macbeth's relationship with other characters essay

• Shakespeare Learning Zone Home
• As You Like It
• The Comedy of Errors
• Julius Caesar
• Measure for Measure
• The Merchant of Venice
• A Midsummer Night's Dream
• Much Ado about Nothing
• Romeo and Juliet
• The Taming of The Shrew
• The Tempest
• Twelfth Night
• Your Feedback
• Education Home
• What’s on at the RSC

Main Navigation

Investigate character relationships.

See how their relationship changes during the play by moving the bar to the marked points.

The relationship between these characters remains the same throughout the play.

Antony Sher as Macbeth.

Ralph Richardson as Macbeth.

Paul Scofield as Macbeth.

Macbeth with bloodied daggers after Duncan's murder.

Laurence Olivier as Macbeth.

Macbeth is the Thane of Glamis and married to Lady Macbeth . He is a brave and successful captain in King Duncan’s army. He meets three witches who tell him that he will one day be king. Persuaded by his wife, he murders King Duncan and is appointed king. During his reign, he begins to fear the loyalty of those around him including Banquo and Macduff . He tries to keep the throne by murdering more people but is tormented by ghosts and dreams. He is defeated by Malcolm’s army and killed by Macduff.

• He is the Thane of Glamis.
• He is a captain in King Duncan’s army.
• He killed the rebel Macdonald in battle and helped King Duncan to achieve victory.
• He is married to Lady Macbeth and they live in a castle in Inverness.

Things they say:

‘I have no spur / To prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting ambition which o’erleaps itself / And falls on th’other -‘ (Macbeth, 1:7)

Macbeth doubts himself but also confesses he is extremely ambitious.

‘No boasting like a fool; / This deed I'll do before the purpose cool.’ (Macbeth, 4:1)

Macbeth's attitude towards murder changes and he quickly makes the decision to murder Macduff's family.

Things others say about them:

‘For brave Macbeth - well he deserves that name’ (Captain, 1:2)

Macbeth is well respected in King Duncan’s army for his military success.

‘Yet do I fear thy nature, / It is too full o’th’milk of human kindness / To catch the nearest way’ (Lady Macbeth, 1:5)

Macbeth has a kind and sympathetic personality, which Lady Macbeth fears will make him unable to achieve their ambitions through murder.

‘Not in the legions / Of horrid hell can come a devil more damned / In evils to top Macbeth.’ (Macduff, 4:3)

Macbeth is no longer the worthy and brave leader he was and is now thoroughly evil.

Lady Macbeth

Lady Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth sleepwalks.

Diana Wynyard as Lady Macbeth.

Lady Macbeth reads Macbeth's letter.

Lady Macbeth is married to Macbeth and lives at their home in Inverness. She seems to want the throne as much as her husband, so encourages him to murder King Duncan . At first, she copes with the deeds well, but is soon plagued by guilt. She begins to sleepwalk and re-enact the murders. She kills herself.

Facts we learn about Lady Macbeth at the start of the play:

• She lives in their castle in Inverness.
• She and Macbeth trust each other and plan together.
• She has been waiting for Macbeth to return from battle.
• She and Macbeth do not have any living children.

‘and chastise thee with the valour of my tongue’ (Lady Macbeth, 1:5)

Lady Macbeth knows her influence over her husband. She values her own courage.

'I would, while it was smiling in my face, / Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums / And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn / As you have done to this.’ (Lady Macbeth, 1:7)

Lady Macbeth would do anything rather than break her promise and is capable of great violence.

‘my dearest love’ (Macbeth, 1:5)

Lady Macbeth and Macbeth have a loving marriage.

‘thy undaunted mettle should compose nothing but males’ (Macbeth, 1:7)

Lady Macbeth seems determined and unafraid, which Macbeth associates with masculinity.

‘his fiend-like queen’ (Malcolm, 5:9)

Lady Macbeth has used devilish means to achieve her ambitions.

The Witches

The witches around their cauldron in the 2004 production of Macbeth.

The witches in the 1946 production of Macbeth.

The witches in the 2018 production of Macbeth.

The witches in the 1987 production of Macbeth.

The witches in the 1952 production of Macbeth.

The weird sisters in the 1999 production of Macbeth. 

The witches in the 2011 production of Macbeth.

Louise Bangay, Meg Fraser and Ruth Gemmell as the three witches in the 2004 production of Macbeth.

Jan Chappell, Susannah Elliot-Knight and Janet Whiteside as the three witches in the 1996 production of Macbeth.

Anthony Quayle as Macbeth and Clement McCallin as Banquo with the witches in the 1949 production of Macbeth.

The witches are three weird sisters who have supernatural powers. They plan to meet with Macbeth after the battle and deliver prophecies to him and Banquo . Later, Hecate is angry with them for meddling. She decides that they will punish Macbeth. The witches then give further prophecies to Macbeth about the things he should fear.

• They have decided to meet after the battle.
• They want to meet with Macbeth on the heath at sunset.
• The witches have familiars called Graymalkin and Paddock.
• They cast spells and cause problems for people in the local areas.

'The weird sisters, hand in hand, / Posters of the sea and land, Thus do go, about, about…’ (Witches, 1:3)

The witches are close, like sisters, and meet to chant spells and cast magic together.

'Come, sisters, cheer we up his sprites, / And show the best our delights.' (Witches, 4:1)

The witches delight in shocking Macbeth with their prophecies.

‘So withered and so wild in their attire , / That they look not like h’inhabitants o’th’earth’ (Banquo, 1:3)

The witches look inhuman. Their look and clothes are very wild.

'…what seemed corporal , / Melted, as breath into the wind’ (Macbeth, 1:3)

The witches appear to vanish into air before Macbeth and Banquo’s eyes.

‘Have I not reason, beldams , as you are, / Saucy and over-bold?’ (Hecate, 3:5)

The witches have meddled with things they should not have. They are over-confident.

Banquo encounters the three witches in the 1996 production of Macbeth.

Banquo and Macbeth.

Banquo and Macduff in the 2004 production of Macbeth.

Banquo is a friend of Macbeth and a fellow captain. Along with Macbeth, he has led the Scottish troops to victory. He is also given a prophecy by the witches . As he sees the prophecies come true for Macbeth, he begins to suspect his friend of evil deeds. Macbeth has him killed, but the ghost of Banquo continues to haunt Macbeth.

• He is a successful captain in Duncan’s army alongside Macbeth.
• He is curious about the witches’ prophecies for both himself and Macbeth.
• He has a son called Fleance.

‘So I lose none / In seeking to augment it, but still keep / My bosom franchised and allegiance clear, / I shall be counselled.’ (Banquo, 2:1)

Banquo is loyal to Duncan and vows to do nothing devious to make the prophecy come true.

'In the great hand of God I stand and thence / Against the undivulged pretense I fight / of treasonous malice.’ (Banquo, 2:3)

Banquo is courageous. He leads the other thanes in a vow to discover who has committed the treasonous murder of King Duncan.

'May they not be my oracles as well / And set me up in hope?’ (Banquo, 3:1)

Banquo is hopeful that the prophecy about his children will come true too. He has ambitions.

'Noble Banquo, / That hast no less deserved, nor must be known / No less to have done so, let me enfold thee / And hold thee to my heart.’ (Duncan, 1:4)

Banquo is greatly valued for his bravery and loyalty.

'Our fears in Banquo / Stick deep, and in his royalty of nature / Reigns that which would be feared.’ (Macbeth, 3:1)

Banquo has royal and noble qualities. He could make a good king.

Macduff prepares to kill Macbeth in the 1949 production of Macbeth.

Macduff plots his revenge.

Harry Andrews as Macduff in the 1949 production of Macbeth.

Nigel Cooke as Macduff in the 2001 production of Macbeth.

