MacbethBy William Shakespeare

Critical Essay

TASK: To what extent is Macbeth a tyrant or a tragic hero – discuss

To get a good mark in this essay you should: Show that you have a good knowledge of what

happens in the play Ensure your essay is relevant to the task, in this

case, explaining your different feelings towards Macbeth at key moments in the play

Include at least one quotation in each paragraph with detailed analysis of it

Take care over expression, spelling, sentencing and punctuation

Write as much as you can ( up to about 1,000 words) Show that you appreciate the play!

Words and expressions you may find useful to describe feelings: admiration for ... ambivalence towards … sympathy for … revulsion towards … disgust towards … horrified by … moved by … disturbed by … etc.

Useful words and expressions for explaining techniques used by writers: demonstrates, explains, suggests, depicts, portrays, illustrates, highlights, reflects, has connotations of, emphasises, stresses, contrasts with, reminds us of, looks back to, looks forward to, is reinforced by, is amplified by …etc.

You can structure your essay in any way you wish but you may find the following plan helpful. Try to use your own words where you can. You should also make good use of your notes and the unit.

Introduction. Start with a striking opening sentence e.g. ‘Macbeth’

by William Shakespeare is a dark tale of powerlust and paranoia set in Scotland in the Middle Ages.

Give a brief summary of the plot (one or two sentences only)

Make sure you mention the theme and setting somewhere in your introduction. What is the theme?

Finish your introduction by giving your reader a flavour of the task, e.g. Over the course of the play, Macbeth rouses mixed feelings in the audience.

Paragraph 1 – Macbeth’s reputation at the start Start with a topic sentence that makes clear what

this paragraph will be about, e.g. We are given a good impression of Macbeth by other characters even before he makes his first appearance on stage.

Explain in your own words what kind of impression we get and what Macbeth is reported to have done

Put in an appropriate quotation (e.g. 1.2.22-23) Comment on the language of the quotation and what

it suggests about Macbeth Comment on how you feel towards Macbeth at this

stage and why you feel this way about him.

Paragraph 2 – Macbeth’s response to his first meeting with three witches on the heath

Start with an opening sentence that, again, makes clear what this paragraph will be about, e.g. Macbeth’s response to a surprise meeting with three witches intrigues us.

Explain in your own words where, when and how he meets them. What are they doing there? What do they tell him and how does he respond?

Put in an appropriate quotation to illustrate his response (e.g. 1.3.134-136)

What does his response suggest about him?

Comment on what kinds of feelings you have towards Macbeth at this stage and why.

Paragraph 3 – The impression we are given of Macbeth from his wife’s initial reaction to a letter

Start with an opening sentence that, once again, makes clear what this paragraph will be about, e.g. A more complex picture of the man begins to emerge when his wife responds to a letter he sends her about the witches.

Explain what the letter says and how Lady Macbeth responds

Put in an appropriate quotation (e.g. 1.5.15-16) What does the quotation mean? Comment on what kind of feelings we begin to have

of Macbeth at this point

Paragraph 4 – The Murder of Duncan. Start with a suitable opening sentence, e.g. Despite

his misgivings, Macbeth goes ahead with the murder Explain how we feel about him now How does he feel about what he has done? Put in an appropriate quotation (e.g. 2.2.39-40) Comment on why he feels this way and how we feel

about him

Paragraph 5 – The Murder of Banquo Start with a suitable opening sentence e.g. Even

though he feels secure as king, Macbeth orders the murder of his close friend Banquo

Explain how you feel about this. Can it be justified? Put in a quotation to explain why he has Banquo

killed (e.g. 3.4.123) Comment on how he feels in this quotation and how

you feel about his thoughts and actions at this point Comment also on how he sees the ghost of Banquo

at the banquet. Is the ghost real or not? What are we to think of him here?

Paragraph 6 – The Murder of Macduff’s wife and family

Start with a suitable sentence, e.g. Macbeth now murders people without thinking of the consequences

Explain why he kills the Macduffs Put in a quotation to show how determined he is that

he will kill anyone he sees as a challenge to the throne (4.1.145-7)

Is this murder more shocking than the others? How? Comment on how you feel about his whole manner of

thinking and reasoning at this point. Is he mad? Is he sane? What is happening to him?

Paragraph 7 – The part towards the end of the play when almost everyone has turned against him.

Start with a suitable sentence, e.g. Towards the end of the play, everyone has turned against Macbeth

Explain why they do and how Macbeth feels about life now

Put in a quotation to show how he feels (e.g. 5.5.19-20)

What does he mean in this quotation? How do you feel about him? Does he deserve to feel

like this? Do you have any sympathy for him?

Paragraph 8 – The end of the play and how Macbeth behaves

Start with a suitable topic sentence, e.g. Even though he now knows he has been tricked by the witches and faces certain death, Macbeth decides to fight to the end

Put in a quotation to illustrate this (e.g. 5.8.32) Explain why he takes this attitude Comment on your own feelings towards him at this

point. You might also comment on how you feel when

Macbeth’s head is speared on a pole for everyone to laugh at.

Conclusion – Sum up what you have said and give a personal response to the theme

Start with the words “As I have shown …” finishing the sentence yourself

What point do you think Shakespeare is making about life or about human nature through the character of Macbeth?