Character Involvement

Lots of characters play a role in the tragedy of Macbeth. It seems that almost everyone in the play has some hand in the series of events that lead to its tragic ending. But of all the characters in the play, who is the guiltiest? Which one person is the most to blame for the deaths of Lady Macbeth and Macbeth? Why is that one person guiltier than any of the others?

Fate vs. Free Will

The three witches meet Macbeth on the heath and offer him a prophecy in the very beginning of the play. They hail him as both “Thane of Cawdor” and king, when he is only the Thane of Glamis. Was Macbeth doomed to die or could he have had a different destiny if he had made different choices? Similarly, do poor or unfortunate people of today put too much blame for their situation on fate or “bad luck” when they should take responsibility and work harder to take control of their lives? Or, on the other hand, do you believe that we should be more helpful and understanding of those who are less fortunate and recognize that sometimes people fail because of situations outside of their own control?

The Supernatural

The supernatural plays a leading role in Macbeth. This is seen through the prophecies told and apparitions called upon by the witches, the foreshadowing in the natural elements of weather, and recurring hallucinations rooted in guilt. Do you ever feel like cosmic events line up to determine the course of your daily life? Do you even believe it is possible for supernatural forces to determine someone’s fate?

Guilt and Morality

In this play, guilt is seen through imaginary blood on hands, insomnia, sleepwalking, hallucinations, and obsession. Does feeling guilt suggest that there is still some morality left within Macbeth and Lady Macbeth? Are the ways in which Macbeth and Lady Macbeth act, based on their guilt, the ways in which we still see people expressing guilt today? Is it possible to lead a completely moral life and never feel guilt?

Manipulation and Control

Some critics argue that Lady Macbeth is more responsible than Macbeth for the murder of King Duncan. Most people, even honest ones, end up trying to manipulate someone else at one time or another in their lives, but what might happen if everyone thought it was fine to manipulate others all the time? Is it acceptable to “use someone as your pawn”? Can you think of any times when a person might need to manipulate someone else and would be morally right for doing so?

Good vs. Evil

Lady Macbeth advises her husband to “Look like the innocent flower, / But be the serpent under it” (I.v.66-67). What is an example of something in the modern world that presents itself as an “innocent flower” when it is really a “serpent”? How were you able to see through the sweet disguise to see the evil within?

Power and Corruption

The major theme we followed closely in Macbeth is as follows: Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely. This becomes blatantly obvious when Macbeth murders Macduff’s Son out of pure bloodlust. Have you ever seen the power of an authoritative figure turn to absolute corruption? How does this power trip relate to the eventual absolute corruption of the character of Macbeth?