Macduff is the Thane of Fife . He is married to Lady Macduff and has children. Macduff suspects Macbeth of killing Duncan , and joins with Malcolm to overthrow him. When Macduff's family is killed by Macbeth, he vows revenge. Macduff fights with Macbeth and kills him.

• He has a wife and children.
• He visits Macbeth’s castle in Inverness to meet with King Duncan.
• He is loyal to Duncan and does not go to Macbeth’s coronation

'But I must also feel it as a man; / I cannot but remember such things were / That were most precious to me.’ (Macduff, 4:3)

Macduff feels has a strong bond with his family and grieves for them when they are killed.

'My voice is in my sword, thou bloodier villain / Than terms can give thee out.’ (Macduff, 5:8)

Macduff is a man of action, rather than words.

‘Here comes the good Macduff’ (Ross, 2:4)

Macduff is valued as an ally and a friend.

'How says thou that Macduff denies his person / At our great bidding ?’ (Macbeth, 3:4)

Macduff has integrity and stands up for what he believes in, even if it puts him at risk.

‘Macduff, this noble passion, / Child of integrity, hath from my soul / Wiped the black scruples , reconciled my thoughts / To thy good truth and honour’ (Malcolm, 4:3)

Macduff is loyal to Scotland and its people, which reassures Malcolm of his honesty and goodness.

Macbeth lies at Duncan's feet.

Macbeth and Duncan.

Duncan is the King of Scotland. He has two sons, Malcolm and Donalbain. He trusts Macbeth and honours him with a new title and a visit to his castle. Whilst he is visiting, Macbeth murders him in his sleep.

Facts we learn about Duncan at the start of the play:

• He is a well-liked and successful king.
• His army has just defeated the rebel Macdonald’s forces and the Norwegian troops.
• He has two sons, Malcolm and Donalbain.
• He shows gratitude to those loyal to him through praise, land and titles.

'He was a gentleman on whom I build / An absolute trust.’ (Duncan, 1:4)

Duncan is a trusting man who puts faith in the loyalty of those serving him.

'The sin of my ingratitude even now / Was heavy on me.’ (Duncan, 1:4)

Duncan is grateful to the men who have supported him.

'Duncan hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been / So clear in his great office, that his virtues / Will plead like angels’ (Macbeth, 1:7)

Duncan is a gentle and fair ruler. Duncan is well respected by his lords and officers.

Malcolm is crowned.

Laurence Harvey as Malcolm.

Malcolm is King Duncan’s eldest son, and is set to inherit the throne after Duncan’s death. When Duncan is murdered in Macbeth’s castle, Malcolm is immediately suspicious and fearful so flees to England. He and Macduff lead an army to overthrow Macbeth. Once Macbeth is defeated, Malcolm becomes the new King of Scotland.

• He is the eldest son of King Duncan.
• He has a younger brother called Donalbain.
• He is with his father and brother when they receive news of victory in battle.
• He is given the title the Prince of Cumberland and will inherit the throne.

'The murderous shaft that’s shot / Hath not yet lighted, and our safest way / Is to avoid the aim.’ (Malcolm, 2:3)

Malcolm wants to protect his brother Donalbain. He is cautious in his response to his father’s death.

'Let not my jealousies be your dishonours, / But mine own safeties.’ (Malcolm, 4:3)

Malcolm does not trust easily. He is suspicious of the other thanes after the murder of his father.

‘We will establish our estate upon / Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we name hereafter / The Prince of Cumberland’ (Duncan, 1:4)

Malcolm is declared as the successor to the throne after his father Duncan.

‘Malcolm and Donalbain, the king’s two sons, / Are stol’n away and fled, which puts upon them / Suspicion of the deed.’ (Macduff, 2:4)

Malcolm’s action of running away after his father’s death is viewed as suspicious by the other thanes.

'Revenges burn in them, for their dear causes / Would to the bleeding and the grim alarm / Excite the mortified man .’ (Menteith, 5:2)

Malcolm is a passionate leader, who inspires his followers with his cause.

Ross greets Macduff's children.

Ross and Lady Macbeth.

Macduff greets Ross.

Macbeth and Ross.

Ross and Malcolm.

Ross is a thane in Scotland. He brings reports of Macbeth’s bravery to King Duncan . Ross visits Lady Macduff to tell her that Macduff has fled to England. Later, he delivers the news to Macduff that his family have been murdered. He is part of the army that overthrows Macbeth.

Facts we learn about Ross at the start of the play:

• He is a Scottish thane.
• He is trusted by Duncan to deliver news about the battle.
• He is given the job of telling Macbeth about his new position as Thane of Cawdor.

‘I dare not speak much further, / But cruel are the times when we are traitors / And do not know ourselves’ (Ross, 4:2)

Ross is sympathetic and reassuring to Lady Macduff. He is diplomatic and careful about what he reveals to her because there is a lot of danger.

'The worthy Thane of Ross’ (Malcolm, 1:2)

Ross is liked and respected by King Duncan and his sons.

'My ever gentle cousin, welcome hither.’ (Macduff, 4:3)

Ross has a kind and good nature.

Fleance with Macbeth and Lady Macbeth.

Fleance is Banquo’s young son. Macbeth begins to fear him after hearing the witches’ prophecy that one day Banquo’s sons will be kings. Macbeth sends murderers to kill Fleance but Fleance escapes.

• He is Banquo’s son.
• The witches' prophecy says that Fleance or his descendants will be kings.
• He is with Banquo at Macbeth's castle when they return from battle.

'Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly, fly!’ (Banquo, 3:3)

Fleance is loved and protected by his father Banquo.

'The worm that's fled / Hath nature that in time will venom breed, / No teeth for the present’ (Macbeth, 3:4)

Fleance is young, which makes Macbeth believe he is not yet a great threat to him.

Explore their relationships

Macbeth - lady macbeth.

From the way Macbeth describes Lady Macbeth at the start of the play, they appear to have a strong relationship. Macbeth tells her about everything that happened with the witches and they plot together to kill Duncan.

‘This I have thought good to deliver thee, my dearest partner of greatness, that thou mightst not lose the dues of rejoicing by being ignorant of what greatness is promised thee.’ (Macbeth’s letter, 1:5)

Macbeth waivers over killing Duncan, which angers Lady Macbeth. Macbeth is persuaded by his wife to go through with the murder.

‘What beast was’t then / That made you break this enterprise to me?’ (Lady Macbeth, 1:7)

The couple work as a team to murder Duncan and his guards. Lady Macbeth criticises Macbeth for bringing the daggers back and returns them to the murder scene herself. She helps Macbeth wash away the blood.

‘A little water clears us of this deed.’ (Lady Macbeth, 2:2)

Their relationship is publicly strained when Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo at a feast. Lady Macbeth is irritated by his lack of courage and has to send the guests away. Macbeth makes plans to kill more people and to visit the weird sisters alone without telling her.

‘You make me strange / Even to the disposition that I owe…’ (Macbeth, 3:4)

Lady Macbeth dies, having been driven mad by guilt. Macbeth receives the news of her death and doesn’t react emotionally to it.

‘She should have died hereafter; There would have been a time for such a word.’ (Macbeth, 5:5)

Macbeth - Banquo

Macbeth and Banquo are both captains in Duncan’s army and have fought alongside each other. They both receive prophecies from the witches.

‘Think upon what hath chanced and at more time, / The interim having weighed it, let us speak / Our free hearts each to other.’ (Macbeth, 1:3)

Trust begins to break down between Macbeth and Banquo. Macbeth lies to Banquo in Act 2 when he is on his way to kill Duncan, saying that he has not thought about the witches’ prophecies since.

Banquo: ‘I dreamed last night of the three weird sisters; / To you they have showed some truth.’

Macbeth: ‘I think not of them.’ (2:1)

Both men begin to deeply mistrust one another in Act 3. Banquo fears that Macbeth has become king through evil acts and Macbeth fears the witches’ prophecy that Banquo’s sons will eventually become king after him. Macbeth sends murderers to kill Banquo and Fleance.

