Name: Elly: S228155959@mandela - Ac.za
Name: Elly: S228155959@mandela - Ac.za
Name: Elly: S228155959@mandela - Ac.za
Surname: Tuswa
Module: LLEV111
S228155959@mandela.ac.za
Content Page
1. Question 1
Summary
2. Question 2
Research
3. Theme and Tone
4. Guilt and consequences
5. Bibliography
Question 1
Macbeth is a man worthy of admiration due to his bravery and valiantness, as well as
his vacillation before the murder. He is tormented by Lady Macbeth's superior
rhetoric and force of character, and even in the final decision to go through with it, he
is troubled by a guilty conscience. He is suffering from the realization of the horror of
the "bloody dagger”.
Question 2
Macbeth's lust and greed drove him to insanity before murdering King Duncan.
King Duncan of Scotland, his sons Malcolm and Donalbain, and the Thane of
Lennox wait for news of the war. A captain is covered in blood and tells them of the
battle against the Norwegians and the Scottish rebels Macdonald and the Thane of
Cawdor. Two Scottish noblemen, Macbeth and Banquo, are especially brave and
Macbeth kills Macdonald.
The Thane of Ross arrives and describes how Macbeth defeated Sweno, the
Norwegian King. Duncan proclaims that the traitorous Thane of Cawdor shall be put
to death and that Macbeth shall be made Thane of Cawdor.
Macbeth and Lady Macbeth want to be great and powerful and sacrifice their morals
to achieve that goal. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth contrast each other with others in
the play, who refuse to allow ambition to come before honour.
The main theme of Macbeth is the destruction wrought when ambition goes
unchecked by moral constraints. Macbeth is a courageous Scottish general who kills
Duncan against his better judgment, while Lady Macbeth pursues her goals with
greater determination, but is ultimately driven to distraction by the effect of Macbeth's
repeated bloodshed on her conscience. The problem is that once one decides to use
violence to further their quest for power, it is difficult to stop.
Macbeth is a dark and ominous character in the Middle Ages, setting in Scotland and
England. He faces major conflicts between his ambition and sense of right and
wrong, the murderous evil of Lady Macbeth and Malcolm, and the best interests of
the nation.
Macbeth's guilt is symbolized by hallucinations, blood, sleep, and his drive for power.
Lady Macbeth initially copes well with the murders but eventually goes mad and
commits suicide. This theme explores the idea of leadership and the power of
kingship vs tyranny.
Reference