how to write an analytical essay on 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.

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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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You will gain access to over 8 hours of engaging video content , plus downloadable PDF guides for Macbeth that cover the following topics:

Character analysis
Plot summaries
Deeper themes

There are also tiered levels of analysis that allow you to study up to GCSE , A Level and University level .

You’ll find plenty of top level example essays that will help you to write your own perfect ones!

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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.

Master Shakespeare's Macbeth using Absolute Shakespeare's Macbeth essay, plot summary, quotes and characters study guides.

Plot Summary : A quick review of the plot of Macbeth including every important action in the play. An ideal introduction before reading the original text.

Commentary : Detailed description of each act with translations and explanations for all important quotes. The next best thing to an modern English translation.

Characters : Review of each character's role in the play including defining quotes and character motivations for all major characters.

Characters Analysis : Critical essay by influential Shakespeare scholar and commentator William Hazlitt, discussing all you need to know on the characters of Macbeth.

Macbeth Essay : Samuel Taylor Coleridge's famous essay on Macbeth based on his legendary and influential lectures and notes on Shakespeare.

An AQA Essay Writing Guide for GCSE (9-1)

So you now know the play – but how do you structure your essay?

This clean & simple new guide from Accolade Press will walk you through how to plan and structure essay responses to questions on Shakespeare's Macbeth. By working through seven mock questions, these detailed essay plans will show you how to go about building a theme based answer – while the accompanying notes will illustrate not only how to masterfully structure your response, but also how to ensure all AQA's key Assessment Objectives are being satisfied.

William Shakespeare's Macbeth – a play brimming with ambition, murder, guilt, tragedy, a king (in fact, a few), and of course witches – has been the focus of GCSE study for years. Yet whereas other guides focus on plot and dissect scenes one by one, ours seeks to demystify the art of writing essays by using a thematic approach that explicitly meets the criteria outlined in the exam board's specification.

By indicating as we go along how we are meeting these assessment objectives (be it the need to include historical background, or to engage in close language analysis), our exemplar materials offers a chance to make sense of the mark scheme and understand how best to maximise marks.

With over one hundred five star product ratings on Amazon, we are excited to be assisting students in enhancing their creative thinking skills and making major improvements to their grades. Level up your grades with us today.

A few quotes from customers:

My daughter... found this guide invaluable. It is really useful how it explain the marking system and what is expected of the student. It is usually rare to find example exam questions in other booklets but in this one it shows exactly how to write an essay answer and how to structure it so it is easy to write. It also helped her to analyse extracts and key quotes.

Excellent study guide which my son throughly enjoyed working with. The book was easy to navigate and really helped my son understand the context of Macbeth.

My daughter loved the style of this study guide and finds them easy to follow as it shows you how to answer a question step by step.

About the author : R.P. Davis has a First Class degree in English Literature from UCL, and a Masters in Literature from Cambridge University. Aside from teaching GCSE English (which he's done for nearly a decade now), he has also written a string of bestselling thriller novels. In his free time, he listens to podcasts on physics, food and technology, and even develops the odd app on the side.

Shopping? You can purchase our guide to Macbeth in print paperback from any of the following highly-rated retailers. (Available in digital ebook, too).

Alternatively, you can purchase and download an electronically delivered PDF directly from us here .

Accolade's English revision textbooks are a uniquely exam focused series, aimed at decoding works of literature in a way that focuses on themes and on helping students understand what is expected of them so they can most readily reach the stars. Develop the tools to attack questions on any topic -- be it setting, characters or imagery -- with purpose and aplomb!

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SAMPLE from the guide

Essay Plan One: Read the following extract from Act 1 Scene 3 of Macbeth and answer the question that follows.

At this point in the play, Macbeth and Banquo have just encountered the three witches.

MACBETH

[Aside] Two truths are told,

As happy prologues to the swelling act

Of the imperial theme.--I thank you, gentlemen.

[Aside] This supernatural soliciting

Cannot be ill, cannot be good: if ill,

Why hath it given me earnest of success,

Commencing in a truth? I am thane of Cawdor:

If good, why do I yield to that suggestion

Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair

And make my seated heart knock at my ribs,

Against the use of nature? Present fears

Are less than horrible imaginings:

My thought, whose murder yet is but fantastical,

Shakes so my single state of man that function

Is smother’d in surmise, and nothing is

But what is not.

Starting with this extract, write about how Shakespeare portrays the supernatural.

Write about:

• how Shakespeare portrays the supernatural in this extract

• how Shakespeare portrays the supernatural in the play as a whole

Introduction

It’s important to keep the introduction short and sweet, but also to ensure it packs a punch – after all, you only have one chance to make a first impression on the examiner. I recommend starting the introduction with a short comment on historical context to score early AO3 marks. I would then suggest that you very quickly summarize the thematic gist of your essay.

In this instance, I score early AO3 marks by invoking a titbit of history that places Macbeth in context. After this, I keep things short and sweet, hinting at the approach I am about to take.

“Given that Shakespeare’s England was a place preoccupied with the supernatural –indeed, Elizabeth I even went so far as to pass a Witchcraft Act in 1592, outlawing ‘Conjurations’ – it is little surprise that such phenomena permeate his plays. Macbeth’s reaction to the witches in this extract not only highlights the sexualisation of the supernatural and the deep ambivalence it induces, but also points to its capacity to galvanise.”1

Theme/Paragraph One: Shakespeare presents Macbeth’s encounter with the witches – the play’s chief supernatural entities – as something sordid, sleazy and even sexual.