‘They hailed him father to a line of kings. / Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown…’ (Macbeth, 3:1)

Macbeth is haunted by the ghost of Banquo, which terrifies him in Act 3 after he learns that Fleance escaped. After the ghost appears, he starts to feel guilt over the murder of his friend.

‘Thy bones are marrowless, thy blood is cold; / Thou hast no speculation in those eyes / Which thou dost glare with.’ (Macbeth, 3:4)

Macbeth - Duncan

Macbeth is one of Duncan’s favourites. Duncan enjoys hearing news of Macbeth’s victories in Act 1 and rewards him with a new title – Thane of Cawdor.

‘The service and the loyalty I owe, / In doing it, pays itself.’ (Macbeth, 1:4)

Once Macbeth has heard the witches’ prophecy in Act 1 Scene 3, he begins to think about ways to get the crown. Although he is tempted, he talks himself out of murder because Duncan is a good king and is staying in Macbeth’s house.

‘He’s here in double trust: /First as I am his kinsman and his subject, / Both strong against the deed; then, as his host.’ (Macbeth, 1:7)

Macbeth is persuaded to go through with the act of killing Duncan, especially after seeing an apparition of a dagger which he believes is a sign. He immediately feels terrible guilt for murdering the king and wishes he could undo his act.

‘Wake Duncan with thy knocking: I would thou couldst.’ (Macbeth, 2:2)

Macbeth - Macduff

Macduff and Macbeth are both thanes within Duncan’s kingdom. Macduff arrives at Macbeth’s castle the morning after the great feast for Duncan and uncovers the murder. He begins to question Macbeth’s reasons for killing the grooms suspected of the murder.

Macbeth: ‘O yet I do repent me of my fury / That I did kill them.’

Macduff: ‘Wherefore did you so?’ (2:3)

Macduff declines an invitation to the Macbeths’ castle for a banquet with all the other Scottish thanes. Macbeth is concerned about his loyalty.

‘How sayst thou that Macduff denies his person / At our great bidding?’ (Macbeth, 3:4)

The witches warn Macbeth against Macduff. When Macbeth is told that Macduff has fled to England, he fears that Macduff is rebelling. Macbeth orders murderers to kill Macduff’s family.

‘The castle of Macduff I will surprise;/ Seize upon Fife; give to th’edge o’th’sword / His wife, his babes, and all unfortunate souls /That trace him in his line.’ (Macbeth, 4:1)

Fuelled by grief for his murdered family, Macduff fights with and defeats Macbeth, calling him a monster, a hell-hound and a tyrant. Macduff was not ‘of woman born’ and he fulfils the prophecy when he kills Macbeth.

‘We’ll have thee, as our rarer monsters are, /Painted upon a pole and underwrit / ‘Here may you see the tyrant’ (Macduff, 5:8)

Macbeth - Malcolm

As soon as Macbeth hears the witches' prophecy in Act 1, he sees Malcolm as a threat to gaining the crown.

‘The Prince of Cumberland: that is a step/ On which I must fall down, or else overleap, /For in my way it lies.’ (Macbeth, 1:4)

After the murder of his father King Duncan, Malcolm is immediately suspicious of Macbeth and flees to England for safety.

‘There’s daggers in men’s smiles; the nea’er in blood, / The nearer bloody.’ (Donalbain, 2:3)

Malcolm leads an army against Macbeth, ultimately defeating him to become the new king in Act 5.

‘Macbeth / Is ripe for shaking, and the powers above / Put on their instruments.’ (Malcolm, 4:3)

Macbeth - The Witches

Lady macbeth - macbeth, the witches - macbeth, the witches - banquo, banquo - fleance.

‘Fly, good Fleance, fly, fly fly!’ (Banquo, 3:3)

Banquo - Macbeth

Banquo - the witches, macduff - macbeth, macduff - ross, macduff - malcolm, duncan - malcolm.

Duncan announces that his eldest son Malcolm will inherit the crown.

‘We will establish our estate upon our eldest, Malcolm…’ (Duncan, 1:4)

After their father is murdered, Malcolm and Donalbain decide to escape to England and Ireland for safety. They don’t comment on their father’s death but talk about their own safety.

‘Our separated fortune / Shall keep us safer.’ (Donalbain, 2:3)

Once Macbeth is defeated and Malcolm is crowned king, Malcolm celebrates that he and Donalbain can be reunited.

‘calling home our exiled friends abroad/ That fled the snares of watchful tyranny’ (Malcolm, 5:9)

Duncan - Macbeth

Malcolm - duncan, malcolm - macbeth, malcolm - macduff, ross - macduff, fleance - banquo, teacher notes.

On this page students can arrange the characters on the screen, showing the connections between the characters and their relationships. They can then print this using the button on the page and label them with their own quotes.

The following activity is also a great way to explore re;ationships in more detail, looking at what connects the characters.

Instant Images (2011)

The activity can be found on page 5 and takes approximately 20 minutes.

We need your help

We’d love to know what you think about the Shakespeare Learning Zone. Help us by taking a short survey – it will only take a few minutes and will help us make the Shakespeare Learning Zone even better for everyone.

AQA GCSE English Literature

Character Relationships in Macbeth

You’ve used 10 of your 10 free revision notes for the month, sign up to get unlimited access to revision notes, quizzes, audio lessons and more.

• Revision Notes
• Unlimited Quizzes
• Audio Content
• Progress Tracking
• No Advertisements

Hi there! Want to study 2x more effectively?

Sign up now for exclusive access to interactive quizzes, audio lessons and more educational tools..

Sign me up!

Last updated: December 27, 2022

Please read these terms and conditions carefully before using our services.

Definitions

For these Terms and Conditions:

• Affiliate means an entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with a party, where “control” means ownership of 50% or more of the shares, equity interest or other securities entitled to vote for the election of directors or other managing authority.
• Account means a unique account created for you to access our services or some of our services.
• Country refers to the United Kingdom
• Company refers to Shalom Education Ltd, 86 London Road, (Kingsland Church), Colchester, Essex, CO3 9DW, and may be referred to as ‘we’, ‘us’, ‘our’, or ‘Shalom Education’ in this agreement.
• Device means any device that can access the Service, such as a computer, a mobile phone or a digital tablet.
• Feedback means feedback, innovations or suggestions sent by You regarding the attributes, performance or features of our service.
• Free Trial refers to a limited period of time that may be free when purchasing a subscription.
• Orders mean a request by you to purchase services from us.
• Promotions refer to contests, sweepstakes or other promotions offered by us through the website.
• Services refer to our website, resources and tutoring service.
• Subscriptions refer to the services or access to the service offered on a subscription basis by the company to you.
• Terms and Conditions (also referred to as “Terms”) mean these Terms and Conditions that form the entire agreement between you and Shalom Education Ltd regarding the use of the services we offer.
• Third-party Social Media Service means any services or content (including data, information, products or services) provided by a third party that may be displayed, included or made available on the website.
• Website refers to Shalom-education.com, accessible from  https://www.shalom-education.com
• You means the individual accessing or using our services, or the company, or other legal entity on behalf of which such individual is accessing or using our services.
• Tutor refers to an individual who teaches a single pupil or a small group of students who have registered with Shalom Education Ltd.
• Tutee refers to a student or a pupil who has registered for tutoring with Shalom Education Ltd, which is administered through our tutoring platform.

Acknowledgement

Thank you for choosing Shalom Education Tuition for your educational needs. These terms and conditions outline the rules and regulations for the use of our services, and the agreement that will govern your relationship with us.

By accessing or using our services, you accept and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions, and our  privacy policy , which describes our policies and procedures for the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information when you use our website.

It is important that you read both documents carefully before using our services, as they outline your rights and obligations as a user of our services. If you do not agree to these terms and conditions or our privacy policy, please do not use our services. We hope you have a positive and educational experience with Shalom Education Tuition.

