3.1.5

Tyrant

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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)

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

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

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

‘black' and 'devilish' (4,3)

  • Words used by the Thanes to describe Macbeth are ‘black' and 'devilish'.
  • The audience learns that Macbeth is a tyrannical (oppressive and controlling) king and Scotland is suffering under his rule.
<b>'something wicked'</b>

'something wicked'

  • '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.
Jump to other topics
1

Literary & Cultural Context

1.1

Context

1.1.1Tragedy1.1.2The Supernatural1.1.3Gender1.1.4Politics1.1.5Monarchy1.1.6End of Topic Test - Context
2

Plot Summary

2.1

Act 1

2.1.1Scenes 1 & 22.1.2Scene 32.1.3Scenes 4-52.1.4Scenes 6-72.1.5End of Topic Test - Act 1
2.2

Acts 2-4

2.2.1Act 22.2.2Act 32.2.3Act 4
2.3

Act 5

2.3.1Scenes 1-32.3.2Scenes 4-82.3.3End of Topic Test - Acts 2-52.3.4Diagnostic Misconceptions - Ambiguous Ending2.3.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Jacobean
3

Characters

3.1

Macbeth

3.1.1Hero vs Villain3.1.2Ambition & Fate3.1.3Relationship3.1.4Unstable3.1.5Tyrant3.1.6End of Topic Test - Macbeth3.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Cowardice3.1.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Madness3.1.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - Power
3.2

Lady Macbeth

3.2.1Masculine & Ruthless3.2.2Manipulative & Disturbed3.2.3Diagnostic Misconceptions - NOT a Man3.2.4Diagnostic Misconceptions - Villain
3.3

Other Characters

3.3.1Banquo3.3.2The Witches3.3.3Exam-Style Questions - The Witches3.3.4King Duncan3.3.5Macduff3.3.6End of Topic Test - Lady Macbeth & Banquo3.3.7End of Topic Test - Witches, Duncan & Macduff3.3.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Banquo
3.4

Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.4.1Grade 9 - Lady Macbeth Questions
4

Themes

4.1

Themes

4.1.1Power & Ambition4.1.2Power & Ambition HyperLearning4.1.3Violence4.1.4The Supernatural4.1.5Masculinity4.1.6Armour, Kingship & The Natural Order4.1.7Appearances & Deception4.1.8Madness & Blood4.1.9Women, Children & Sleep4.1.10End of Topic Test - Themes4.1.11End of Topic Test - Themes 2
4.2

Grade 9 - Themes

4.2.1Grade 9 - Themes4.2.2Extract Analysis
5

Writer's Techniques

5.1

Structure, Meter & Other Literary Techniques

5.1.1Structure, Meter & Dramatic Irony5.1.2Pathetic Fallacy & Symbolism5.1.3End of Topic Test - Writer's Techniques
6

Recap: Main Quotes

6.1

Characters Quotes

6.1.1Macbeth6.1.2Macbeth 26.1.3Macbeth 36.1.4Macbeth 46.1.5Lady Macbeth6.1.6Lady Macbeth 26.1.7Banquo6.1.8Banquo 26.1.9The Witches6.1.10King Duncan6.1.11Macduff6.1.12Extra Questions
6.2

Text Structure - Quotes

6.2.1Violence6.2.2The Supernatural6.2.3Ambition6.2.4Armour, Kingship & the Natural Order6.2.5Appearances & Deception6.2.6Lady Macbeth's Masculinity6.2.7Madness & Blood6.2.8Men, Children & Sleep

Practice questions on Tyrant

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    <b>'Mine eternal jewel / Given to the common enemy of man'</b><br>What is the 'eternal jewel' a metaphor for in this quote?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What does Macbeth talk about in his soliloquy in Act 3?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Who calls Macbeth <b>'something wicked'</b> in Act 4, Scene 1?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Quotes that highlight Macbeth's tyrannical nature:Fill in the list
  5. 5
    Which of these words was used by the thanes to describe Macbeth?Multiple choice
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Unstable

End of Topic Test - Macbeth