” and “answer me”. Here, the use of his aggressive demanding demonstrates his reliance on the throne and his need for security. By the Witches showing him the apparitions and predicting his future, he gains a sense of superiority, believing he is safe and protected from everything. Shakespeare also lengthens Macbeth’s speech in front of the Witches in comparison to Act 1 to show his power and ambition has given him confidence, confidence to speak up to the “filthy nags” and expresses his desires. Although it would be easy to infer Macbeth’s greed and ambition has grown from his power-hungry nature, a more compassionate reading of Macbeth demonstrates the pressure he feels as a Jacobean man and soldier. Perhaps he feels he has to constantly strive for more to impress those around him or instead he may want to be king to feel more worthy and possibly less insecure. 

It would be unusual to see a Jacobean citizen approaching an “embodiment” of the supernatural as forming alliance with them was forbidden and frowned upon. Perhaps Shakespeare uses Macbeth to defy these stereotypical views to show that there is a supernatural, a more dark side in us all and it is up to our own decisions whereas we act on these impulses to do what is morally incorrect. 

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129 Macbeth Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best macbeth topic ideas & essay examples, 👍 good essay topics on macbeth, 📌 most interesting macbeth topics to write about, 👍 good research topics about macbeth, ❓ macbeth essay questions.

Writing an essay on Shakespearean tragedies may be tricky for some students. There are a lot of ideas to put in your paper, and that may puzzle you. That’s why we’ve prepared a short guide on how to write Macbeth essay.

Macbeth is a tragedy by William Shakespeare based on the true story of Scottish king Macbeth. The play tells us about a Scottish general who heard a prophecy from a trio of witches and decided to bring predictions to fulfillment. This is a drama about the jeopardy of excessive lust for power and betrayal of friends.

Some researchers state that William Shakespeare adopted the plot from Holinshed’s Chronicles, a popular history of England, while others argue that the plot of the play was borrowed from George Buchanan. Before you start your Macbeth essay, you should do thorough research on facts and fiction around the play.

To give you ideas on how and what to write in your essay, check the tips below:

• Check our Macbeth essay samples to acquire knowledge on characters: Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, King Duncan, Banquo, Malcolm, Macduff, Three Witches, and others. Each character is unique, and it’s quite easy to write a paper on each of them. Make a meticulous analysis of each of them, if you decide to write an essay on Macbeth characters. Use dialogues and monologues as supporting arguments to your ideas.
• In your Macbeth essay introduction provide readers with the thesis statement and a summary you’re going to discuss in the paper. Specify what exactly you will depict or analyze. Sometimes, you may need to write the intro after you finish the body and already have done an in-depth analysis of text and critique materials.
• When writing body paragraphs, describe the essay topic in detail. Start each section with a short statement, provide a supporting quote, explain it, and make a conclusion. You can always analyze IvyPanda Macbeth essay titles to learn various points of view on each character and event.
• In the Macbeth essay conclusion, reiterate a topic and your analysis. You should not only summarize the information you’ve gathered and analyzed in the paper body. You have to get back to the intro and provide clear and extensive answers on the questions you raised. Try not to leave any further questions for your readers. Here’s the secret: some professors read the conclusion first. So make it persuasive and give a complete portion of information.

You may be wondering how to use essay examples that you may find on our website. It is super easy. First of all, look through the titles to get some topic ideas.

Then, look through the sample and learn how to create your outline. Think about what you can write in your essay. Check the bibliography: there you can find useful sources for the research.

Indeed, any paper on Shakespeare’s play may concern a variety of topics. So check out our Macbeth essay examples and think of the topics which you can choose.