Signing up for Tutoring or Membership Accounts

By signing up for tutoring or membership accounts through the website, you confirm that you have the legal ability to enter into a binding contract.

Your information

When you place an order, we may ask you to provide certain information, such as your name, email, phone number, credit card details, and billing address.

You confirm that you have the right to use the payment method you choose, and that the information you provide is accurate and complete. By submitting your information, you give us permission to share it with payment processing third parties to complete your order.

Order cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel your order at any time for various reasons, including but not limited to:

• Unavailability of services (e.g. no tutors available)
• Errors in the description or prices of services
• Errors in your order
• Suspected fraud or illegal activity

Cancelling your order

Any services that you purchase can only be returned in accordance with these terms and conditions. Our Returns Policy forms a part of these Terms and Conditions.

In general, you have the right to cancel your order and receive a full refund within 14 days of placing it. However, you cannot cancel an order for services that are made to your specifications or are clearly personalised, or for services that you have already received in part.

Money-Back Guarantee: If you are not satisfied with the quality of your tutoring session, you may be eligible for a full or partial refund or credit. To request a refund or credit, please contact us within 24 hours after the end of the session and provide a detailed explanation of your dissatisfaction. We will review your request and, if approved, will issue a refund or credit to your account.

• Please note that refunds or credits may not be available for all types of tutoring services and may be subject to fees or other charges. For more information, please contact us.

Errors and inaccuracies

We strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information about the service we offer, but we cannot guarantee that everything will be completely accurate and up-to-date at all times. Prices, product images, descriptions, availability, and services may be inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date.

We reserve the right to change or update any information, and to correct errors, inaccuracies, or omissions at any time without prior notice.

Prices policy

We reserve the right to change our prices at any time before accepting your order.

All tutoring services and membership accounts purchased on our website must be paid for in full at the time of purchase, for the required time of use. We accept a variety of payment methods, including credit cards, debit cards, and online payment services like PayPal.

Your payment card may be subject to validation checks and authorisation by your card issuer. If we do not receive the necessary authorisation, we cannot be held responsible for any delays or failure to deliver your order.

Subscriptions

Subscription period.

Our tutoring services are available with a pay-as-you-go option or a subscription option that is billed on a monthly or annual basis. The tutoring account subscription will end at the end of the period. You can choose the subscription option that best suits your needs and cancel at any time.

Our membership accounts are billed monthly or annually and do not automatically renew after the period. You can choose to renew your membership account at the end of the period if you wish to continue your membership.

Subscription cancellations

You can cancel your subscription renewal through your account settings or by contacting us. Please note that you will not receive a refund for fees you have already paid for your current subscription period, and you will be able to access the service until the end of your current subscription period.

We need accurate and complete billing information from you, including your full name, address, postal code, telephone number, and valid payment method. If automatic billing fails, you will not receive tutoring services until a payment is made. If payment is not made within a reasonable time period, your account may be terminated.

Fee changes

We reserve the right to modify the subscription fees at any time. Any change in fees will take effect at the end of your current subscription period.

We will give you reasonable notice of any fee changes so you have the opportunity to cancel your subscription before the changes take effect. If you continue to use the service after the fee change, you agree to pay the modified amount.

In general, paid subscription fees are non-refundable. However, we may consider certain refund requests on a case-by-case basis and grant them at our discretion.

We may offer free trials of our subscriptions at our discretion. You may be asked to provide billing information to sign up for a free trial. If you do provide billing information, you will not be charged until the free trial period ends.

On the last day of the free trial, unless you have cancelled your subscription, you will be automatically charged the applicable subscription fees for the plan you have chosen. We reserve the right to modify or cancel free trial offers at any time without notice.

From time to time, we may offer promotions through the Service, such as discounts, special offers, or contests. These promotions may be governed by separate rules and regulations.

If you choose to participate in a promotion, please review the applicable rules and our privacy policy carefully. In the event of a conflict between the promotion rules and these terms and conditions, the promotion rules will take precedence.

Please note that any promotion may be modified or discontinued at any time, and we reserve the right to disqualify any participant who violates the rules or engages in fraudulent or dishonest behaviour. By participating in a promotion, you agree to be bound by the applicable rules and our decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the promotion.

User Accounts

In order to access certain features of our services, you may be required to create an account. When you create an account, you agree to provide accurate, complete, and current information about yourself as prompted by the account registration process. If you provide any false, inaccurate, outdated, or incomplete information, or if we have reasonable grounds to suspect that you have done so, we reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account.

You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account and password, and you agree to accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account. If you believe that your account has been compromised or that there has been any unauthorised access to it, you must notify us immediately.

You may not use a username that is already in use by another user, that belongs to another person or entity without appropriate authorisation, or that is offensive, vulgar, or obscene. We reserve the right to remove or reclaim any username that we determine, in our sole discretion, to be inappropriate, infringing, or otherwise in violation of these terms and conditions.

Tutor Agreements

As a tutor working with Shalom Education, you agree to the following terms and conditions:

Tutor relationships

• You are at least eighteen years of age and have the necessary qualifications and/or experience to provide tuition in the subjects specified on your CV.
• You will not make any agreements with a tutee, any member of the tutee’s family, or the tutee’s guardian that are intended to circumvent the relationship between our service and the tutee and to benefit you at our expense. This includes the exchange of private information (e.g. phone numbers, emails or social media accounts etc).
• You will not, during the period of any tutoring session with a tutee and for a period of six months from the conclusion of the last tutoring session, give any tuition services to that tutee.
• You will use our platform as your only means of communication with tutees, and any other methods are strictly prohibited.
• You will not be abusive towards a tutee or their nominee on our website or any other place.
• You are expected to maintain a professional and respectful relationship with tutees at all times.
• You will not engage in any inappropriate or illegal behaviour while working with tutees, including but not limited to harassment or discrimination.
• You are expected to follow all applicable laws and regulations while providing tutoring services.

Tutor responsibilities

• You will not complete any coursework, essays, or other assignments on behalf of the tutee. However, you can offer support.
• You will be punctual and communicate with us if you are running late or need to reschedule a lesson.
• You are expected to provide high-quality tutoring services to tutees, including preparing appropriate lesson plans.
• You will be responsible for ensuring that you have the necessary resources and equipment to provide effective tutoring services, such as a reliable internet connection and computer if tutoring online.
• You will be expected to keep confidential any personal or sensitive information that you may learn about a tutee while working with them.

Tutor compensation

• You will not request or accept any payments from a tutee, or their nominee.
• The company reserves the right to withhold payment to tutors if it believes lessons are being booked outside our platform.
• The company will pay you a fee for your tutoring services according to the rates agreed between you and the company.
• The company will be responsible for collecting payment from the tutee.
• If you are self-employed, we expect you to provide us with your UTR number and you are expected to pay your own tax to HMRC

Tutor termination

• As a tutor working with the company, you may terminate your relationship with a tutee at any time by providing reasonable notice.
• The company may also terminate your relationship with a tutee at any time, for any reason, such as if the tutee is no longer in need of tutoring services or if the tutee expresses dissatisfaction with your services.
• The company may terminate your use of its service if you breach any of the terms and conditions outlined in this agreement.
• The company may also terminate your use of its service if it determines that you are no longer fit to provide tutoring services or if it receives multiple complaints about your performance.

Tutee Agreements

As a tutee using our service, you agree to the following terms and conditions:

• If you are under 18 years of age, you must have consent from a parent or guardian to register and that parent/guardian must enter into an agreement with Shalom Education to provide tuition services.
• You must contact a tutor through the Shalom Education tutoring platform. Any other means of communication is prohibited.
• You agree not to publish any abusive comments about a tutor or another tutee on the Shalom Education website or any other place. This includes defamatory or derogatory comments.
• You must not request a tutor to complete your coursework, essays, or other assignments given to you in your various schools but can request for support towards that.
• You agree not to make any agreement or arrangement with a tutor which is intended to circumvent the relationship between Shalom Education and the Tutor.

