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MACBETH - THEMES (Loyalty & Betrayal (Loyalty is rewarded &…
MACBETH - THEMES
Loyalty & Betrayal
Loyalty is rewarded & betrayal punished - Thane of Cawdor executed & Macbeth made new Thane of Cawdor
Macbeth says he is loyal to Duncan though plots to kill him - "The service & the loyalty I owe" - says when sees Duncan after made Thane of Cawdor. Lady M says "Your servants ever" even though plotting murder.
Macduff is loyal to Scotland - goes to England to ask Malcom to defend his country instead of protecting his family - rather leave Scotland than see it ruled by bad King. "O Scotland, Scotland!"said to Malcom when goes to ask for his help.
Thanes loyal to Duncan because been a "great" king. Macbeth gives Duncan "service & loyalty" by fighting for him in Act 1.
Banquo loyal to his own sense of honour - says will keep his "allegiance clear" - won't let ambition or witches' prophecies affect him.
Play has circular structure Duncan executes old Thane of Cawdor & rewards Macbeth and it ends with Macbeth being killed for betraying Scotland & Malcolm rewarding the thanes' loyalty
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Betrayal linked to power & power in the form of titles can be given or taken away depending on person's loyalty.
Supernatural
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Macbeth & Banquo confused by the apparitions & don't know if dreaming or going mad - not usual to see a witch but it is possible
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Banquets ghost - is it real? Others at Banquet don't see it but ghost reappears later with he witches further predictions so they could choose what he sees
Witches are evil supernatural force - make atmosphere darker & more frightening - associated with chase. Macbeth says they "untie the winds" and make "castles topple". Represent struggle between natural & unnatural order.
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Ambition
Mac nation's greatest warrior & Thane of Cawdor but puts own desires before good of country & in end destroyed by ambition - Ambition changes him from "valiant" soldier to a "dead butcher"
Play shows ambition is dangerous as it can quickly spiral out of control, Macbeth considers the morality of killing Duncan for a long time but doesn't hesitate to kill Banquo
Lady M pursues goals with greater determination than Mac yet less capable of coping with results of her immoral acts/driven mad by Mac's repeated bloodshed on her conscience
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Once Macbeth starts killing has to kill more people to get what he wants to make his position secure - shows ambition can make people ruthless & selfish
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Ambition can be good or bad - Malcolm & Macduff ambitious for their country & want to take away Macbeth's powers not for own selfish desires but good of Scotland. Banquo is ambitious for his sons when heard witches' prophecy.
Kingship
Duncan example of a good king - kind, honest & fair - Malcolm says a good ruler should have "stableness" "mercy" and "justice" - qualities that Duncan has
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Regicide is unnatural & evil but killing a tyrant is ok. Duncan a good man & virtuous king "So clear in his great office" but Macbeth "a tyrant"
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Power
Once use violence to further quest for power it is difficult to stop as always potential threats to throne. Mac abuses his power and becomes a tyrant killing anyone he sees as potential threat, such as Macduff, he vows to kill "His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls/That trace him in his line."
power = authority given to a person, able to direct or influence behaviour of others
Macbeth's lust for power corrupts him and leads him to kill the king "I have done the deed". Was a "valiant" soldier until regicide .
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Greed
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Greed leads Mac to kill his good friend Banquo - more important than relationships - wants all for himself doesn't want Banquo's children to have it
Greed takes over Mac's mind leading him to kill anyone he thinks will get in his way to keep throne eg. Macduff
Lady M so greedy that says better to commit evil acts to get crown that not have it at all eg. "Thus must thou do, if thou have it"
Guilt
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Sleep
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After mrudering Duncan Macbeth worries he'll never be able to sleep again "Methought I heard a voice cry, 'Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep'"
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Tragedy
1st part builds to turning point - Duncan's murder & 2nd part consequences of this, leading to main character's downfall
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