• Dramatic Irony in Macbeth Essay Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to amuse the audience and to show the level of deception developed by the main character. The porter gives a clear picture of what is about to happen.
• Betrayal in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” The betrayer, Macbeth betrays the King, friend and other subjects in the kingdom. However when Macbeth is told he has just been chosen as the Thane of Cawdor, scenes of the possibilities of him as […]
• The Use of Hands as a Motif in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” The play presents readers with the world of royalty and the well-knit state; the world of Duncan, his two sons, Banquo, Macbeth and the whole of Scotland and England.
• William Shakespeare: Hamlet and Macbeth It is important to examine the role that the setting plays in Hamlet and Macbeth in relation to the tragic flaw and developments of the plot.
• Unchecked Ambition in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” However, in Act 1, scenes 1 to 4, the audience is introduced to Macbeth’s increasing fear and the developing desire to be the king. It appears that the desire to be the king overrides his […]
• Supernatural Elements of Act I and II in Macbeth In the play, the supernatural things are central to the plot of the play as they provide a basis for action as Shakespeare meant them to fit in putting the play together.
• Concept of Power in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” While The government is the system that makes laws and ensures that they are followed, it is the person who wields power who is responsible for the equality and impartiality of its enforcement.
• Macbeth & Frankenstein: Compare & Contrast In the being of the play, we assume that Macbeth is akin to the king, a loyal soldier, and a person “full of the milk of human kindness”.
• The Downfall of Macbeth Nonetheless, he goes on to murder the king and his character takes a turn for the worst as he kills the chamberlains who would give witness of the king’s death and he claims he killed […]
• Emotions and Outward Actions in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” In this regard, in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the relationship of inward emotions and outward actions is relevant in fully conveying the interplay of themes in this tragedy.
• British Literature: Beowulf vs. Macbeth They are as follows: the presentation of the heroes, the consideration of the ethical themes, and the final stages of the plays the latter help to draw some ethical conclusions based on the peculiarity of […]
• “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare: Language and Tropes Typically, ‘the end of something means the onset of another.’ Using this as a viewpoint that provides a lead to what Macbeth is all about, the fact that ‘we will proceed no further in this […]
• Comparison of the Opening Scene of Macbeth by Orson Welles and The Tragedy of Macbeth by Roman Polanski The opening scene of The Tragedy of Macbeth starts with the words “fair is foul and foul is fair” that Polanski takes from the end of the Shakespeare’s scene.
• The “Macbeth” Film by Rupert Goold While Shakespeare’s play happened in the 11th century in Scotland, the movie’s design is more similar to the events of the 20th century. Corresponding to the era of the first half of the 20th century, […]
• Literary Character Analysis of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” The very reason that made me write about this character was how he is depicted as a hero in the opening pages of the play, and only to learn how weak he is from his […]
• Shakespeare Tragedies: Macbeth and King Lear At the beginning of the play, he decides to abdicate his throne and divide his kingdom among his three daughters. This choice eventually undermines the ethical integrity of this character, and he murders murder to […]
• Macbeth Versions Comparison Film Analysis The use of classic settings in the design of the play helps in portraying the role that gangsters play in the original play of Macbeth and helps present it in the modern world.
• Omens in The “Macbeth” Play by William Shakespeare The supernatural was an aspect of the plot structure used to add tension and drama to the occurrences and situations and manifested in various ways. To conclude, the owl and raven were utilized as omens […]
• The Play “Macbeth” by Shakespeare and the Film “Maqbool” by Bhardwaj Bhardwaj’s Maqbool is a great example of how the weather sets the tone for the story, it is not the backdrop in the film, but an active force expressing the psychological state of the characters.
• Macbeth and Hamlet Characters Comparison The queens in Hamlet and Macbeth play a pivotal role in the life of the heroes of the play. She is portrayed as a mother who, in her awareness of Hamlet’s crisis, feels guilty and […]
• Character Analysis of “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare The unplanned overnight stay of King Duncan and his entourage at Macbeth’s castle precipitates Macbeth’s first fateful decision: to murder King Duncan and clear the way for the witches’ prophecy to come true.