• The sibilant phrase ‘supernatural soliciting’ that Macbeth deploys to characterise the witches’ words is striking: the word ‘soliciting’ contains resonances of prostitution, as if to imply that the witches – like prostitutes – were attempting to pedal sordid sexual services. It also lends the witches a Faustian dimension: Macbeth can have what he desires, but only if he is willing to pay a moral price.2 [ AO1 for advancing the argument with a judiciously selected quote; AO2 for the close analysis of the language ].

• When approached with a Freudian eye, the description of Macbeth’s physical state in this extract further reinforces the idea his encounter with the witches had an almost sexual dimension.3 Although Macbeth protests that the encounter was ‘horrid,’ the primitivity with which he describes his physical response is reminiscent of sexual arousal: ‘[it] doth unfix my hair / And make my seated heart knock at my ribs.’ That the phrase ‘knock at my ribs’ constitutes two inverted, spondaic feet emphasises Macbeth’s physical disarray: the metre mimics his hammering, excited heart.4 One might note that the superstitious Jacobean audience believed not only that the voices of witches took a devastating toll on a listener, but also that a woman’s voice was physically linked to her sexual organs.5 [AO2 for the close analysis of the language; AO3 for invoking historical context that deepens our understanding of the text] .

• Elsewhere in the play : In the passage just before this extract, the witches’ own words draw attention to their sexually charged nature. The First Witch talks about following a sailor to Aleppo, a passage that ends with ‘I’ll do, I’ll do, I’ll do’ – a clear allusion to fornication.

Theme/Paragraph Two: The supernatural induces deep ambivalence – and doubt – in those who encounter it.

• Macbeth is at once both excited by the witches’ predictions, yet also repulsed by them. This paradoxical sentiment is captured in his verdict that their words, ‘cannot be good, cannot be ill.’ Indeed, the use of litotes here – Macbeth rhetorically avoids labelling the witches’ words outright as ‘good’ and ‘ill’ – further accentuates his uncertain state of mind.6 [AO1 for advancing the argument with a judiciously selected quote; AO2 for the close analysis of the language].

• Macbeth interrogates both the ‘ill’ and ‘good’ sensations the ‘supernatural soliciting’ induces in him, and finds reason to doubt both. Interestingly, Macbeth’s ambivalence extends to the thoughts of murder that the supernatural predictions have inspired. The very fact he alludes to murder in this soliloquy implicitly communicates a desire to carry it out, whereas his visceral reaction to the idea – it 'shakes so [his] single state of man’ – communicates his disgust. [AO2 for the close analysis of the language].

• Elsewhere in the play : One might draw a contrast with Macbeth’s encounter with Banquo’s ghost later in the play. On that occasion, Macbeth’s reaction is not ambivalent; it is characterised by full-blown horror: ‘look on that / Which might appal the devil.’

Theme/Paragraph Three: Shakespeare presents the witches, and the supernatural forces they embody, as an affront to, and an inversion of, the natural order.

• Although when Macbeth uses the phrase ‘against the use of nature’ he is talking about his pounding heart, it is not unreasonable to construe that phrase also as a hint of Macbeth’s understanding of the supernatural entities who have set his heart racing. The witches represent a force that is at odds with – or even antagonistic to – the natural order of things. To Macbeth’s mind, the supernatural is also anti- natural. [AO1 for advancing the argument with a judiciously selected quote; AO2 for the close analysis of the language].

• The soliloquy’s final sentiment – ‘Nothing is / but what is not’ – implies that the only things that exist are those things that do not exist, and is a testament to how the witches have turned the natural order inside out. The line break after ‘is’ constitutes an effective use of form: the pause it encourages ensures that there is a brief verbal nothingness to mirror the ‘nothingness’ under discussion. [AO2 for observing how form shapes meaning].

• Elsewhere in the play : The idea that the witches are at odds with the natural order is encapsulated by the phrase ‘fair is foul and foul is fair,’ which the witches speak in the play’s opening scene, and which rhetorically conjures a universe in which the natural order has been inverted, and good has become bad and vice versa. The structural choice of placing this at the very end of Act 1, Scene 1, allows it to function almost as an epigraph, delineating how the supernatural will make itself felt throughout the play.7 [AO2 for observing how structure shapes meaning].

Theme/Paragraph Four: Shakespeare portrays the witches, and their supernatural predictions, as a force that inspires action in other characters and drives the narrative.

• By making their predictions that Macbeth shall be King (‘Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter’), the witches inspire Macbeth to follow down the path to murdering Duncan; indeed, that he is thinking along those lines is already evident in this passage: ‘whose murder yet is but fantastical.’ [AO1 for advancing the argument with a judiciously selected quote].

• Elsewhere in the play : Later in the play, the words of the witches’ equivocating apparition – that ‘Macbeth shall never vanquish’d be until / Great Birnam wood [shall come] to high Dunsinane hill’ – again galvanises Macbeth down a certain course of action: namely, his hubristic last stand at his castle at Dunsinane Hill.

I have covered all the themes I was hoping to in the paragraphs above. As a result, I will first make reference to another Shakespeare play in a bid to mop up any remaining AO3 marks going spare. Then, in a final AO1-scoring flourish, I will wrap things up with a brief parting comment that captures the essay’s central argument.

The Globe Theatre in London. It was built on the site of the original, which was burnt down in 1613.