Expectations

• Lessons will be held at the frequency and duration agreed upon with us.
• Shalom Education will provide any necessary materials or resources for the lessons.
• You are expected to be punctual for lessons and to provide adequate notice for cancellations or rescheduling.
• You are expected to provide any necessary materials or resources for the lessons (e.g. pens, pencils or a protractor).

Responsibilities

• If you cancel a lesson less than 12 hours before the lesson is due to commence, you may be charged a cancellation fee of 50% of the lesson fee. If you cancel a lesson less than 2 hours before the scheduled start time of a lesson, you will be charged the full lesson fee.

Dispute Resolution

• If you have any concerns or issues with your tutoring experience, please contact us at [email protected] as soon as possible. We will work with you and your tutor to try to resolve any disputes or issues in a fair and reasonable manner.

Termination

• You may terminate your lessons with a tutor at any time by providing reasonable notice, as specified in your contract with us.

By using our service, you acknowledge that you have read and understand this agreement and agree to be bound by its terms. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Copyright Policy

We respect the intellectual property rights of others and expect our users to do the same. It is our policy to respond to any claim that content posted on our service infringes the copyright or other intellectual property rights of any person.

If you are a copyright owner or authorised on behalf of one and you believe that your copyrighted work has been copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, please provide our copyright agent with the following information:

• An electronic or physical signature of the person authorised to act on behalf of the owner of the copyright’s interests.
• A description of the copyrighted work that you claim has been infringed, including the URL (web page address) of the location where the copyrighted work exists or a copy of the copyrighted work.
• Identification of the URL or other specific location on our service where the material that you claim is infringing is located.
• Your address, telephone number, and email address.
• A statement by you that you have a good faith belief that the disputed use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law.
• A statement by you, made under penalty of perjury, that the information in your notice is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or are authorised to act on the copyright owner’s behalf.

You may be held accountable for damages (including costs and attorneys’ fees) for misrepresenting that any content is infringing your copyright.

Upon receipt of a notification, we will take whatever action, in our sole discretion, we deem appropriate, including removal of the challenged content from our service. If you believe that your content has been removed in error, please contact us at  [email protected] .

Intellectual Property

The original content on our services (excluding content provided by you or other users), features, and functionality are and will remain the exclusive property of Shalom Education Ltd and its licensors. This includes, but is not limited to, text, graphics, images, logos, software, and other materials on our website and any proprietary technology used in the operation of our services.

Our service is protected by copyright, trademark, and other laws of both the United Kingdom and foreign countries. Our trademarks and trade dress may not be used in connection with any product or service without the prior written consent of Shalom Education Ltd. All other trademarks not owned by Shalom Education Ltd that appear on our service are the property of their respective owners.

By using our service, you acknowledge and agree that any intellectual property rights, including copyrights, trademarks, patents, and trade secrets, in the content and materials provided by Shalom Education Ltd or accessed through our service are the sole property of Shalom Education Ltd or the respective owners of such rights. You agree not to use, reproduce, modify, distribute, or create derivative works of such content and materials without the express written permission of Shalom Education Ltd or the respective owners of such rights.

You are responsible for protecting your own intellectual property rights and for obtaining any necessary licenses or permissions from the owners of any third-party intellectual property that you may use in connection with your use of our service. Shalom Education Ltd will not be liable for any claims or damages arising from your use of intellectual property that infringes the rights of others.

If you believe that your intellectual property rights have been violated on our service, please contact us at  [email protected] .

Your Feedback to Us

By submitting any feedback or suggestions to the company, you agree to assign to the company all rights, titles, and interests in such feedback or suggestions. If for any reason such assignment is ineffective, you agree to grant the company a non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, worldwide right and license to use, reproduce, disclose, sublicense, distribute, modify, and exploit such feedback or suggestions without restriction.

You acknowledge that the company may use your feedback or suggestions for any purpose, including to improve the company’s products or services, and that the company is under no obligation to compensate you for your feedback or suggestions.

Links to Other Websites

Our Service may contain links to third-party websites or services that are not owned or controlled by Shalom Education Ltd. These links are provided for your convenience only and do not imply endorsement by our business of the linked website or service. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites or services.

By using our Service, you acknowledge and agree that the use of any third-party websites or services is at your own risk. Shalom Education Ltd does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy or reliability of any content or materials on third-party websites or services, and we are not responsible for any errors or omissions.

In no event will Shalom Education Ltd be liable for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods, or services available on or through any third-party websites or services. This limitation of liability applies to all claims.

We recommend that you carefully read the terms and conditions and privacy policies of any third-party websites or services that you visit, as they may differ from the terms and policies of our own services. If you have any concerns or questions about a third-party website or service linked from our service, we encourage you to contact the site or service directly for more information.

Shalom Education Ltd reserves the right to terminate or suspend your account at any time, without prior notice or liability, for any reason whatsoever, including but not limited to breach of these terms and conditions, fraudulent or illegal activity, or any other conduct that we deem inappropriate or harmful to our business or other users.

Upon termination, your right to use our services will immediately cease, and any outstanding balances or fees owed to Shalom Education Ltd must be paid in full. If you wish to terminate your account, you may simply stop using our services and contact us to request the closure of your account.

Any personal information or user-generated content associated with your account will be retained in accordance with our privacy policy, unless otherwise required by law.

You acknowledge and agree that Shalom Education Ltd will not be liable to you or any third party for any termination of your access to our services. You further agree that any rights or obligations that survive the termination of your account, such as indemnification or confidentiality obligations, will remain in effect.

“AS IS” and “AS AVAILABLE” Disclaimer

The service is provided to you “As is” and “As available” and with all faults and defects without warranty of any kind. While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of our services, we cannot guarantee that they will be error-free or uninterrupted.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, our business and its affiliates and licensors and service providers disclaim all warranties, expressed or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title and non-infringement. We do not make any representations or warranties that our services will meet your requirements, achieve any intended results, be compatible with any other software or services, operate without interruption, or be error-free.

We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or timeliness of the information, content, or materials provided through our services.

We do not guarantee that our services or any content or materials provided through our services will be free from viruses, malware, or other harmful components. It is your responsibility to protect your device and system from such threats, and we recommend that you use appropriate security measures and virus protection software.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain types of warranties or limitations on the applicable statutory rights of a consumer, so some or all of the above exclusions and limitations may not apply to you. In such cases, the exclusions and limitations set forth in this section shall be applied to the greatest extent enforceable under applicable law.

By using our services, you acknowledge and agree that your use is at your own risk, and that you are solely responsible for any damage or loss that may result from your use of our services.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These terms and your use of the service shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the country, excluding its conflicts of law rules. Any disputes arising out of or in connection with these terms or the use of the service shall be resolved through the courts of the country and you hereby consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts.

Disputes Resolution

If you have any concerns or disputes related to the service, you agree to try to resolve the issue informally by contacting us first.

You can try contacting the company through email ([email protected]) or by phone (01206657616) to see if we can come to an agreement or find a solution to your issue. This can be a quick and effective way to address any concerns or issues you may have, without the need for formal legal proceedings.

We will make every effort to address your concerns and reach a mutually satisfactory resolution. If we are unable to resolve the dispute informally, you may choose to bring the matter to alternative dispute resolution through a mediator or arbitrator. Any such alternative dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted in accordance with the laws of the country and will be confidential. You agree that any such dispute will be resolved on an individual basis and that class or collective actions are not permitted.

Severability and Waiver

Severability.

If any provision of these terms and conditions is found to be invalid or unenforceable, that provision will be enforced to the maximum extent possible, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

The failure to exercise a right or to require the performance of an obligation under these terms and conditions shall not affect a party’s ability to exercise such right or require such performance at any time in the future. Similarly, the waiver of a breach of these terms and conditions shall not constitute a waiver of any subsequent breach.