• The Life and Work of William Shakespeare: His Contribution to the Contemporary Theater In addition, the plays and sonnets of William Shakespeare continue to set the standard for the study of the English language in its dramatic context in institutes of higher learning and performance training.
• Characters’ Traits in Shakespeare’s Macbeth As weird as it might sound, Lady Macbeth is very emotional; as a matter of fact, the crimes that she committed can be attributed to her emotionality rather than her greed, though the latter has […]
• Drama Macbeth: Shakespeare’s Play and Wells’ Film However, the play communicates the meaning of the text in a better way as compared to the film by Orson Wells.
• Supernatural in “Macbeth” Play by Shakespeare The supernaturally manufactured predictions lure Macbeth and Banquo with the idea of power, leading Macbeth to plot the cruel murder of Duncan.
• Jeffrey R. Wilson: Macbeth and Criminology The genre of tragedy used in Macbeth poses the question to the reader: who is responsible for committing a crime – the individual or the society?
• Intro to Theatre: “Macbeth” Shakespeare’s theatrical performances are widespread all over the world and do not lose their relevance, both due to the problems raised by the playwright and the various interpretations of his works. One of such plays is the production of Macbeth directed by Bodinetz (2020) and created by the troupe of Digital Theater +. The performance […]
• The Story of Macbeth by W. Sheakspeare: Relationship and Strengths Between Macbeth and His Wife Lady Macbeth reads a letter her husband had written about the witches’ prophecy and manipulates him to kill King Duncan and take over the kingdom.
• Analyzing the Adaptation of the Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” Furthermore, the names of all the characters in both films are the same except for a little twist in the spelling of names like Mcbeth and Mcduff.
• Shakespeare and His View on Kingship: Macbeth, King Lear and Othello At the same time, it is beyond doubt in the basement Macbeth’s character is clean and as a soldier, he is true to his job and his king.
• Representing the Heroic: Macbeth and Odysseus In Homer’s Odyssey, the noble nature of the hero is made clear in the way that his servants speak of him and strive to behave as he would expect.
• Analysis of Characters in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” The witches’ predictions spark Macbeth’s ambitions and then hearten his violent performance; Lady Macbeth offers the brains and the will behind her husband’s intrigues; and the only heavenly being to emerge is Hecate, the divinity […]
• Shakespeare’s Tragedy of Macbeth The world of Macbeth is a world of contradiction. Already a successful soldier in the army of King Duncan, Macbeth is informed by Three Witches that he is to become “Thane of Glamis!”, “Thane of […]
• Shakespearean Macbeth as a Tragic Hero In addition to fighting for his king, Macbeth is quickly and well rewarded for his efforts as King Duncan makes him the new Thane of Cawdor in addition to his already holding the title of […]
• Shakespear’s “Macbeth”: Main Character Change Analysis Macbeth is essentially the story of a character who lives his life in a state of confusion to the degree that the only constant in his life changes.
• Chaucer’s ‘Miller’s Tale’ and Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ Chaucer’s The Miller’s Tale and in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, to be more exact, we will find out how the notion of poetic justice is represented by examples of the main characters of the works mentioned.
• An Explication on Shakespeare’s Macbeth However, Macbeth’s wife is murdered and the news is broken to him, and he is drifted into a life of futility and remorsefulness.
• Literary Elements in “Macbeth” Poem In addition, use of Symbolism imagery and symbolism creates a better picture in audience mind, concerning the themes that the play covers; such as where dark is used to represent evil.
• King Macbeth in Shakespeare’s Play and History He proved to be a courageous man and ambitious because he wanted to become the king, and the only way he could do it was by killing the king.
• Themes in the Tragedy of Macbeth by Shakespeare The character of Macbeth is used by Shakespeare to illustrate a man who lacks the strength of moral fiber under the affection of guilt and ambition.
• Macbeth: An Analysis of the Play by Shakespeare Macbeth’s treachery springs from his reliance to the witches who gave him prophecy that results in his endless creation of enemies.
• Oedipus King vs. Macbeth: Drama Comparison The concept reflects the foundation of the decent authority through showing the tendencies of power both in the ancient times and in the period of Renaissance.
• Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” and Sophocles’ “Oedipus” The idea of a person being in the center of the action and trying to overcome some problems connected with doom, fate and some other supernatural forces become peculiar to this kind of art.
• Macbeth by Shakespeare and Oedipus by Sophocles Comparison In Act 1 Scene 3 of Macbeth, we have the three witches who greet him and inform him that he is to become the “Thane of Cawdor,” the title that he will receive that evening, […]