“If, in Hamlet’s words, ‘there are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio / than are dreamt of in your philosophy,’ the play Macbeth is a deep-dive into such ‘things.’8 However, whereas the supernatural in Hamlet is shot-through with masculinity (the ghost is Hamlet’s father), the fact the central supernatural entities in Macbeth are female opens up themes regarding transgressive sexuality. There is also, arguably, a greater deal of subtlety in Macbeth , populated as it is with spectral presences like Act 5’s ‘Seyton’ – perhaps just a servant, perhaps a symbol of the ‘supernatural soliciting[‘s]’ ubiquity.”9

1 To be ambivalent is to have mixed feelings about something or someone.

2 Faust is an individual from German myth who, in exchange for magical abilities, agrees to hand over his soul to the devil. As a result, the word “Faustian” is now used to describe someone engaged in a sordid exchange in which they compromise themselves morally.

3 The word “Freudian” refers to the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud (1856 – 1939). His works explore the hidden sexual motivations that drive human beings. When we are doing a Freudian reading of a text, we are looking for the hidden sexual imagery – imagery that perhaps even the author themselves had not realised had possessed sexual undertones.

4 I suspect you are asking: what are inverted spondaic feet? Let me explain from the top.

Shakespeare’s plays are almost entirely written in iambic pentameter . An iamb is a metrical foot in which the emphasis is on the second syllable, and tends to sound more like natural speech. A pentameter is when there are five metrical feet in a line.

It is often easiest to illustrate with an example. If we take the fifth line of Macbeth’s speech, and use bold font to represent the stressed syllables, plus a vertical bar to indicate the end of each metrical foot, it will look like this: ‘Can not | be ill , | can not | be good : | if ill .’ Since there are five metrical feet here, all iambic, it is rendered in iambic pentameter.

A trochee, on the other hand, is a metrical foot in which the emphasis is on the first syllable, and tends to sound more unnatural. To illustrate, let us look at the sixth line from this extract, and mark out the stresses on syllables: ‘Why hath | it giv | en me | earn est | of succ | ess .’ As you can see, while the first three feet are iambs, the fourth is in fact a trochee. Since Shakespeare does not usually use trochees, we would call this an inverted trochaic foot: he appears to be inverting how he usually does things.

But that’s not the only odd thing in this line. You’ll notice that the fifth foot has no stress on either syllable. This is known as a pyrrhic foot. And then there’s that extra stressed syllable at the end. This is known as a stressed hyperbeat or a masculine ending . (If it had been an unstressed syllable, it would have been an unstressed hyperbeat or a feminine ending ).

So, finally, what is a spondee? This is when both syllables in a metrical foot are stressed. To illustrate, let’s look at the tenth line in this extract: ‘And make | my seat | ed heart | knock at | my ribs .’ As you can see, the second, fourth and fifth feet are all spondees. As a result, we describe them as inverted spondaic feet.

5 I have chosen to use the phrase Jacobean audience – as opposed to Elizabethan audience – because Macbeth was first performed in 1606, at which point King James I had replaced Elizabeth I on the throne (Elizabeth died in 1603).

6 Litotes is a rhetorical device in which the speaker is deliberately understating something. To illustrate, it’s like when someone says “hey, this day isn’t going too badly” as a way of saying: “this day is amazing!”

7 An epigraph is a short quote at the beginning of a work of literature that hints at the themes and concepts that will be discussed.

8 Horatio is Hamlet’s close friend in Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy, Hamlet .

9 If something is ubiquitous, it means it is everywhere. You could say, for instance, that Scotland feels ubiquitous in this play.

Essay Plan One : Write about how Shakespeare portrays the supernatural.

Essay Plan Two : Discuss the extent to which Shakespeare portrays Lady Macbeth as a strong character.

Essay Plan Three : How does Shakespeare present temptation in the play?

Essay Plan Four : How does Shakespeare use humour in Macbeth ?

Essay Plan Five : Discuss the extent to which Banquo is presented as a heroic character.

Essay Plan Six : Discuss how far you think Shakespeare presents Macbeth as a leader.

Essay Plan Seven : How does Shakespeare present Lady Macbeth as a woman who is losing control.

Product ISBN : 978-1-9163735-1-8

Published : March 2020

Recommended Retail Price : £9.99

Further customer reviews

Teaching the subject, it can be difficult to find 'model essays' without having to write several yourself. This guide has several model examples of a very high standard, clearly sign posted so the student cam see where and how they have gained the marks.

This is a fantastic guide for your top set, high ability students.

I brought this book as my students are studying Macbeth, it contains a selection of example essays on different topics. We are going through each essay and exploring the concepts and themes that are presented. It is helping them in numerous ways, as well as learning new techniques that we haven't yet covered, they are learning new ways of writing out ideas.

The example essays help them to see how an essay can come together and meet the marking criteria. It is also giving them lots of ideas on how to bring context into their own essays. A very helpful book that can be used in different ways. I recommend this for tutors, parents and self motivated students. It is great as an active learning/ study tool and it is also to read for recap and revision.

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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.