Changes to These Terms and Conditions

We may update or change these terms and conditions at any time, at our sole discretion. If we make a material change to these terms, we will provide reasonable notice, such as by posting a notification on our website or through email, at least 30 days before the change takes effect. It is your responsibility to regularly check these terms and conditions for any updates or changes.

By continuing to access or use our Service after any updates or changes to these terms, you agree to be bound by the revised terms. If you do not agree to the updated or changed terms, in whole or in part, please stop using the website and our services.

If you have any questions about these terms and conditions, You can contact us:

• By email: [email protected]
• By visiting this page on our website: https://www.shalom-education.com/contact-us
• By phone number: 01206657616
• Tutor refers to an individual that teaches a single pupil or a small group of students which have registered with Shalom Education Ltd.
• Tutee refers to a student or a pupil that has registered for tutoring with Shalom Education Ltd, which is administered through our tutoring platform.

When you place an order, we may ask you to provide certain information, such as your name, email, phone number, credit card details and billing address.

Username or Email Address

Remember Me

Registration confirmation will be emailed to you.

Shakespear’s “Macbeth”: Main Character Change Analysis Essay

Introduction.

Macbeth was written by William Shakespeare in the year 1606, an era that was marked by the English Renaissance. This character and story have been recreated effectively by Christopher Morrow and Sidney Lamb in their textbook titled Cliff’s Complete Macbeth.

Macbeth is essentially the story of a character who lives his life in a state of confusion to the degree that the only constant in his life changes. This tragic hero shows the constant change in his relationships, interactions, and above all, his level of mortality. This essay deals with the character changes in Macbeth as demonstrated in Cliff’s Complete Macbeth.

As far as relationships are concerned, Macbeth’s once-close ally Duncan is reduced to the pawn in his game of furthering his and his wife’s ambitions. In this book of witches and prophecies, Macbeth’s wife is the greatest evil who is constantly motivating him to do wrong and act according to the prophecies of the witches. She takes out twisted meanings of the prophecies so as to suit their own interests and thus poisons the mind of Macbeth to a great extent. It is imperative to mention here that Macbeth’s wife acts as a strong catalyst in the change of the character (Morrow et al, 2000; pp.1-29).

Yet, Macbeth changes a second time upon committing the act of murder. Having been convinced by the clever words of his wife, lady Macbeth, he plunges headlong into the act of preparing to kill and finally murdering Duncan with the strong conviction that he is doing the right thing. However, as is human nature, once he has committed the crime, he realizes that he has made a grave mistake as he immediately remembers the close relationship and spirit of brotherhood he shared with Duncan. He realizes that he has broken someone’s trust and that the person in question cannot come back to forgive him for this act (Morrow et al, 2000; pp.30-63).

Upon committing such a great folly, Macbeth becomes a man who lives in constant fear. He lives under the impression that everyone close to him suspects him. This attitude change is extended towards Banquo, who was once a close friend of Macbeth. Things, however, change after the murder of Duncan when Macbeth lives under the fear that Banquo will one day turn around and reveal to the whole world that Macbeth is a wrongdoer and a murderer. This fear comes from the sense of the irrational line of thought that a person follows upon committing a crime and realizing that it has all been a mistake. This fear takes the shape of relief once he sees Banquo’s murder as well (Morrow et al, 2000; pp. 64-89).

Macbeth’s character also changes as far as his wife is concerned. Having started out with pure passion and love, their relationship falls into despair following a series of murders that leave Macbeth fearful more than anyone else. The prime factor for his motivation, he begins to blame her somewhere in his subconscious mind for the state he is in. As far as the witches are concerned too, Macbeth’s attitude changes from faith to complete distrust (Morrow et al, 2000; pp.90-149)

Having started out as a nobleman, Macbeth’s intentions and way of living change throughout the story. His character follows the path of living life well and heartily until fear comes to replace it with despair and gloom.

Morrow, Christopher; Lamb, Sidney; Shakespeare, William (2000). Cliff’s Complete Macbeth. Cliff’s Notes. 3 rd Rev Edition.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2021, August 27). Shakespear's "Macbeth": Main Character Change Analysis. https://ivypanda.com/essays/shakespears-macbeth-main-character-change-analysis/

"Shakespear's "Macbeth": Main Character Change Analysis." IvyPanda , 27 Aug. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/shakespears-macbeth-main-character-change-analysis/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Shakespear's "Macbeth": Main Character Change Analysis'. 27 August.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Shakespear's "Macbeth": Main Character Change Analysis." August 27, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/shakespears-macbeth-main-character-change-analysis/.

1. IvyPanda . "Shakespear's "Macbeth": Main Character Change Analysis." August 27, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/shakespears-macbeth-main-character-change-analysis/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Shakespear's "Macbeth": Main Character Change Analysis." August 27, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/shakespears-macbeth-main-character-change-analysis/.

• A Play "Hamlet" by William Shakespear
• Jealousy in "Othello" by W.Shakespear
• Hamlet's Attitude Toward Women in Shakespear's "Hamlet"
• Hamlet, Ophelia and Insanity in Shakespear's "Hamlet"
• The Role of Trickery in Shakespear's "King Lear"
• Characters Analysis: “What You Pawn I Will Redeem”
• The Acme Title Pawn Employee's Ethical Dilemma
• Significance of Shakespearean Literature Today
• Unchecked Ambition in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”
• "In Praise of Folly" by Desiderius Erasmus Literature Analysis
• Nature in Arnold’s “Dover Beach” and Hardy’s “The Darkling Thrush”
• "Heart of Darkness" Novel by Joseph Conrad
• J. G. Ballard's "Empire of the Sun"
• "Empire of the Sun" by J. G. Ballard
• Is Alex in Burgess' "A Clockwork Orange" Cured?

Relationship

Macbeth - loving and submissive husband.

In Macbeth and Lady Macbeth's relationship, Macbeth seems kinder and more caring, whereas Lady Macbeth appears to have more control.

Significance of the letter

• It is interesting that he seems to treat her more equally – this could suggest that he either cares about her, or he values her opinion. Perhaps she has helped him with decisions in the past?
• It might give the audience a clue about why he lets her influence him in the way that she does at the start of the play. Many men would not talk such things with their wives.

Structure of Act 1, Scene 5

• Macbeth uses loving language towards his wife, 'My dearest love' .
• Lady Macbeth greets him by flattering his status, 'Great Glamis, worthy Cawdor' .
• He seems the more caring of the two here.
• Lady Macbeth decides the plan for them. Macbeth tells her they will speak later, but Lady Macbeth seems to interrupt him.
• This makes us question things about his character – is he desperately in love with her and keen to please? Or is he really weak mentally?

Pleasing his wife?

• In Macbeth’s soliloquy (speech to himself), when he sees the vision of the dagger before him, he thinks of many reasons why he shouldn't act on his ambition but seems to deny all these fears because of his wife.
• Does he go ahead with the plan to kill the king to please his wife?

Lady Macbeth's Treatment of Macbeth

Lady Macbeth seems to view Macbeth as weak and controls him accordingly.

• Lady Macbeth thinks that Macbeth is too nice to go for the things that he truly wants, such as the crown: 'I fear thy nature, / It is too full o' th' milk of human kindness / To catch the nearest way' (1,5).
• Shakespeare uses this metaphor to suggest that Macbeth is a good man. But milk, a substance that mothers make to feed to their young, might also suggest that Lady Macbeth sees his kindness as weakness.
• In this way, as is the case with many Shakespearian plays, the male character seems to have more stereotypically feminine traits (i.e. Macbeth seems kinder and more caring, whereas Lady Macbeth appears to have more control).