• Shakespeare Literature: Prophecy and Macbeth Morality The divination made by the witches pushes Macbeth further into immorality as he is made to believe that he deserves the position of king. In addition, Macbeth abandons reason and morality so as to make […]
• Power and Evocation of Horror: The Macbeth Witches’ Chant Among them are the rhymes, the rhythm of the words, the interpolation of a chorus, the increasing complexity of the lines as the poem progresses, and the vivid and horrifying imagery.
• Philosophy of Literature: Shakespearean Tragedy In addition, it is also an indication of the facts that human beings are always nosy and ready to participate in other people’s issues.
• The Ambitions and Immoral Decision in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• Analyzing Macbeth’s Conscience Throughout Shakespeare’s Play “Macbeth”
• Murder and Power in William Shakespeare’s Play “Macbeth”
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• Psychological Victimization of William Shakespeare’s Protagonist in “Macbeth”
• Responsibility for Planning to Kill Duncan in William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Dramatic Techniques to Create a Sense That Macbeth Is Not in Control of His Own Thoughts and Deeds
• An Analysis of Jam-Packed With Malfeasance and Darkness in the Play “Macbeth” by Shakespeare
• The Application of Imagery in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• Witches, Supernatural, and Evil in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• The Banquet Scene of William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Analyzing Macbeth’s Weak Character in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
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• Psychoanalytical Criticism of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Women as The Driving Action of the Play in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• William Shakespeare’s Manipulation of the Audience Through “Macbeth”
• Suspense and the Supernatural in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• Sharing the Blame in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• Macbeth’s Tragic Downfall in William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• The Characterization of Macbeth in Relation to the Development of Scotland in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• Role Reversal in William Shakespeare’s Play “Macbeth”
• The Butcher and His Fiend Like Queen in William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
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• An Analysis of Macbeth as a Victim of Circumstances in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
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• Parallels Between Macbeth and Satan in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
• Some of the Ways in Which Shakespeare Portrays an Atmosphere of Evil in “Macbeth”
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• The Aristotelian Standards of a Tragic Hero in the Tragedy of “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
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• What Did Macbeth’s Character, Words, and Actions Show About Changes in His Character?
• Who Are the Women in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”?
• When Power Falls Into the Wrong Hands in “Macbeth”?
• Why Are the Period and Place Important in “Macbeth”?
• What Makes William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” a Pessimistic Play?
• How Ambitions and Immoral Decision Play a Part in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”?
• How and Why Does Macbeth Turn a War Hero Into an Evil Murderer?
• Did the Three Witches Push Macbeth to Kill Duncan?
• What Are the Attitudes Towards Gender Can Be Seen in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”?
• What Part Does the Supernatural Play in “Macbeth”?
• Was Macbeth Responsible for His Downfall?
• Does Shakespeare Present Lady Macbeth as Good or Evil?
• Can One Feel Pity for Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”?
• What Dramatic Techniques Are Used in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”?
• How Did Lady Macbeth and Macbeth’s Relationship Change Throughout the Play?
• What Did Macbeth Say About Good and Evil?
• Does Shakespeare Present Lady Macbeth as Fiend-Like?
• Does Macbeth Have Power?
• How Did Macbeth Turn From “Nobel Macbeth” to “A Bloody Butcher”?
• What Does Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” Have to Say About Kingship?
• Did Macbeth Suffer From Fate?
• What Are the Character Traits of Lady Macbeth?
• Does Macbeth Have Free Will?
• What Are the Influences of the Witches’ Prophecies on Macbeth’s Actions?
• How Are the Themes of Appearance and Reality Presented in “Macbeth”?
• How Are Characters Presented as Disturbed in “Macbeth”?
• Was Macbeth Considered the Tragic Hero of the Play?
• How Did Lady Macbeth and Witches Change?
• What Are the Differences and Similarities Between “Medea” and “Macbeth” Plays?
• What Factors Lead Macbeth to Kill Duncan?
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Macbeth Essays