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 […]
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.
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.
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.
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 […]
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.
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, […]
“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.
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 […]
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.
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.
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.
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”
Unprincipled Ambition in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
Use of Supernatural to Create Suspense in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
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”
Ambition Often Results in Greed as Portrayed in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
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”
Supernatural Forces Create a Suspense Atmosphere in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
The Archetypal Tragic Hero Characteristics of William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” and Sophocles’ “Oedipus”
An Analysis of Macbeth as a Victim of Circumstances in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
Power, Ambition, and Treason in William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
The Breakdown of Lady Macbeth in William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
Unbridled Ambition in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
The Art of Appeasement and the Political, Religious, and Social Issues Reflected in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
Parallels Between Macbeth and Satan in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
Some of the Ways in Which Shakespeare Portrays an Atmosphere of Evil in “Macbeth”
An Analysis of Lady Macbeth’s Character in “Macbeth” by Shakespeare
The Blood Imagery in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
Macbeth’s Representation of Ambition in William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
The Attract of Wicked in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
The Manipulations, Greed, and Guilt in William Shakespeare’s Play “Macbeth”
Stereotypical Images of Women in “Macbeth” by Shakespeare
Symbolism and Imagery in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
Subjective Reality to the Viewer in the Play “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
The Betrayal of Human Nature in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
Treatment of Gender Disruption in William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” and “Macbeth”
Significance of Act Four Scene One in William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
Role of Women in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
Recurring Images in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
Similarities Between the Philosophies From Machiavelli’s “The Prince” and Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
The Aristotelian Standards of a Tragic Hero in the Tragedy of “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
Struggles of the Conscience in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
The Battle Between Good and Evil in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
Sleep and Its Meaning in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
Relationship Between Spouses in “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
A Musical Analysis of “Macbeth” by William Shakespeare
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?
Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

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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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Macbeth Fate Vs Free Will Analysis

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Tips and techniques for writing effective and powerful analytical essays.

Are you struggling to craft an effective analytical essay? Do you find yourself getting lost in a sea of information or unsure of how to present your analysis in a clear and concise manner? Look no further – this step-by-step guide will provide you with valuable tips and strategies to elevate your analytical essay writing skills to the next level.

Writing an analytical essay involves carefully examining a subject or topic and providing a thorough analysis and interpretation of the information gathered. It requires critical thinking, attention to detail, and the ability to express ideas and arguments coherently. In this guide, we will explore various techniques and approaches to help you develop and refine your analytical writing skills, allowing you to tackle any analytical essay with confidence and precision.

One crucial aspect of writing an analytical essay is conducting thorough research. To ensure your essay is well-informed and robust, it’s important to delve into reputable sources, such as academic journals, books, and reliable websites. By gathering a wide range of sources related to your topic, you will acquire a solid understanding of the subject matter, which will enable you to provide a comprehensive analysis in your essay.

Another essential element of analytical essay writing is the development of a strong thesis statement. Your thesis should present a clear and concise argument or claim that you will support throughout your essay. It should be specific, debatable, and relevant to the topic at hand. By crafting a well-defined thesis statement, you provide the backbone for your entire essay, guiding your analysis and helping you maintain a focused approach.

Furthermore, an effective analytical essay requires careful organization and structure. Divide your essay into logical paragraphs, each addressing a specific point or aspect of your analysis. Use topic sentences to introduce each paragraph, guiding your reader and providing a clear roadmap of your essay’s progression. Additionally, utilize transitional phrases and words to create smooth transitions between paragraphs, ensuring a cohesive and coherent flow.

Finding a Strong Topic for Your Essay

Choosing the right topic is a crucial first step in writing an analytical essay. The topic sets the tone for the entire essay and determines its scope and focus. It is important to select a topic that is engaging, relevant, and allows for in-depth analysis. This section will provide you with helpful strategies for finding a strong topic that will captivate your readers.

Gathering and Evaluating Reliable Sources

One of the key aspects of writing an analytical essay is gathering and evaluating reliable sources. The quality of your sources can greatly impact the strength and credibility of your arguments. In this section, we will explore the importance of finding trustworthy sources and discuss strategies for evaluating their reliability.

When conducting research for your essay, it is crucial to seek out sources that are authoritative and trustworthy. Reliable sources are those that have been written by experts in the field or have been published in reputable academic journals. These sources are often backed by extensive research and provide accurate and unbiased information.

When evaluating the reliability of a source, there are several factors to consider. Firstly, check the author’s credentials and expertise in the subject matter. Look for individuals who have relevant qualifications or experience in the field. This will help establish their credibility and ensure that they are knowledgeable on the topic.

In addition to the author’s credentials, consider the publication or website where the source is found. Reputable academic journals, books from respected publishers, and reputable websites such as government or educational institutions are generally more reliable sources of information. Be cautious of sources from unknown or biased sources, as they may not provide accurate or unbiased information.

Furthermore, it is important to analyze the content of the source itself. Look for evidence-based arguments, logical reasoning, and a balanced presentation of different perspectives. A reliable source should provide well-supported claims and back them up with relevant evidence and examples.

Finally, consider the date of publication. While older sources can still provide valuable insights, it is important to have up-to-date information, especially in fields that are rapidly evolving or undergoing significant changes. Check for recent studies and publications to ensure that your information is current.

In conclusion, gathering and evaluating reliable sources is a critical step in writing an analytical essay. By seeking out trustworthy sources and analyzing their credibility, you can strengthen your arguments and provide a solid foundation for your essay. Keep in mind the importance of author expertise, publication credibility, content analysis, and the recency of the information. Through careful evaluation, you can ensure that your essay is well-informed and persuasive.

Creating an Outline for Your Essay

One of the most important steps in the essay writing process is creating an outline. An outline serves as a roadmap for your essay, helping you to organize your thoughts and ideas in a logical and coherent manner.

When creating an outline for your essay, it’s important to start by identifying the main points or arguments that you want to make. These main points will serve as the foundation of your essay and should be presented in a clear and concise manner. You can think of these main points as the “backbone” of your essay.

