The document provides six potential essay topics for analyzing William Shakespeare's play Macbeth. The topics include: 1) exploring the theme of good vs. evil in the play and whether goodness is destined to be defeated, 2) analyzing how Shakespeare inverts typical gender roles, 3) discussing whether Macbeth is a tragic hero and identifying his tragic flaw, 4) examining the role of fate versus free will in Macbeth's downfall, 5) focusing on a theme such as equivocation and how Shakespeare illustrates it through literary elements, and 6) choosing a motif such as blood or hands and exploring its symbolic significance in the play. Well-developed essays on these topics would use specific evidence from the text to support arguments.

1. Macbeth Essay
Przybysz – 11R
Select one of the following and craft a well-developed essay analyzing William Shakespeare’s
Macbeth.
The best essays will:
- Use the topic to develop a focused and specific argument
- Use specific textual evidence to support the claim made
- Develop ideas clearly and completely
- Use language and vocabulary that is sophisticated and engaging
- Demonstrate mastery of the conventions of standard written English
1. Good vs. Evil
Walker Perry once said, “In this word goodness is destined to be defeated.” Do you agree? Write a
critical lens style essay in which you support or refute this statement using evidence from the text.
2. Gender Roles
An important theme in the play is the relationship between gender and power—especially the
ways in which Shakespeare inverts typical gender roles in Macbeth. Explain how Shakespeare
inverts (or reverses) gender. What are the values that make up the idea of “manliness” in the
play? What are the values that make up being a “woman”? How are these values complicated or
inverted throughout the play? Through which characters are they complicated?
3. The Tragic Hero
Traditionally, a tragic hero is defined as a protagonist, usually of noble birth or high-standing, who
brings about his own downfall by a choice brought on by a character flaw. Tragic heroes have
several other common features: they undergo meaningful suffering, learn from their mistake
somehow, and arouse pity or fear in the audience through their demise. Is Macbeth a tragic hero?
If so, what is his tragic flaw? If not, why not? Defend your answer using examples and evidence
from the text.
4. Fate vs. Free Will
The three witches told Macbeth his fate. Did the events in Macbeth’s life occur because of the
witches’ prophesy or because of the choices he made? Is it a bit of both? What caused Macbeth to
fall: fate or free will? Explain the role of fate and free will in the play. Did Macbeth suffer because
of his decisions? Or was he fated to suffer?
5. Theme
Pick a theme—such asequivocation(“fair is foul and foul is fair,”nothing is as it seems), the
corrupting power of ambition, or the effects of the supernatural on human behavior—and compose
an essay that discusses how Shakespeare uses literary elements such as imagery, symbol, or
diction, to illustrate this theme in the play. Provide examples from the text.
6. Motif
A motif is a recurring element in a story that has some symbolic significance. Choose one of the
motifs of Macbeth to explore the meaning and significance of. What is the symbolic importance of
blood in the play (it’s mentioned over 40 times)? What about hands? How does Shakespeare use
night and day/lightness and darkness throughout the play? What about weather, and idea of the
natural world reflecting the unnatural mortal acts?