Unstable

Macbeth - Mentally Unstable

Macbeth's response to murdering Duncan, and the fact he sees supernatural visions, suggest he is mentally unstable. His obsession with murdering others reinforces this.

Supernatural visions

Throughout the play, Macbeth sees supernatural things, such as a floating dagger, Banquo's ghost and the spirits that are shown to him by the witches.
It’s unclear whether these visions are real or his hallucinations (ghostly images): 'art thou but / A dagger of the mind, a false creation, / Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?' (2,1).

Disturbed by murder

After Macbeth has killed King Duncan, he believes he has 'murdered sleep' (2,2).
He seems ashamed of the blood on his hands, calling it a 'sorry sight'.
This suggests that he already feels regret over the murder. It is the last time, until the final act, that we see Macbeth kill anyone with his own hands.
Murder seems to have disturbed him.

Obsessed with murder

But it does not stop him from giving the order for more innocent people to be killed. He orders the deaths of Banquo, Fleance (who escapes), and Macduff's family.
This could be because he has already paid the ultimate price. By murdering the king, he has damned his soul after death. Anything that Macbeth does now cannot reverse the punishment he thinks he will face in the afterlife.

Macbeth - Protecting the Crown

After Macbeth is crowned, he continues murdering people to protect his position. He seems to think the crown has cost him greatly, so he really doesn’t want to lose it.

Soliloquy (Act 3)

When he delivers his soliloquy (speech to himself) in Act 3, Scene 1, he talks about why he must murder Banquo to keep his crown safe: 'To be thus is nothing, / But to be safely thus.'
He does not want Banquo's sons to inherit the crown because Macbeth has damned himself to get it from King Duncan and his heirs – he has worked hard to murder King Duncan and gain the crown, and does not want to give it up: 'For Banquo's issue have I filed my mind; / For them, the gracious Duncan have I murdered, / Put rancours in the vessel of my peace / Only for them, and mine eternal jewel / Given to the common enemy of man' (3,1).

Analysis

This speech shows that Macbeth is struggling mentally after the murder and cannot find peace.
Shakespeare hints at his lack of sleep many times throughout the play. This might be to explain why he acts in violent ways.
The metaphor, 'eternal jewel' refers to his immortal soul. He has given his soul to the 'common enemy of man'.
This means that he believes Satan will now possess his soul after death and he is damned (condemned) to being tortured in Hell.

Macbeth the Tyrant

Illustrative background for <b>‘black'</b> and <b>'devilish'</b> (4,3)

Illustrative background for <b>‘black'</b> and <b>'devilish'</b> (4,3) ?? "content

‘black' and 'devilish' (4,3)

Words used by the thanes to describe Macbeth.
The audience learns that Macbeth is a tyrannical (oppressive and controlling) king and Scotland is suffering under his rule.

'something wicked'

This is how the witches refer to Macbeth during his visit in Act 4, Scene 1. This highlights his shift to being an evil character.
Contextually, Macbeth’s allegiance with the witches and his desire to see their prophecies come true, suggest he is as an evil character – he seems to accept supernatural forces, whereas a Jacobean audience would consider this incredibly evil.
He uses witchcraft to reinforce his tyrannical reign – Scotland suffers because he listened to the witches and became the ruler, killing anyone who disagreed with him or potentially threatened his claim to the throne.

1Literary & Cultural Context

1.1Context

1.1.1Tragedy

1.1.2The Supernatural & Gender

1.1.3Politics & Monarchy

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Context

2Plot Summary

2.1Act 1

2.1.1Scenes 1 & 2

2.1.2Scene 3

2.1.3Scenes 4-5

2.1.4Scenes 6-7

2.1.5End of Topic Test - Act 1

2.2Acts 2-4

2.2.1Act 2

2.2.2Act 3

2.2.3Act 4

2.3Act 5

2.3.1Scenes 1-3

2.3.2Scenes 4-9

2.3.3End of Topic Test - Acts 2-5

3Characters

3.1Macbeth

3.1.1Hero vs Villain

3.1.2Ambition & Fate

3.1.3Relationship

3.1.4Unstable

3.1.5End of Topic Test - Macbeth

3.2Lady Macbeth

3.2.1Masculine & Ruthless

3.2.2Manipulative & Disturbed

3.3Other Characters

3.3.1Banquo

3.3.2The Witches

3.3.3Exam-Style Questions - The Witches

3.3.4King Duncan

3.3.5Macduff

3.3.6End of Topic Test - Lady Macbeth & Banquo

3.3.7End of Topic Test - Witches, Duncan & Macduff

3.4Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.4.1Grade 9 - Lady Macbeth Questions

4Themes

4.1Themes

4.1.1Power & Ambition

4.1.2Power & Ambition HyperLearning

4.1.3Violence

4.1.4The Supernatural

4.1.5Masculinity

4.1.6Armour, Kingship & The Natural Order

4.1.7Appearances & Deception

4.1.8Madness & Blood

4.1.9Women, Children & Sleep

4.1.10End of Topic Test - Themes

4.1.11End of Topic Test - Themes 2

4.2Grade 9 - Themes

4.2.1Grade 9 - Themes

4.2.2Extract Analysis

5Writer's Techniques

5.1Structure, Meter & Other Literary Techniques

5.1.1Structure, Meter & Dramatic Irony

5.1.2Pathetic Fallacy & Symbolism

5.1.3End of Topic Test - Writer's Techniques

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