There are loads of ways you can approach writing an essay, but the two i favour are detailed below., the key thing to remember is that an essay should focus on the three aos:, ao1: plot and character development; ao2: language and technique; ao3: context, strategy 1 : extract / rest of play, the first strategy basically splits the essay into 3 paragraphs., the first paragraph focuses on the extract, the second focuses on the rest of the play, the third focuses on context. essentially, it's one ao per paragraph, for a really neatly organised essay., strategy 2 : a structured essay with an argument, this strategy allows you to get a much higher marks as it's structured to form an argument about the whole text. although you might think that's harder - and it's probably going to score more highly - i'd argue that it's actually easier to master. mainly because you do most of the work before the day of the exam., to see some examples of these, click on the links below:, lady macbeth as a powerful woman, macbeth as a heroic character, the key to this style is remembering this: you're going to get a question about a theme, and the extract will definitely relate to the theme., the strategy here is planning out your essays before the exam, knowing that the extract will fit into them somehow., below are some structured essays i've put together., macbeth and gender.

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Home Essay Samples Literature

Essay Samples on Macbeth

Why is macbeth a tragic hero in shakespeare's play.

Shakespeare's timeless play "Macbeth" introduces us to a character whose downfall is both captivating and tragic. Macbeth, the protagonist, has intrigued audiences for centuries with his complex journey from a noble warrior to a tormented villain. In this essay, we will delve into the reasons...

• Tragic Hero

How is Macbeth a Tragic Hero: Exploring Shakespeare's Masterpiece

Unveiling the layers of Shakespeare's iconic tragedy, the character of Macbeth stands as a quintessential example of a tragic hero. To answer "how is Macbeth a tragic hero?", in this essay we will delve into the depths of his character, motivations, and the unfolding events...

The Characterisation of Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare’s Drama

In this essay I will explore the play’s key techniques, such as; Imagery, Characterisation, Stage Directions, and Dialogue alongside other important language features which are portrayed in Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ focusing on the extract, Act 1 Scene 7. This scene highlights the central themes of the...

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The Tragedy of Macbeth Ambition by William Shakespeare

Morality is defined as principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior. There are objective and subjective accounts of morality which differ from each person. Objective morality includes universally known principles that are not up for analysis and are widely...

• Macbeth Ambition
• Macbeth Power

How Shakespeare Presents Ambition in Macbeth

Shakespeare doesn't portray Macbeth as inherently ambitious, but as a tragic hero. He lacks bloodlust yet develops vaulting ambition via metaphysical aid, which leads to an unholy regicide and a tyrannous rule foreseen by the witches.In Macbeth Act 1;5 Lady Macbeth speculates about Macbeth's letter on the prophecies...

• William Shakespeare

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Fair Is Foul And Foul Is Fair In Macbeth And Lord Of The Flies

Life is really hard when fear controls a human being. Fear is very consuming to one's self. Jack Merridew from Lord of the Flies and Macbeth from Macbeth both entered lives that tests their ego and their mental capabilities. “Fair is foul and foul is...

• Lord of The Flies

Portrayal Of Characters With Animal Imagery In Macbeth

The play Macbeth was written in 1606 by famous playwright William Shakespeare. It is the story of murder and usurper. The storyline went from crime to crime to finally reach the security of the throne. The historical context is about King James the 1st. He...

• Imagery in Literature

The Use Of Sensory Imagery In Macbeth

Over history, psychological distress has and will always be significant. Shakespeare brings to the audience's attention all the problems that his generation failed to notice. Since hearing the witches’ prophecies, Macbeth finds himself in a predicament trying to fulfill the prediction of him becoming Thane...

Themes Of Power And Ambition In Macbeth 

Ambition is a powerful urge to do or to accomplish something, commonly requiring assurance and diligent work. In Williams Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the characters Lady Macbeth and Macbeth want to gain the position of authority and they are focused to do anything to accomplish this objective....

Overwhelming Ambition Of Macbeth Character

Ambition can force a naturally virtuous man to be enveloped by evil. Macbeth, from William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth, began as a courageous Scottish general who fought for King Duncan with no mercy. But once the witches lured Macbeth with the possibilities of his prophecies, ambition...

Role Of Ambitions In Our Life

Ambition fills a man with eagerness. Once it is discovered in one’s mind, it demands to be acted upon. Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a tale of a fight between men’s instinct and their love for hierarchical order. The play portrays various levels and dimensions of ambition...

The Definition Of Fate And Free Will In Macbeth

Throughout time, it has been believed that fate has the power to forge one’s destiny. On the other hand though, I believe these choices can defy fate and that fate only manipulates one's mind into choosing their own path. In the play Macbeth, Shakespeare messes...

The Theme Of Fate And Free Will In Macbeth By William Shakespeare

All through the ages it is believed fate, by some wild power, has the ability to manufacture one's fate. The result of an individual's decisions is constrained by the manner by which they are destined to happen. In any case, some accept these decisions can...

