Unlocking Themes in Macbeth

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Slide 1

Unlocking Themes in Macbeth

Ambition can subvert reason.

When supernatural powers represent evil, they should be ignored.

The natural order is disrupted by any upset in the proper order of human society.

Slide 2

Unlocking Themes in Macbeth

Appearances do not always reflect reality.

Despite prophecies of the future, people are responsible for their own actions.

Attempts to control the future by overturning the natural order of society are futile.

Slide 3

Ambition can subvert reason

“From this moment,the very firstlings of my shall be the firstlings of my hand.”

Act IV, Scene 1

heart

Slide 4

Ambition can subvert reason

“Thou wouldst be great; art not without ambition, but without the illness should attend it.”

Act I, Scene 5

Slide 5

When supernatural powers represent evil, they should be ignored.

“But ‘tis strange! And oftentimes, to win us to our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray’s in deepest consequence.”

Act I, Scene 3

Slide 6

When supernatural powers represent evil, they should be ignored.

“Accursed be the tongue that tells me so, for it hath cowed my better part of man! And be these juggling fiends no more believed.”

Act V, Scene 8

Slide 7

The natural order is disrupted by any upset in the proper order of human society.

“By the clock ‘tis day, and yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp. Is’t night’s predominance, or day’s shame, that darkness does the face of earth entomb when living light should kiss it?”

Act II, Scene 4

Slide 8

The natural order is disrupted by any upset in the proper order of human society.

“The obscure bird clamored the livelong night. Some say the earth was feverous and did shake.”

Act II, Scene 3

Slide 9

Appearances do not always reflect reality.

“There’s no art to find the mind’s construction in the face. He was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust.”

Act I, Scene 4

Slide 10