Macbeth Paper                                           Back to Assignments

Essay Suggestions—AP Literature and Composition

 For this paper you should and plan for an essay of approximately 3-4 pages in length. It should be prepared in proper MLA style (see me for details on this), and it should feature numerous short quotes designed to support your overall thesis. Above all, this should not be a plot summary or recap of the play. You are to assume that your audience is very familiar with the play and will recall all of your quotes in context. Therefore, telling any of the story as background is a waste of time.  Below you will find a few suggestions to help squeeze your creative juices:

1.      The supernatural plays an important part in this play. Show how Shakespeare uses it to add a dimension to the conflict, to create suspense, and to reflect Macbeth’s fevered imagination. Consider, too, the levels of reality in this question. Some of the sights we see as more “real” than others. Explain why this is so and cite examples in preparing your answer.

2.      The classic quote “fair is foul and foul is fair” permeates the play as one of its most important themes. Show what Shakespeare meant by this, and give as many examples as you can of how it operates in this drama, on the levels of plot, character, theme, and dialogue.

3.      Malcom characterizes Macbeth and his wife as “this dead butcher and his fiendlike queen.” Analyze the characters of these two people, showing how they develop, how they change (especially how they seem to change places), and why they deserve or not the harsh words that Malcom uses to describe them.

4.      The play is full of images such as blood, clothing, disease, animals, gems, time, sleep, and light / dark. Choose one of the major motifs and show how Shakespeare manipulated it throughout the play to give added power and meaning to the underlying drama. Remember, most of the images, such as blood and animals, can be seen on more than one level.

5.      Shakespeare was fascinated by the idea that tragic events cause a disruption in the universe, specifically in time itself. Analyze this theme of disruption, including Macbeth’s welcoming of it, paying particular attention to the many references to time and its many tenses.

6.    There are a great many references to what is "natural" and "unnatural" in this play. Examine this theme both in several different ways--nature itself, the nature of man and woman, witches, etc.

7.    Shakespeare emphasizes gender roles quite heavily in this play, especially through the two main characters. Examine the nature of men and women through Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, but also through their mirror counterparts, Macduff and Lady Macduff.

8.    Witchcraft was widely believed in and studied in the 16th century. Examine Shakespeare's treatment of witchcraft in the play in light of what people in his time ACTUALLY BELIEVED. Did he change things, or is it right on target? (Not appropriate without sources).

9.    Shakespeare got the lion's share of his plot from Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles. What exactly did he borrow, and how and why did he change history to fit his drama? (Not appropriate without sources).

10.    Anything else you come up with that is as comprehensive as the above questions. Check with me first.