Analysis of the Character of Lady Macbeth from the Shakespeare's Play

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Best topics on Macbeth

1. Why Is Macbeth a Tragic Hero in Shakespeare’s Play

2. How is Macbeth a Tragic Hero: Exploring Shakespeare’s Masterpiece

3. The Characterisation of Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare’s Drama

4. The Tragedy of Macbeth Ambition by William Shakespeare

5. How Shakespeare Presents Ambition in Macbeth

6. Fair Is Foul And Foul Is Fair In Macbeth And Lord Of The Flies

7. Portrayal Of Characters With Animal Imagery In Macbeth

8. The Use Of Sensory Imagery In Macbeth

9. Themes Of Power And Ambition In Macbeth 

10. Overwhelming Ambition Of Macbeth Character

11. Role Of Ambitions In Our Life

12. The Definition Of Fate And Free Will In Macbeth

13. The Theme Of Fate And Free Will In Macbeth By William Shakespeare

14. Analysis of the Character of Lady Macbeth from the Shakespeare’s Play

15. Similarities in Suspence Between The Monkey’s Paw by W.W Jacobs and Macbeth by William Shakespeare

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English Works

Sample student essay: Macbeth and the nature of evil

MACBETH SHOWS THAT NO ONE IS IMPERVIOUS TO THE EFFECTS OF EVIL

In  Macbeth Shakespeare focuses on the evil consequences of one man’s thrust for power. Through their prophecies, the witches plant an evil seed in Macbeth’s mind which has numerous repercussions, not only for Macbeth but for the King, his family and the people of Scotland.  Shakespeare shows that once his ambition has been inflamed, no one is immune from the consequences. Whilst both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth sacrifice their honour and pay a heavy price, many others are also killed to satisfy their thirst for power.

From the opening scene, it becomes clear that the witches are determine to use their supernatural powers to plant the seeds of evil and to undermine Macbeth’s honour. They create moral havoc by targeting his ambition. If the witches state that “fair is foul and foul is fair”, Macbeth soon finds that the prophecies “cannot be ill cannot be good”.  When the witches plant the seed that Macbeth is likely to become King, Macbeth is captivated by their prophecies. “I stood rapt in the wonder of it”. It is his ambition that promotes evil thoughts that undermine his sanity and corrupt him. As Shakespeare shows, Macbeth’s ambition creates “present fears” that are linked with “deep and dark desires” and that encourage him to put aside his moral compunctions.  After he commits the murders, he again seeks out the witches who give him a false sense of confidence. They predict that he will be safe from harm and Macbeth continues on his killing spree.

Lady Macbeth continues the corruption begun by the witches which has an immediate effect on Macbeth and a long-term corrosive effect on herself.  Shakespeare depicts the transformative power of evil as Lady Macbeth becomes “top – full of Direst Cruelty” in order to encourage Macbeth to murder King Duncan. She manipulates him, criticises his manhood and suggests that he is cowardly. She states that she would have plucked a baby from her breast and “dash’d the brains out” had she so broken a promise as Macbeth seems to be doing. Whilst she intimidates Macbeth and convinces him that it is cowardly to thwart one’s desires, she, ironically, pays the heaviest price. Her belief that a “little water clears us of this deed” returns to haunt her as she becomes increasingly obsessed with the evil she has unleashed. She is unable to remove neither the stain nor the deaths. She is also dismayed at the tyrant that continues unabated.

Owing to both the influence of the witches and Lady Macbeth, Macbeth succumbs to evil and pays a heavy price. Foolishly, he sets aside his scepticism and renounces his honour as he contemplates the ‘deep and dark desires”. His conscience alerts him to the evil nature of murder; he is fully aware of the “even – handed justice” or “judgement” which instructs people about good and evil. He also knows that “Bloody instructions return to plague the inventor”.  Most importantly, Macbeth knows that he should not commit evil deeds, because his conscience will torment him and undermine his honour. Despite all this, Macbeth wields the dagger and King Duncan becomes his first victim. He suffers the shocking consequences of Macbeth’s “overleaping” ambition that causes a  “heat-oppressed brain” to turn towards evil.

Macbeth continues to pay a heavy price and does not enjoy his royal status. Owing to his conscience, Macbeth becomes paranoid and guilt gives way to hallucinations and “strange self-abuse”. Macbeth becomes suspicious of everyone. He tries to harden himself to the pangs of his conscience. He wants to fight fear and become fearless by killing more people. He states, “t’is the initiate Fear that wants hard Use”. Macbeth has become a cruel tyrant and transforms Scotland into a country “almost afraid to know itself”. He sets spies on each of his thanes and even distrusts the witches for he is determined to make ‘assurance double sure’ by slaughtering Macduff’s entire family. This propels him  to the final showdown.

So the evil effects spread throughout Scotland, and even Banquo suffers from the cruel effects of evil. Banquo is honourable and rightly dismisses the witches even though they predict that his sons will be king. Because of this secret knowledge, Banquo becomes Macbeth’s second victim. Macbeth feels that “under him my genius is rebuked”. He is killed while his son Fleance escapes.