Once you have identified the main points, you can then begin to develop subpoints that support and expand upon each main point. These subpoints should provide specific examples, evidence, or analysis to strengthen your main arguments. In essence, they help to fill in the details and provide a deeper understanding of your main points.

Organizing your main points and subpoints can be done in various ways. One common method is to use a hierarchical structure, such as an outline with Roman numerals, capital letters, and Arabic numerals. Another method is to use bullet points or a numbered list. You can choose the method that works best for you, based on the complexity of your essay and the level of detail you want to include in your outline.

As you create your outline, it’s important to keep in mind the overall structure of your essay. Your introduction should provide a brief overview of the topic and present your thesis statement. The body paragraphs should present and develop your main points and subpoints, providing evidence and analysis to support your arguments. Finally, your conclusion should summarize your main points and restate your thesis in a concise and compelling manner.

Remember that your outline is a flexible tool that can be revised and adjusted as you work on your essay. It’s not set in stone and can be modified as needed to better reflect your evolving ideas and arguments. Don’t be afraid to make changes and reorganize your outline as you go along.

In conclusion, creating an outline for your essay is an essential step in the writing process. It helps you to organize your thoughts, develop your arguments, and maintain a logical flow throughout your essay. By investing time and effort into creating a strong outline, you’ll set yourself up for success and make the writing process much smoother.

Developing a Clear and Coherent Argument

When it comes to writing analytical essays, one of the most important aspects is developing a clear and coherent argument. It is essential to have a well-structured and logical argument in order to effectively convey your ideas and convince your readers.

First and foremost, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of the topic you are writing about. Take the time to thoroughly research and gather relevant information, as this will provide you with the necessary knowledge to build a strong argument. Additionally, make sure to identify any key terms or concepts that are essential to your argument, as this will help you stay focused and ensure coherence throughout your essay.

Once you have a solid foundation of knowledge, it is important to organize your argument in a logical manner. Start by outlining the main points or claims you want to make, and then provide supporting evidence or examples for each of these points. Be sure to clearly state your thesis statement, which should summarize the main argument you are making in your essay.

In order to maintain coherence in your argument, it is important to use logical transitions between your ideas. This can be done through the use of transitional words and phrases, such as “however,” “in addition,” or “on the other hand.” These transitions will help guide your reader through your argument and ensure that your ideas flow smoothly from one point to the next.

Lastly, it is crucial to anticipate and address counterarguments in your essay. By acknowledging opposing viewpoints and effectively refuting them, you can further strengthen your overall argument. This demonstrates that you have considered multiple perspectives and have arrived at your own well-supported conclusion.

In conclusion, developing a clear and coherent argument is essential when writing analytical essays. By thoroughly researching your topic, organizing your ideas in a logical manner, using transitions effectively, and addressing counterarguments, you can effectively convey your ideas and make a convincing argument to your readers.

Strengthening Your Essay with Relevant Evidence

In order to create a compelling and persuasive analytical essay, it is essential to back up your arguments with relevant evidence. This evidence serves to support your claims and gives your essay credibility and authority.

When selecting evidence for your essay, it is important to choose examples and facts that are directly related to your topic. This will help to establish a strong connection between your argument and the evidence you present. Additionally, using relevant evidence allows you to make a more convincing case and gives your readers confidence in the validity of your assertions.

Relevant evidence can come in various forms, such as statistics, research studies, expert opinions, and real-life examples. By incorporating a mix of different types of evidence, you can strengthen the overall impact of your essay and appeal to a wider range of readers.

To ensure that the evidence you include in your essay is relevant, it is necessary to thoroughly research your topic and gather information from reliable sources. This will help you to find the most up-to-date and accurate evidence to support your arguments.

In addition to choosing relevant evidence, it is also crucial to properly integrate it into your essay. Make sure to clearly introduce each piece of evidence and explain how it supports your main points. Use strong and persuasive language to highlight the significance of the evidence and its connection to your argument.

Remember that the purpose of using relevant evidence is not only to support your argument but also to engage your readers and help them understand your perspective. By presenting well-chosen and compelling evidence, you can make your essay more persuasive and leave a lasting impression on your audience.

How to master the art of writing expository essays and captivate your audience, convenient and reliable source to purchase college essays online, step-by-step guide to crafting a powerful literary analysis essay, tips and techniques for crafting compelling narrative essays.

How to Write an Analytical Essay on Macbeth

Writing an analytical essay on macbeth, why write about macbeth.

The centrality of writing about Macbeth is to exhibit how an unconstrained desire can be a destructive force. Writing about Macbeth outlines how ruinous over-ambition or ambition can be. Macbeth, seemingly an aristocrat, is driven to actions and thoughts which are inherently averse to his nature and in the end causes his destruction alongside Lady Macbeth, his wife. ‘Macbeth’ deals with power and kingship and the accountability brought with power. Writing about Macbeth is fundamental in that as it demonstrates that when appropriately established power is ousted by noxious means, appalling penalties can follow.

Beginning an analytical essay on Macbeth

To start an analytical essay on Macbeth, the author needs to present some form of claim or argument about what he/she is dissecting. Analytical essays typically focus on how the poem or book was composed, for example, how specific topics in the story present themselves or how the utilization of metaphor or similitude brings about a precise meaning to the story. In short, analytical essays require one to examine the smaller sections of the piece to explain the larger picture. To write an analytical essay on Macbeth, the writer needs to review any thought or fact: connections that can be linked, thus formulating concepts and utilizing events to support it.

