CHARACTERS/MOTIVES
Lady Macbeth urges Macbeth to “look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under’t” to influence him to commit this act.
Murdering King Duncan
Macbeth’s first reaction to the witches’ prophecy shows he believes this has already chosen his future.
Fate
This character begins the play as a war hero.
Macbeth
The play begins with this supernatural event involving the witches
Their meeting on a battlefield / the witches’ prophecy
The witches never actually tell Macbeth to do this — he jumps to the conclusion on his own.
Murder Duncan
Banquo’s skepticism of the witches’ prophecy contrasts with Macbeth’s ambition, showing Banquo’s adherence to this quality.
Moral integrity (or self-control)
Banquo’s warning that the instruments of darkness “win us with honest trifles” suggests this force is still in our control.
Free will
This causes Lady Macbeth to begin sleepwalking.
Guilt
Macbeth holds this title at the start of the play.
Thane of Glamis
The witches’ second round of prophecies are delivered through these supernatural visions.
The apparitions (the Armed Head, Bloody Child, and Crowned Child)?
Macduff becomes Macbeth’s nemesis after this event, which escalates Macbeth’s paranoia and tyranny.
Murder of Macduffs family
Macbeth says “If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me,” showing his temporary willingness to let this decide.
Fate or choice
The person who escapes Macbeth’s murderers at the banquet scene.
Fleance
Shakespeare wrote Macbeth in this year
1606
This is the reason the witches' prophecies are so effective on Macbeth, but not Banquo.
Macbeth’s ambition (or lack of moral grounding)
Lady Macbeth manipulates Macbeth by challenging this aspect of his character in order to provoke action.
His masculinity (or courage/honor)
Macbeth’s decision to kill Duncan is often cited as the moment where fate gives way to this instead.
Free will
Macbeth’s first major crime in the play.
King Duncan
This location is the main setting where Macbeth’s rise to power and fall occurs
Scotland
The witches’ “double, double” speech warns the audience that their power is this, rather than divine truth.
Chaotic/Deceptive
This character ultimately kills Macbeth, demonstrating that ambition alone cannot protect against fate and retribution.
Macduff
Macbeth tries to force the witches’ prophecy about Banquo not coming true, proving this tragic idea
You cant control fate
The reason Macbeth believes he can’t be harmed by Macduff.
The prophecy that “no man born of woman” can harm him?
The “Weird Sisters” is another name for these characters, who manipulate Macbeth with their prophecies.
The witches
The witches’ prophecies exploit this tragic flaw in Macbeth that ultimately destroys him.
His need for certainty/control/power