Tragically, many lives are lost because of one couple’s ambition. They both sacrifice their honour and do not enjoy their status because they become paranoid about the consequences. Once Lady Macbeth encourages Macbeth to commit murder, there is no stopping him. To soften his conscience, he continues killing and changes the whole atmosphere of Scotland. No one escapes. The citizens are so sick of the tyrant that they are relieved by his death.  Shakespeare shows that one man’s evil thirst for power does not pay and many other suffer a heavy price.

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How Does Shakespeare Present the Character of Lady Macbeth?

Shakespeare’s seminal tragedy, “Macbeth,” presents the theme of evil through the protagonist’s character. Through the theme of evil, Shakespeare demonstrates how ambition is driven by an individual’s will to do evil. Macbeth’s and Lady Macbeth’s ambitious characters are the leading causes of evil. Moreover, Shakespeare uses the character of Macbeth to explore the effects of power on women. Power is dangerous and destructive when combined with ambition, and women are the leading cause of evil. Shakespeare purports that power at the hands of women is harmful and can be matriarchal. Lady Macbeth feels superior to her husband and questions his ability to be a man. Macbeth has assumed control and easily manipulates his husband, and this can be metaphorically viewed as “Lady Macbeth has poured her spirits into his ears.” However, evil at the end of the play is demeaning and lacks power, while God’s will is given the powerful trait. To portray the character of Lady Macbeth, this essay aims to demonstrate Lady Macbeth as a masculine anti-mother and anti-feminism, a manipulative poisoner, and a traditional witch who references evil spirits.

While some may argue that Lady Macbeth is a powerful woman willing to take power at her hands, others feel that Lady Macbeth is just but a rebellious woman who goes against society’s beliefs about a woman. Throughout the play, the verb “come” is repeated, and this reveals Lady Macbeth’s ambition to have full powers. Lady Macbeth gets to the point of summoning the spirits to take her breasts and milk for gall to make herself masculine. Moreover, Lady Macbeth’s power can be revealed in how she controls her emotions, Something that Macbeth does not have. In the banquet scene, Lady Macbeth has everything under control, unlike Macbeth, making Lady Macbeth mock her husband. Lady Macbeth feels ashamed and disgusted for her husband, and this is a way of being manipulative. However, for the Jacobean audience, Lady Macbeth’s power is reduced to nothing but a rebellious woman who has gone against society. Reducing her breast milk to a gall reveals that she is willing to lose her feminine trait, making her poisonous. Lady Macbeth says, “Come take my milk for gall” (Shakespeare 14). By asserting so, Lady Macbeth wants her milk to be poisonous such that it can kill an infant. Undoubtedly, replacing her breast milk with gall is a way of rebelling the motherly idea and the purpose of breast milk. The society expects women to be caregivers and take summons from their husbands. At first, Shakespeare presents to the audience a lady Macbeth who is full of milk, but Lady Macbeth’s decision to change her milk to a gall shows her ambition to change gender roles. Therefore, with this ambition, Shakespeare reveals how power in the hands of women can cause evil as she tries to change society’s constructed gender roles.

To highlight the absurdness of the misogynistic belief that witches are anti-feminism, Shakespeare portrays Lady Macbeth as an Anti-feminism character. When Shakespeare was writing, it is believed that witches believed in having more masculine traits than feminine ones. The central role of witches is to violate the traditional setting of society and change gender roles. Lady Macbeth says, “Unsex me and fill my crown with direst cruelty” (Shakespeare 14). By asserting so, lady Macbeth wants to be stripped of her femininity and filled with masculine traits. She has no desire to be soft and controlled by men as society dictates to women. By saying that she wishes to be filled with cruelty, Lady Macbeth wants to have the fierce and dominating character of men. Lady Macbeth feels that her feminine traits will interfere with her evil plan. Lady Macbeth feels that she needs to be cruel enough to execute such an evil plan. As society puts it, Lady Macbeth feels that her feminine trait is a great hindrance and not a gift. Moreover, lady Macbeth demonstrates her masculine trait by saying that she would rather kill her child than break an oath. Lady Macbeth says, “I would pluck my nipple while it was smiling and dash its brains out” (Shakespeare 19). By saying so, Shakespeare reveals the anti-feminism traits of witches, revealing Lady Macbeth’s unfavorable perception of children and anti-maternal nature.