How to write an outline

A ‘plan’ or ‘blueprint’ for your essay is called an outline. An outline aids in sorting one’s arguments and thoughts. An appealing outline makes conducting research and later writing your essay somewhat simpler. Your outline page is comprised of:

Paper Title
Thesis Statement
Major arguments/points shown by Roman numerals
Supporting your key points, shown in Arabic numerals

The Roman number I is the writer’s ‘Introduction.’ In the paper’s introduction section, tell the reader your paper’s purpose and what it intends on proving (your thesis). The final roman number is the conclusion; there one summarizes information presented to the reader.

Sample Outline

I. introduction.

A. Sentence to catch the reader’s attention
B. One-two sentence proclamation (thesis statement)
A. First Paragraph
B. Second Paragraph
C. Third Paragraph

III. Conclusion

A. Thesis Restatement
B. Insightful sentence closing

How to write a thesis for an analytical essay on Macbeth

To do it correctly, the essay writer should sum their idea into one sentence or two. The thesis statement should display the paper’s topic and show the reader what the article is about and thus aiding in keeping the argument focused and guides the writer.

How to write an introduction

The introduction is designed to grab the reader’s attention along with giving an idea of the essay’s focus. Start with a redherring/attention grabber. This includes:

Surprising information which must be provable and correct.
Dialogue which does not substantially have to identify the speakers; however, the reader must understand points made.
Anecdotes which are stories that illustrate a point.
Summary information; one to three sentences expounding your topic.

Tips on writing an introduction and thesis

Be as specific and exact as possible.
Indicate your paper’s purpose, however, evade sentence structures like “my essay’s purpose is…”
Avoid burying your thesis statement late in the paper.
Avoid clichés.
Provide relevant and helpful information.
Convince the reader your essay is worth reading and their time.

Writing body paragraphs

Naturally, body paragraphs develop the paper’s main idea in a series of sections. When writing body paragraphs, the writer’s chosen topic must be outlined, explained, and argued. All main ideas written in the outline make the body paragraph.

Tips on body writing

Begin by writing down your key ideas in sentence form
Write down your supporting points for your chief idea that is, paraphrases and quotations from sources and facts (findings and statistics from conducted studies)
Ensure you tie the facts you state back to the paragraph’s main idea (Analysis)
Your transition from paragraph to paragraph should be fluid
Explain your argument’s importance

How to finish an analytical essay on Macbeth

Finishing the analytical essay is simple once the framework is known. To conclude, three main sectors are taken into consideration. They are a transition from the body’s last paragraph, a rundown of the essay’s points and thesis statement, and finally, a closing statement that wraps everything up.

Tips on conclusion writing

Make it short.
Answer the ‘So what’ question showing your readers the substance of your essay; show your reader the meaningfulness of your essay.
Redirect your readers – this is done by giving them something to think about.
Synthesize rather than summarizing; don’t repeat things stated in your thesis.
Challenge the reader by posing a question.

Tips on revision

Utilize your grammar check, spell-check, and check your spelling.
Keep your format simple.
Include clear transitions, markers, and citations.
Include evidence and support for all main points.
Ensure the essay’s intent is shown not told.

Analytical essay on Macbeth

‘Macbeth’ is a play highlighting a breakdown in relationships between individuals Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. Lady Macbeth and Macbeth start the play showing an alluring relationship, however, as the plot advances; Macbeth’s aspirations drive him to commit regicide alongside other murders hence their relationship weakens and dissolves. This breakdown drastically impacts the play. Lady Macbeth’s longing for power prompts her enthusiasm in controlling Macbeth’s activities. Conversely, she loses control which ends in her tragedy.

II. Discussion

Ambition is typically what drives most towards progress, however, in Macbeth, it drives Macbeth towards his ruin. Ambition is a quality craved by many; however, through Macbeth, it is shown as an attribute that isn’t so positive. Macbeth proves that aspiration was a noteworthy constituent in his demise. Macbeth made it so effortless for the witches to help annihilate him. The witches noted his ambition was his weakness thus making it effortless for them to plan Macbeth’s destruction. Macbeth’s desire to have the witches stay on and continue with their prophecy shows his ambition and strives for power which the witches instantly spotted.

Initially, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth adored each other: when Macbeth writes Lady Macbeth a letter naming her his “dearest partner in greatness,” this signifies that he views her as her equal. Lady Macbeth’s mind starts working after reading Macbeth’s letter. Lady Macbeth’s statement ‘shalt be’ uncannily mirrors the Witches prophecy.

The breakdown of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s relationship results from various deeds, most obviously King Duncan’s murder. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth respond differently. Macbeth is overcome with regret and remorse he knows sleep no more. He has interrupted sleep showing how tense he is with the crime. The guilt he experiences shows disallows him to sleep. Contrary, Lady Macbeth reacts differently. She is practical and calm, instructing him to rinse his hands. She openly says “water will clear us off this deed” showing her buoyancy that the water will drain away the guilt. Lady Macbeth calls the shots in their relationship since Macbeth is too weak. Lady Macbeth questions Macbeth’s manhood and bravery, and affection between them diminishes.

The mental suffering Macbeth and Lady Macbeth go through following the murder is another factor that adds on to their relationship’s breakdown. After being crowned king, Macbeth makes known his discontent. “To be thus is nothing, but being safely thus.” Macbeth has the idea that Banquo will be crowned and dreads its fulfillment. Similarly, Lady Macbeth is equally disappointed when she expresses that their desire has gone without content. Still, the pair is uncommunicative at this point.