Pressurising

• Macbeth is very torn about whether he should kill the king or not. He decides not to go on because he does not think ambition alone is a good enough reason to want the crown.
• But his wife quickly persuades him to continue with the plan. This suggests that she has power over her husband.
• It seems that one of the key things holding him back is fear of people retaliating. He addresses this at the beginning of his speech in Act 1, Scene 7. Later on in the scene, he asks Lady Macbeth what would happen if they fail. She says that if he is brave, they won't fail: 'But screw your courage to the sticking-place, / And we'll not fail' (1,7).

• When Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost, Lady Macbeth asks him, 'Are you a man?' (3,4).
• This suggests that a lack of courage makes him less of a man.
• People often saw mental disturbances as a female problem.

Macbeth's Changing Relationship

Macbeth seems to become more distant from his wife as the play progresses.

Banquo's murder

• Lady Macbeth was the key motivator behind the murder of King Duncan. But Macbeth doesn't even discuss his plan to kill Banquo.
• He tells her it is better that she doesn't know: 'Be innocent of the knowledge, dearest chuck' (3,2).
• Perhaps he wants to save her the suffering that he feels: 'O, full of scorpions is my mind, dear wife!' (3,2).
• It seems he has taken control and there has been a power shift in their relationship.

Effect of murdering Duncan

• Lady Macbeth almost bullies Macbeth throughout the first two acts of the play, insisting that if he does not murder King Duncan, then he is not a real man.
• When he finally does murder the king and his personality changes, his relationship with his wife does change – he begins to take control, perhaps believing that the more power he gains, the more his wife will respect him.

1 Literary & Cultural Context

1.1 Context

1.1.1 Tragedy

1.1.2 The Supernatural & Gender

1.1.3 Politics & Monarchy

1.1.4 End of Topic Test - Context

2 Plot Summary

2.1.1 Scenes 1 & 2

2.1.2 Scene 3

2.1.3 Scenes 4-5

2.1.4 Scenes 6-7

2.1.5 End of Topic Test - Act 1

2.2 Acts 2-4

2.2.1 Act 2

2.2.2 Act 3

2.2.3 Act 4

2.3.1 Scenes 1-3

2.3.2 Scenes 4-9

2.3.3 End of Topic Test - Acts 2-5

3 Characters

3.1 Macbeth

3.1.1 Hero vs Villain

3.1.2 Ambition & Fate

3.1.3 Relationship

3.1.4 Unstable

3.1.5 End of Topic Test - Macbeth

3.2 Lady Macbeth

3.2.1 Masculine & Ruthless

3.2.2 Manipulative & Disturbed

3.3 Other Characters

3.3.1 Banquo

3.3.2 The Witches

3.3.3 Exam-Style Questions - The Witches

3.3.4 King Duncan

3.3.5 Macduff

3.3.6 End of Topic Test - Lady Macbeth & Banquo

3.3.7 End of Topic Test - Witches, Duncan & Macduff

3.4 Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.4.1 Grade 9 - Lady Macbeth Questions

4.1.1 Power & Ambition

4.1.2 Power & Ambition HyperLearning

4.1.3 Violence

4.1.4 The Supernatural

4.1.5 Masculinity

4.1.6 Armour, Kingship & The Natural Order

4.1.7 Appearances & Deception

4.1.8 Madness & Blood

4.1.9 Women, Children & Sleep

4.1.10 End of Topic Test - Themes

4.1.11 End of Topic Test - Themes 2

4.2 Grade 9 - Themes

4.2.1 Grade 9 - Themes

4.2.2 Extract Analysis

5 Writer's Techniques

5.1 Structure, Meter & Other Literary Techniques

5.1.1 Structure, Meter & Dramatic Irony

5.1.2 Pathetic Fallacy & Symbolism

5.1.3 End of Topic Test - Writer's Techniques

Jump to other topics

Unlock your full potential with GoStudent tutoring

Affordable 1:1 tutoring from the comfort of your home

Tutors are matched to your specific learning needs

30+ school subjects covered

Ambition & Fate

The Power Struggle in Shakespeare's Macbeth Essay Example

 A power struggle is a common reoccurring event in literature, whether it be a character trying to escape someone else’s power, gain power for themselves, or both. Macbeth from Shakespeare’s play Macbeth is one such character. Macbeth’s struggle to gain power is the main focus of the play and the event that defines his character.

The first instance when Macbeth shows his intention for power is when he and his wife plot to kill the present King of Scotland, King Duncan, so that Macbeth can be king. They invite the King to their house and Macbeth stabs him to death that night and frames the servants, who he then also kills to make sure his bloody acts aren’t found out. Now that he is King and has gained all the power, one would think that he would stop the murder acts. However, now that he has power, he is so paranoid about losing it, that he continues with the murdering.

To maintain his power, he wants to kill everyone who could potentially take his thrown away from him. The power has gone to his head so much that he orders his best friend Banquo and Banquo’s son Fleance to be killed. He doesn’t stop there, he finds out that Macduff, a Scottish noble, is against him, and orders him and his entire family to be killed. Macduff is gone when the hitmen arrive, so his entire family is killed. Now, he’s committing cruel acts that don’t have anything to do with maintaining power. For instance, there was no need to kill Macduff’s family, but Macbeth goes through with it anyway, to show his power.

This constant struggle for Macbeth’s power enhances the meaning of the work, because every time Macbeth commits an act that has to do with guarding his power or getting more power, we can see the effect it has on him and his wife. The entire play is based on how the effects of his greed led to his downfall. The cruel acts cause his wife, Lady Macbeth, to go insane and kill herself, and cause Macbeth to go insane as well and be defeated and beheaded in the end.

Overall, Macbeth’s struggle for power is what defines his character and leads to his eventual death. Since this was the main focus of the play, it seems to show that nothing good can come from greed for power.

Related Samples

• The Manipulative Lady Macbeth in Shakespeare's Macbeth
• Classism in 1984 and The Kite Runner Essay Example
• The Savagery Within Human Nature in Lord of the Flies Essay Example
• Essay on Gay Rights: Larry Kramer
• Unparallel Balance of Roles (Macbeth Essay Sample)
• Animal Farm as an Allegory (Essay Sample)
• Abigail Williams in The Crucible Literary Analysis Essay
• Femininity in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet (Essay Example)
• Infatuation in Romeo And Juliet Argumentative Essay
• Monologue Written From The Perspective of Lady Macbeth Essay Example

Didn't find the perfect sample?

You can order a custom paper by our expert writers

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Macbeth — The Relationship In The Macbeth

The Relationship in The Macbeth

• Categories: Macbeth William Shakespeare

About this sample

Words: 491 |

Published: Apr 29, 2022

Words: 491 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Karlyna PhD

Verified writer

• Expert in: Literature

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 524 words

2 pages / 972 words

1 pages / 623 words

7 pages / 3216 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Macbeth

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2009.Bradley, A. C. 'The Witch Scenes in Macbeth.' In Shakespearean Tragedy: Lectures on Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth. Macmillan, 1904.Knight, G. Wilson. 'The [...]

Aydın, Can. 'Fate and Freedom in Shakespeare.' Accessed from: https://www.academia.edu/29784209/Fate_and_Freedom_in_Shakespeare

Macbeth, one of William Shakespeare's most renowned tragedies, delves into the intricate nuances of macbeth masculinity. Set against a backdrop of power, ambition, and betrayal, the play offers a profound exploration of how [...]

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Early 1600s.Corrigan, Timothy. 'Ambition and Its Consequences in Shakespeare's Macbeth.' College Literature, vol. 30, no. 1, 2003, pp. 124-147.Smith, John. 'The Role of the Witches in Macbeth: An [...]

Macbeth is about contradiction and ambition, the play was written by the famous play wright William Shakespeare. The play is about a Macbeth who is driven to become king, Macbeth kills all and any that get in his way of [...]

