Essay One

INTRODUCTION

Macbeth is among Shakespeare’s most emotionally and thematically complex plays. Containing characters of grey morality and nuanced themes and ideas, the morality of Macbeth is remarkably unclear.¹ Though explicitly a tragedy, the text is driven more so by the emotions and desires of its characters rather than an unambiguous sense of right or wrong. Whether it is Malcolm’s unusual motives and behaviour, Macduff’s desire for vengeance, or the witches’ and Hecate’s questionably ‘moral’ punishment of Macbeth, Shakespeare’s play offers audiences an array of dubious moral quandaries² in order to explore the notion of justice.

1. Remember that you don’t have to be incredibly definitive about the play’s meaning and messages. It’s okay to just confidently state that the text is complex, and the discuss that complexity. The assessors don’t want you to write sentences about what Shakespeare definitely intended, because we can’t be sure! All you need to do is dissect the text and examine its ideas.

2. Here, we’re using the introduction to open up the discussion rather than definitively answer the prompt – this can be useful if you aren’t entirely sure where your discussion will take you, or if you generally prefer to leave your summative judgement for your conclusion.

PARAGRAPH 1

One of the most overlooked characters, Malcolm³ is often associated with the good and moral side of the play, avenging his father and reclaiming Scotland. On first glance, Malcolm shows few signs of moral complexity, as he is a seemingly good son and loyal subject. However, Malcolm and his brother are forced to flee Scotland after their father is murdered and they are blamed for his death. This choice to flee is curious, as Malcolm would have had the support and protection of thanes loyal to his father, especially Macduff. Instead, Shakespeare reveals him to be a character who prioritises his own safety over the benefit of the realm, as he leaves Scotland in the hands of the tyrannical Macbeth.⁴ Malcolm’s questionable caution can also be seen in Act 4, Scene 3, when he seemingly manipulates Macduff into confirming his loyalty to him and his father rather than being a spy for Macbeth. Though it can be interpreted as true self-doubt, it is suspicious considering that the man who previously stated “Macbeth is as pure of snow compared to my confine less hard... Better Macbeth than such an one to reign” conveniently reveals to Macduff after an outburst of his loyalty and love for Duncan his father, that he already has an English army ten thousand men strong. We can also call into question Malcolm’s motives for retaking Scotland as being born out of self-protection and selfishly claiming what he believes is rightfully his, as opposed to true patriotism and a desire to see his country liberated. Hence, Shakespeare encourages⁵ audiences to more deeply examine the complex political manoeuvrings of Macbeth, as even amongst secondary characters we observe deception, duplicity, and dissembling.

3. Referencing more minor characters (compared to Macbeth and Lady Macbeth), though risky, is a good way to differentiate yourself from other students and shows the marker you understand the play well!

4. This is quite a sophisticated unpacking of Malcolm’s significance as a character.

5. You should always aim to end your paragraphs with an authorial intent comment like this. Use Shakespeare’s name and some kind of verb to describe what he is accomplishing – this will also ensure your paragraph doesn’t just sound like a summary of the plot.

PARAGRAPH 2

Furthermore, Shakespeare also explores the manifold⁶ nature of justice in Macduff’s moral dilemma, as his struggle between country and family is amongst the most powerful and tragic in the whole play.⁷ Effectively committing treason by fleeing Scotland to collaborate with Malcolm, it appears that he selfishly leaves his family behind in severe danger of the wrath of mad and proven violent Macbeth. Lady Macduff, his own wife, says as much, stating “wisdom? To leave his wife, to leave his babes in a place from whence himself does fly? He loves us not.” Lady Macduff’s fears are shown to be well founded as at this point in the play Macduff’s reasons for his flight are not made clear and it appears he simply fled Macbeth’s rule. Such an action has dire consequences however, as Shakespeare demonstrates in a visceral act of violence when Macduff’s young son and wife are slain. Macduff, prior to learning of their deaths,⁸ justifies leaving his family for a desire to see his country and people free. Though it drives him to support Malcolm fully and unknowingly fulfil the prophecy to kill Macbeth, Macduff’s commitment to “bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself within my sword’s length set him” is somewhat disturbing considering Macduff is morally seemingly just as responsibly for the tragedy that has befallen him, even though Macbeth ordered their killing. Thus,⁹ Shakespeare reveals to audiences the moral ambiguities of even the seemingly just and sympathetic characters’ actions.

6. This is a great word to use when answering essay questions about moral ambiguities, or complex things like justice.

7. This topic sentence does a really good job at outlining the discussion that is to come – by the time the marker finishes this sentence, they know how this discussion links to the previous one, the primary character that we’ll be drawing our evidence from, and the core thematic concern that we will be unpacking!

8. Contextualising evidence by explaining when it occurs (and what happens before or after it) is another great way to showcase your knowledge of the play.

9. Don’t neglect your concluding sentences – this is your chance to explain to your assessor what your main idea is. If you make your point clearly here, your whole paragraph seems stronger. If you don’t convey an argument or interpretation in the final line, then it feels like the discussion hasn’t gone anywhere.

PARAGRAPH 3

Finally, Shakespeare also evinces the role of morality in relation to the witches and Hecate. Due to Shakespeare’s highly superstitious and Christian context, these supernatural beings of immense and feared power are meant to be interpreted as evil. Yet together they discuss concepts of morality and see it as their role to dispense justice on those who have wronged them. In the first act, one of the witches tells a story of how she came across a sailor’s wife eating chestnuts and asked for one to eat.¹⁰ When refused and told to go away, the witch as punishment for the woman’s greed and insult decides to “drain him dry as hay and he shall dwindle.” Though rudely insulted, the moral ‘justice’ enforced by the witch is horrific and malicious in nature. This highlights¹¹ the twisted view Shakespeare has of morality when using these characters as they appear to take it and twist it horrifically in ways that deal pain and suffering rather than just punishment. A greater example of this is their master Hecate’s desire to punish Macbeth for his arrogance after becoming king due to prophecy. Hecate predicts that Macbeth “shall spurn fate, scorn death and bear his hopes above wisdom, grace and fear,” ordering her witches to grant Macbeth more prophecies that will eventually lead to his dark and violent end. On first glance, this appears to be moral,¹² as Macbeth’s ambition-driven hubris has led him to take power unlawfully and murder. Yet when considering the impact of Macbeth hearing his second set of prophecies it appears that rather than just punish Macbeth, Hecate punishes all of Scotland.

Lady Macduff and her whole family are slain due to the witches’ warning of Macduff, many die in a war fought for a throne, and Lady Macbeth is driven into a suicidal insanity due to the guilt of her and husband’s actions to take the throne.¹³ Rather than simply and morally let Macbeth create his own downfall, Hecate in some form of self-justified morality accelerates and exacerbates the situation causing a huge amount of unnecessary suffering in the process. To this end, Shakespeare presents audiences with a complex portrait of moral justice, and shows that true evil and tragedy cannot be attributed to any one character or force.

10. This might seem like minor evidence, but even quotes like this can be used to support your overall argument!

11. After recounting this moment from the text, remember to explain the significance of this evidence to your marker to ensure they know what to give you credit for.

12. Remember that not every example will have a straightforward, unambiguously ‘correct’ interpretation, however. You can also unpack potential alternate views, and examine the complexity of the play by pointing out that sometimes, we can interpret things in different ways.

13. This is a good summation of the tragic elements of the text. 

CONCLUSION

Ultimately, the morality of Macbeth is as multifaceted as its characters. Questions of who is right or justified are fraught with contextual implications, but in essence, the play invites audiences to be more critical about what is just, presenting us with an outcome tinged with both retribution and regret.¹⁴