From act one, Lady Macbeth persuaded Macbeth to complete a detestable deed that led to what his alleged fate was, even though none said King Duncan had to be murdered for the prophecy to manifest. After that inhuman deed, victims of Macbeth’s paranoid personality typically followed. Macbeth’s ambitions mainly driven by greed, insecurity, and hopelessness greatly impacted Macbeth fate toward death . Macbeth’s ambitions drove him downwards as being a deplorable hero in Shakespeare’s enthralling play.

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Mr Salles Teaches English

20/30 Macbeth Answer and How to Improve it

20 marks = grade 6/7.

This was the 2023 question.

Starting with this conversation, explore how far Shakespeare presents Macbeth as a male character who changes during the play.

Schools set this for one of their mocks this year. This is stupid. The only question which won’t be asked in 2024 is this one.

It is the least effective question schools should set. So why am I posting an answer to it here?

Because I want to show you how to adapt your revision to any question which comes up.

How to Adapt Your Revision to Any Question

First, read the essay below. 20 marks is the top of grade 6 or the bottom of grade 7, depending on how grade boundaries move about.

Here’s the extract:

Macbeth changes dramatically during the play. His tragedy develops because he refuses to learn from his mistakes. Shakespeare used his protagonist Macbeth to teach King James and his Jacobean audience. He taught that to avoid becoming like “ black Macbeth ”, King James should learn from his own mistakes and Macbeth’s.

But planning the murder of Duncan is a mistake which leads to his guilt . He feels this most clearly when he asks in soliloquy, “ Is this a dagger which I see before me? ” We understand this is caused by his guilt because in soliloquy a character speaks their true, inner thoughts. Once he has murdered Duncan, his guilt is overwhelming, which is why he asks “ Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? ” This hyperbolic metaphor emphasises how powerful his guilt is.

In this extract Macbeth cares for his wife because she is suffering from the same feelings he is. She has a mind “ diseased ”, and her feelings of remorse “ weigh upon the heart ”. Macbeth feels guilt because he knows his mistakes have caused this, and he feels the same way.

Macbeth is also influenced to change through the supernatural witches. Shakespeare deliberately introduces us to the witches in Act I Scene I, before Macbeth gets to meet them. This emphasises that they will have a huge influence on his protagonist. Their influence begins by chanting his name, “ all hail Macbeth ” three times. This flattery makes him arrogant and over-confident, two feelings which will lead him to making the mistake of killing Duncan.

Macbeth also refers to the supernatural in this extract, which is much later in the play. We can see this in his use of “ curses ” and through Shakespeare’s punning of “ Seyton ” as a reference to Satan, emphasising Macbeth’s reliance on the supernatural. He loses both his morality and his ability to distrust the supernatural.

Another change is Macbeth’s attitude to violence . His violence earned him praise because it was used on the battlefield. In 11 th Century Scotland and Jacobean times, this would have been seen as brave and honourable. His power as a warrior is emphasised in the way he “ brandished steel ” and “ unseamed ” his enemy “ from the nave to chops ”.

However, by the time of this extract Macbeth’s violent language of “ flesh be hacked ” is dishonourable. His Jacobean audience has turned against him because he has used his violence for personal gain.

To conclude, Macbeth changes in many ways, but these are all caused by his own mistakes. He failed to learn from these, and continued to repeat them. Shakespeare’s wider message is not just directed at King James, but to his audience, warning them to avoid Macbeth’s kind of change, and to always change to become better.

20 marks AO4 = 4 marks

Examiner Comments This is a clear explanation

And is always focused on the question, how Macbeth changes

The student shows that the Shakespeare constructed and sequenced the play consciously

And shows several examples of Macbeth’s changes

The student focuses on the whole play, and doesn’t get locked into the extract

Instead, the extract is used as a springboard to give their ideas about the whole play

There is no need to start with the extract

The extract is mainly there to give the student something to write about if they choose to

As long as the student does refer to the extract in the answer, they will meet the exam rubric

To get into Level 5, the student should write more about Shakespeare’s methods

Or write in more detail about Shakespeare’s ideas

My guide to writing Macbeth essays has several essays of all grades for every question up to 2022.

You can find it on Amazon, here .

Or you can read it on any device for FREE, along all my other guides, also for free. Amazon gives it away, here .

My Comments

For me the main lessons I learned in writing the guide are that:

Explanations are most important. The more of these you write, the higher your mark.

Always link to Shakespeare’s purpose and ideas. That’s how you use his methods and context.

Construct your answer as an argument.

To write an argument, begin with a thesis and end with a conclusion.

I also add that the best way to organise your argument is to start at the beginning of the play, and work your way through chronologically.

So, don’t start with the extract.

This essay shows you how useful that is.

What Else to Notice

This student has revised for two answers about Macbeth.`Guilt and Violence.

They haven’t panicked when they’ve read this question. Then they have included 8 references to Macbeth’s guilt, and 5 of his violence into this answer. Go back and see those two words in italics in the answer.

That’s a perfect tactic to adapt this question to any question that comes up.

My prediction is that it will be on the supernatural. Take notes from this essay, and all the other Macbeth essays on my Substack, and then apply them to a question on the witches or the supernatural.

(Yes, there will be a video!)

Mr Salles Teaches English is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts which help you get top grades, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Feedback from Tilf.io Better than the Senior Examiner?

Macbeth changes dramatically during the play. His tragedy develops because he refuses to learn from his mistakes. Shakespeare used his protagonist Macbeth to teach King James and his Jacobean audience. He taught that to avoid becoming like “black Macbeth”, King James should learn from his own mistakes and Macbeth’s.