Power and social status is commonly determined by one’s drive and ambition. Successful people are set apart by their willingness to make sacrifices to accomplish their goals. Emotions are often cast aside in order to more easily [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Macbeth: Full Guide for Leaving Cert English

✔ notes as detailed below

1. What you need to know 2. A summary on each character 3. Examination of the key question of the play 4. Sample answers:

5. short notes:.

• Post author: Martina
• Post published: December 5, 2017
• Post category: English / Macbeth - Single Text

You Might Also Like

Leaving cert english grammar 101, english higher level revision workshop in dublin, eavan boland’s use of symbols and metaphors to deliver truths about society for leaving cert english #625lab.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Critic’s Notebook

Two Shakespearean Triumphs in Paris, or a Plague on Both Their Houses?

New productions of “Macbeth” and “Hamlet” follow a French tradition of adapting familiar works. The results are innovative, and sometimes cryptic.

By Laura Cappelle

The critic Laura Cappelle saw the shows in Paris.

Two Paris playhouses, both alike in dignity, putting on rival new Shakespeare productions.

Thus expectations were high for a springtime face-off — with contemporary stagings of “Macbeth” and “Hamlet” — between the Comédie-Française, France’s top permanent company, and the Odéon-Théâtre de l’Europe, the Left Bank’s most venerable theater.

The results certainly felt French. The country has long been a haven for concept-driven theater-makers, and the two directors involved, Silvia Costa and Christiane Jatahy, have no qualms about cutting and splicing the Bard’s plays in experimental, sometimes cryptic ways.

At the Comédie-Française, Costa’s “Macbeth” edits the two dozen named characters down to only eight actors and leans heavily into religious symbolism. In “Hamlet,” Jatahy goes so far as to keep Ophelia alive. Far from going mad, Ophelia climbs down from the stage and exits through the auditorium after declaring: “I died all these years. This year, I won’t die.”

Jatahy, a Brazilian director who has a significant following in France, has performed this sort of bait-and-switch with classics before. Her adaptations of Chekhov’s “Three Sisters” (“What If They Went to Moscow?”) and Strindberg’s “Miss Julie” (“Julia”) reworked the plays’ story lines and characters from a feminist perspective, lending greater weight to female roles.

At the Odéon, Jatahy also cast a woman, the outstanding Clotilde Hesme, as Hamlet, explaining in a playbill interview that her goal was to refocus the story on three female characters: Hamlet, Ophelia and Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude. And while a female Hamlet is hardly news — the French star Sarah Bernhardt performed the role back in 1886 — Jatahy’s premise looks promising for the first few scenes.

Slouching on a couch, Hesme cuts a grave figure as she rewinds a video: the message Hamlet receives from her murdered father, here projected on a large scrim. After the ghost blames his brother, Claudius, the scene transitions seamlessly into a wedding — that of Claudius and the widowed Gertrude, who seals her new life with a karaoke rendition of Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.”

Servane Ducorps plays Gertrude with a chirpy energy that contrasts nicely with Hesme’s coolness. Yet as Jatahy’s “Hamlet” progresses, their interactions rarely ring true, in no small part because the characters have all been transplanted into a humdrum contemporary interior. There, Gertrude and Claudius (a quasi-affable Matthieu Sampeur) try to play happy blended family. They sing sweet nothings to each other over the kitchen table, while Hamlet sulks in the corner.

It’s “Hamlet” as a 21st-century parent-child drama, with the odd interjection from Ophelia and her father, Polonius, who speak Portuguese — an attempt to signal their foreignness that instead makes them look like visitors from another play. Similarly, while Isabel Abreu brings an earnest intensity to the role of Ophelia, her relationship with Hesme’s Hamlet never settles into familiarity.

Her lucky escape is equally contrived. In the playbill, Jatahy says that in choosing not to die, Ophelia “refuses to be a toy in the face of patriarchal violence.” Although Abreu delivers the inserted text bravely, it is such a jarring volte-face for her character.

According to the Odéon’s publicity material, 85 percent of the text in this version is from Shakespeare’s original “Hamlet.” Yet it rarely feels as if Jatahy trusts the Bard. Instead, she wills the characters to escape his world, in an act of feminist defiance without a clear target.

Across the Seine, Costa also follows her singular vision for “Macbeth” — her second production for the Comédie-Française after an adaptation of Annie Ernaux’s “A Girl’s Story” — to the bitter end.

Her staging of the Scottish play opens with an arresting tableau. Lady Macbeth sits hunched over, her face hidden under a disheveled mane. As she rips out clumps of her hair, a portrait of Macbeth, her husband, starts spinning on a wall behind her — until an invisible knife seems to cut into the painting.

It’s an ominous way to position Lady Macbeth, as a shadow addition to the three witches who prophesy that Macbeth will be king. When the trio appears shortly afterward to deliver their message, a giant ring materializes above the empty stage. In true “Lord of the Rings” fashion, it then descends upon Macbeth (Noam Morgensztern), metaphorically anointing him even as recorded whispers of “murder” fill the Comédie-Française’s auditorium.

So far, so impressive. But Costa, an Italian native who has collaborated with the provocative director Romeo Castellucci and shares his taste for visual symbolism, is so focused on the imagery that “Macbeth” loses dramatic steam.

Compressing all of the named characters into just eight roles is a dubious choice given the resources of the Comédie-Française’s permanent ensemble, and it leads to a sense of monotony. The three witches (Suliane Brahim, Jennifer Decker and Birane Ba) occasionally — and confusingly — double as random soldiers and messengers, and when the Macbeths go on their murderous spree, there is no one around to react to the destabilization of the kingdom.

Perplexingly, heavy-handed Roman Catholic allegories also seep into this “Macbeth” midway through, paralyzing the action. The second half of the production takes place in front of a bulky backdrop showing a winged altarpiece that is entirely blacked out. The banquet scene, in which Macbeth is haunted by his victims’ ghosts, is confined to a small confessional.

In that scene, King Duncan, whose death paves the way for Macbeth’s ascension, hovers like God surrounded by angels and martyrs. Macduff, who eventually restores order by killing Macbeth, is costumed to look every inch like Jesus, down to a wound in his side that he reveals theatrically by opening his white robe.

There are Christian themes in “Macbeth,” but Costa takes them so far that the characters disappear behind them. One of the last scenes shows Jesus-Macduff overcoming Macbeth simply by pointing a finger to his forehead, as if performing a miracle.

As a result, the production also undercuts Julie Sicard’s eerily shameless performance as Lady Macbeth. There is no doubt throughout that she has the upper hand: In fact, one scene even makes that point a little too forcefully, when she pretends to breastfeed a childlike Macbeth and hands him a pacifier.

The moment is effective in telegraphing a message, yet so dramatically improbable that the characters start to feel like pawns in the director’s game. “Macbeth,” like “Hamlet” at the Odéon, is too multilayered to be subsumed into a single grand idea. In Paris, at least, it wasn’t to be.

An earlier version of this article misidentified Ophelia’s father. He is Polonius, not Claudius.

How we handle corrections

Arts and Culture Across Europe

New productions of “Macbeth” and “Hamlet” in Paris follow a French tradition of adapting familiar works . The results are innovative, and sometimes cryptic.

The internet latched on to 16-year-old Felicia Dawkins’ performance as The Unknown at a shambolic Willy Wonka-inspired event . Now she’s heading to a bigger and scarier stage in London.

When activists urged Tate Britain in London to take an offensive artwork off its walls, the institution commissioned Keith Piper  to create a response instead. The result recently went on display.

The new National Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam has been in the works for almost 20 years. It is the first institution to tell the full story  of the persecution of Dutch Jews during World War II.

At a retrospective of John Singer Sargent’s portraits in London, where the American expatriate fled after creating a scandal in Paris, clothes offer both armor and self-expression .

The street artist Frank “Frankey” de Ruwe has been delighting Amsterdam with his whimsical, witty pieces .