Lady Macbeth’s representation as an evil character can be juxtaposed with the Bible’s story about Adam and Eve. Initially, women were the cause of evil, as revealed in the Bible through the story of Adam and Evil. Of the two sexes, male and female, women are seen to be the evilest; Eve gave Adam the fruit, which made the two get kicked out of the Garden of Eden. Shakespeare’s presentation of Lady Macbeth is similar to that of Adam and Eve. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth want to do evil, but Lady Macbeth is more ambitious to do the act. Lady Macbeth’s greed for being a queen made her so ambitious about killing the king. To be the queen, Lady Macbeth pressured Macbeth into helping her so she could kill the king. Lady Macbeth persuades her husband to kill Duncan and challenges him to execute his powers “Screw your courage…and we will not fail” (Shakespeare 19). To gain power and reveal the power the husband has, Lady Macbeth wants her husband to kill the king. Lady Macbeth comes up with a plan to kill Duncan and wishes her husband to execute the plan. Moreover, Lady Macbeth instructs Macbeth to look like a flower but be a serpent in it (Shakespeare 15). This is also a biblical allusion. Shakespeare reveals the idea of the serpent, similar to that in the story of Adam and Eve. Lady Macbeth wants her husband to be as cunning as that serpent, ready to manipulate and mislead the people.

Additionally, Shakespeare reveals the character of Lady Macbeth as a poisoner, displaying the stereotype of witches and their ability to use poison to kill. Though Lady Macbeth does not poison her husband, she poisons her husband’s mind. For this reason, Macbeth becomes a different person as he becomes hungry for power and does not hesitate to do evil to possess power. Lady Macbeth poisons her husband’s mind so that he cannot decide for himself and cannot distinguish evil from good. At first, Macbeth hesitates about the plan and says they are not to continue (Shakespeare 12).

On the other hand, Lady Macbeth does not take no for an answer, and therefore, she psychologically manipulates her husband into executing the earlier plan. Lady Macbeth tells her husband that executing the plan would make him a man and that failure to do it will render him less of a man (Shakespeare 19). By saying so, Lady Macbeth assumes that her husband is a coward and will only be a man if he assassinates Duncan. With this evil influence that Lady Macbeth has exerted on her husband, Macbeth murders Duncan. Obviously, Macbeth would not have committed this evil act without Lady Macbeth. It is Lady Macbeth who poisons Macbeth’s mind and psychologically tortures him into doing evil. Moreover, Lady Macbeth calls on the evil spirits, an act of witches. These evil spirits fill her heart with cruelty, making it easier for her to manipulate Duncan. Lady Macbeth wants the spirits to “make thick her blood” (Shakespeare 14). By asserting so, Lady Macbeth wishes that the evil spirits would fill her so she could entirely focus on the evil act. Shakespeare reveals the stereotypical belief that witches use evil forces to fulfill their evil acts by giving Lady Macbeth the ability to poison and summon the spirits.

In conclusion, Lady Macbeth’s ambition is the cause of evil. Very ambitious to kill the King, Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband into accepting to murder the king. For this reason, it can be revealed that Shakespeare believes women are the leading cause of evil. With the desire to kill the king, Lady Macbeth becomes anti-feminism, one of the stereotypical views about witches. Lady Macbeth no longer desires her feminine traits because she feels they will hinder the king’s killing scheme. Moreover, Lady Macbeth becomes anti-maternal because she is disgusted by what society has on women. Lady Macbeth feels that being reduced to a mother and a caregiver will limit her from being assertive. It is also revealed that Lady Macbeth can summon the evil spirits that make her destructive. Lady Macbeth becomes a poisoner and poisons her husband’s mind. Through the character of Macbeth, Shakespeare challenges the reader to be open-minded to learn the effects of evil on society.

Shakespeare, William.  Macbeth . Clarendon Press, 1889. Retrieved December 14, 2023 from https://books.google.com/books/download/Macbeth.pdf?id=G-40AAAAMAAJ&output=pdf

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Macbeth — Appearance And Reality in Macbeth Analysis

Appearance and Reality in Macbeth Analysis

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Published: Mar 6, 2024

Words: 612 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Table of contents

Characterization of macbeth, characterization of lady macbeth, characterization of the witches, symbolism and imagery.

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