This introduction sets up a clear argument about Macbeth's change and its didactic purpose. However, try to directly link these changes to the question's focus on Macbeth as a male character and how societal expectations of masculinity may influence his actions and development.

The greatest change to Macbeth is his attitude to guilt. He begins as a fierce warrior defending Scotland and kills without feeling guilty. We consequently meet him as “brave Macbeth” killing in a noble cause. But planning the murder of Duncan is a mistake which leads to his guilt. He feels this most clearly when he asks in soliloquy, “Is this a dagger which I see before me?” We understand this is caused by his guilt because in soliloquy a character speaks their true, inner thoughts. Once he has murdered Duncan, his guilt is overwhelming, which is why he asks “Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?” This hyperbolic metaphor emphasises how powerful his guilt is.

You provide a good analysis of Macbeth's changing attitude towards guilt, supported by relevant textual evidence. To enhance your response, consider exploring how Macbeth's initial lack of guilt aligns with traditional masculine roles and how his later guilt could be seen as a departure from these roles.

In this extract Macbeth cares for his wife because she is suffering from the same feelings he is. She has a mind “diseased”, and her feelings of remorse “weigh upon the heart”. Macbeth feels guilt because he knows his mistakes have caused this, and he feels the same way.

This paragraph shows an understanding of Macbeth's empathy towards Lady Macbeth. To improve, you could discuss how Macbeth's care for his wife might challenge or conform to the expectations of masculinity in the context of the play.

Macbeth is also influenced to change through the supernatural witches. Shakespeare deliberately introduces us to the witches in Act I Scene I, before Macbeth gets to meet them. This emphasises that they will have a huge influence on his protagonist. Their influence begins by chanting his name, “all hail Macbeth” three times. This flattery makes him arrogant and over-confident, two feelings which will lead him to making the mistake of killing Duncan.

You correctly identify the witches' influence on Macbeth's transformation. To strengthen your analysis, consider how Macbeth's susceptibility to the witches' flattery might reflect on his masculinity and the societal pressures to achieve power and status.

Macbeth also refers to the supernatural in this extract, which is much later in the play. We can see this in his use of “curses” and through Shakespeare’s punning of “Seyton” as a reference to Satan, emphasising Macbeth’s reliance on the supernatural. He loses both his morality and his ability to distrust the supernatural.

This paragraph highlights Macbeth's continued engagement with the supernatural. Discuss how this reliance might be interpreted as a weakness in his masculine character, especially in the context of the play's setting.

Another change is Macbeth’s attitude to violence. His violence earned him praise because it was used on the battlefield. In 11th Century Scotland and Jacobean times, this would have been seen as brave and honourable. His power as a warrior is emphasised in the way he “brandished steel” and “unseamed” his enemy “from the nave to chops”.

You make a valid point about the shift in Macbeth's use of violence. To further align with the question, explore how this change from honorable to dishonorable violence affects Macbeth's perception as a male character.

However, by the time of this extract Macbeth’s violent language of “flesh be hacked” is dishonourable. His Jacobean audience has turned against him because he has used his violence for personal gain.

This is a good observation of the audience's changing perception of Macbeth. Consider discussing how Macbeth's dishonorable actions conflict with the heroic masculine ideal of the time.

Your conclusion effectively summarises Macbeth's changes and the play's moral message. To enhance it, reiterate how these changes relate specifically to Macbeth's masculinity and the expectations of male characters within the play.

Mark: 21 - 24 (this is a beta feature and mark may not be very accurate)

Overall feedback: Your essay demonstrates a thoughtful and developed consideration of Macbeth's changes throughout the play, with a good use of textual evidence to support your points. To improve, ensure that you consistently link your analysis back to the question's focus on Macbeth as a male character and the societal expectations of masculinity. This will help to provide a more nuanced and critical exploration of the character's development.

What went well: Good use of textual evidence to support analysis of Macbeth's changing attitudes and behaviors.

Even better if: Ensure that the analysis consistently relates back to the question's focus on Macbeth's masculinity and societal expectations of male characters.

My Comments on Tilf.io

This is even more helpful than the senior examiner. Let me tell you why.

The mark is wrong. Except that it isn’t. AQA examiners would be allowed to be 3 marks different to the examiner either way. So 17-23 is ok with AQA! Tilf.io is much closer to the exact mark.

But the most important part isn’t my grade (unless I’ve scored 100%). I want to know:

What do I do well, so I can keep on doing it.

What do I need to do better to get higher grades.

And this is where Tilf.io is even better than the senior examiner.

Look at what it wrote about ‘masculinity’.

This was an absolute gift from AQA – it is not often I get to praise their questions. But, if you write about masculinity, you have to write about ideas of manhood in 1605. You have to write about Shakespeare’s view of what it meant to be a man.

And that, my friends, forces you to get grade 7 or more. Always write about Shakespeare’s ideas!

You can try out Tilf.io for FREE. Just click here .

Tomorrow I will give paid subscribers the grade 9 version of this essay.

Thank you for reading Mr Salles Teaches English. This post is public so feel free to share it with someone else who wants top grades.

Ready for more?

COMMENTS

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20/30 Macbeth Answer and How to Improve it
In this extract Macbeth cares for his wife because she is suffering from the same feelings he is. She has a mind "diseased", and her feelings of remorse "weigh upon the heart". Macbeth feels guilt because he knows his mistakes have caused this, and he feels the same way.