Characters
This character is the tragic hero who becomes king of Scotland.
Macbeth
Is this a dagger which I see before me…” refers to this vision.
What is a dagger (hallucination)?
Macbeth receives a prophecy from these three beings at the start.
Witches
This substance represents guilt throughout the play.
Blood
Macbeth’s desire for power shows this theme.
Ambition
She pushes Macbeth to commit murder early in the play.
Lady Macbeth
“Out, damned spot!” shows this character’s guilt.
Lady Macbeth
This king is murdered in his sleep.
Duncan
Darkness and nighttime symbolize this.
Evil/darkness
Hallucinations and sleepwalking show this theme.
Guilt
This nobleman kills Macbeth in the final battle.
Macduff
“Fair is foul, and foul is fair” is said by these characters.
The witches
This character’s ghost appears at a banquet.
Banquo
Lady Macbeth believes this can wash away guilt.
Water
The witches highlight this idea that things are not what they seem.
Appearance vs reality
This character serves as a foil to Macbeth by showing loyalty to Duncan and suspicion of the witches’ intentions.
Banquo
“Stars, hide your fires; let not light see my black and deep desires” reveals this internal conflict in Macbeth.
Macbeth’s struggle between ambition and morality / desire vs conscience
This turning point marks Macbeth’s shift from hesitant murderer to tyrant who kills without consulting his wife.
The murder of Banquo (or Macbeth arranging Banquo’s murder)?
This recurring symbol evolves from representing honor to representing guilt and violence as the play progresses.
Blood (shifting from honor in battle to guilt after murder)
This theme is shown through Macbeth’s growing paranoia and decision to murder Banquo despite no immediate threat.
Corruption of power / unchecked ambition
This character’s decision to test Macduff’s loyalty in England helps reveal who can truly be trusted to restore order in Scotland.
Malcolm
“Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him” is an example of this type of deceptive prophecy and why it misleads Macbeth.
What is an equivocation (a misleading or double-meaning prophecy that tricks Macbeth)?
Explain how the prophecy about Birnam Wood is fulfilled in a realistic way during the final battle.
The army using branches from Birnam Wood to disguise themselves?
Analyze how two different symbols in the play (for example, blood and darkness) work together to reinforce a major theme.
Symbols like blood and darkness both reinforce themes of guilt and evil
Explain how Shakespeare presents the balance between fate and free will using both Macbeth’s actions and the witches’ prophecies.
Fate vs free will