Themes in macbeth

1. St Xavier’s College, Mahuadanr
Major Themes in Macbeth
Ambition
One of the main themes of Macbeth is ambition and we see this with both Macbeth and
Lady Macbeth. Ambition leads to evil - it makes Macbeth stronger and more
determined, but then destroys his life.
Although he is encouraged by the Witches, Macbeth’s true downfall is his own ambition.
Lady Macbeth is as ambitious as her husband, encouraging him to commit murder to
achieve their goals. Both Macbeths fail to see how their ambition makes them cross
moral lines and will lead to their downfall. Once Macbeth kills Duncan, his ambition to
hold on to his title as king becomes intertwined with his paranoia. Rather than being
able to enjoy the fruits of his ambition, he becomes obsessed with maintaining the
power he’s won. Macbeth’s blind pursuit of power can be contrasted with other
ambitious characters in the play like Banquo. Banquo also hears the Witches’
prophesies, and similarly has ambition for his sons. But unlike Macbeth, Banquo’s
morality prevents him from pursuing his goal at any cost. At the end of the play,
Macbeth has achieved all he wanted, but has nothing. With his wife gone and no hope
of producing a prince, Macbeth sees what his unchecked ambition has cost him: the
loss of all he holds dear.
The Supernatural Element
In Shakespeare's time, the powers of evil were thought to be absolutely real; to most
people Hell was an actual place and the Devil a constant threat to their souls. In
particular there was a fascination with witches and witchcraft.
The Witches play a crucial role in the development of the narrative of Macbeth;
their actions contribute greatly to the downwards spiral of Macbeth’s life, and the murder
of King Duncan. Their introduction to the play establishes a supernatural element that is
consistent throughout the play, allowing for further exploration of ideas such as the
destruction of oneself as a result of being overambitious. Shakespeare creates a stormy,
bleak, and gloomy atmosphere when the Witches are first introduced, successfully

2. associating them with a negative atmosphere. It is through their prophecies that
Macbeth’s lust for the throne is encouraged, consequently leading him to his own demise
and destruction of Scotland.
Fortune, Fate, and Free Will
Fortune is another word for chance. The ancient view of human affairs frequently
referred to the "Wheel of Fortune," according to which human life was something of a
lottery. One could rise to the top of the wheel and enjoy the benefits of superiority, but
only for a while. With an unpredictable swing up or down, one could equally easily
crash to the base of the wheel.
Fate, on the other hand, is fixed. In a fatalistic universe, the length and outcome of
one's life (destiny) is predetermined by external forces. In Macbeth, the Witches
represent this influence. The play makes an important distinction: Fate may dictate
what will be, but how that destiny comes about is a matter of chance (and, in a
Christian world such as Macbeth's) of man's own choice or free will.
Although Macbeth is told he will become king, he is not told how to achieve the position
of king: that much is up to him. We cannot blame him for becoming king (it is his
Destiny), but we can blame him for the way in which he chooses to get there (by his
own free will).
Good and Evil
The conflict of good and evil starts as soon as Macbeth harbors the thought of becoming
the king. He becomes ambitious due to the prophecy of the witches which is the start of
evil. This evil, once unleashed, refuses to be bottled up. This leads to murders,
conspiracies and manipulations in the whole kingdom in which king, guards and many
others are killed. The good prevails by the end when Macbeth faces defeat. Banquo,
Malcom and Donalbain too are shown in good light, representing good along with
Duncan. Therefore, the theme of the conflict between good and evil runs deep in the
play resulting deaths of various good and bad people.