Here are a few examples of A-Level Essays of Shakespeare's play "Macbeth". They are all written differently and are aiming for different subjects and topics, but each one of them covers the whole play and gives you information on how to approach the matter.
MACBETH : EXAMPLE A-LEVEL ESSAYS
The essays below were all written by students. They are all a range of different grades and essay styles.
EXAMPLE ESSAY 1
BORDERLINE B GRADE
Question:
In what ways does Shakespeare vividly present human flaws and weaknesses in Macbeth?
(DISCURSIVE ESSAY QUESTION)
Answer:
Shakespeare observes and comments on human weaknesses and flaws through his
characters in Macbeth. For example, Macbeth’s ambition is eventually his downfall, Lady
Macbeth’s manipulative tendencies eventually lead her to kill herself, and King Duncan was
too trusting which led to his murder. In each of the deaths in Macbeth, flaws and weaknesses
are what sets in motion events that result in disaster.
Desire and temptation are what starts the series of murders. Temptation can be a
dangerous thing when used as a primary motive. Macbeth shows this common human
weakness: “Stay, you imperfect speakers/ Tell me more.” Macbeth asks the witches for more
details on their prophecy and is not ashamed to hide lustful enthusiasm.
Shakespeare wrote his plays when religion was the primary source of wisdom and people
believed in heaven and hell. As an audience, back then, It must have been shocking to see
Macbeth commit several “deadly sins”. He commits murder thus condemning himself to
hell. While this may not have as much of an impact on today’s audience, in the 1600s they
believed in the heavy consequences Macbeth would have to face, thus making his choices
even harder to comprehend and justify.
The biggest “flaw” which both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth share is ambition. While
“normal” ambition is not a weakness or flaw, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s ambition was out
of control. They were both consumed with the promise of power. Macbeth even admits to
this before killing Duncan, “I have no spur to prick the sides of my intent, but only / Vaulting
ambition, which o’erleaps itself / And falls on the other...” (1.7) In this quote, Macbeth
admits there is no justification for killing Duncan, only his selfish desires, which he sees
has gone beyond anything normal, “...o’erleaps” into something dark and unknown. As an
audience, we see how Macbeth struggles with reasoning and his longing for the throne.
Often a discussed theme in the Bible, Macbeth struggles between right and wrong. Macbeth
momentarily chooses ‘right’ and decides not to kill Duncan. The audience now believes there
is still good in Macbeth and that he was the victim of extreme manipulation. This idea proves
to be true when Lady Macbeth taunts him back into killing Duncan.
Macbeth’s second weakness is perhaps the whole reason for his downfall. His pride.
When Macbeth decides he will not kill Duncan, Lady Macbeth was able to manipulate him
using his pride. She questioned his manhood. “When you durst do it, then you were a
man / And, to be more than what you were, you would / Be so much more the man.” (1.7)
However, this doesn’t fully convince Macbeth. It is only when Lady Macbeth starts to say
that she, a woman, would have killed her own baby when asked to, Macbeth decides that
he will go on with the plan. Shakespeare shows a great weakness in Macbeth and perhaps a
bigger observation of all men. The need to prove his manhood, even during times of treason.
I believe Macbeth was so easily manipulated because he has followed orders his whole life.
As a soldier, he lived and acted under instructions from the king. One could believe he wants
to be King to have power over his own life. Not a minion following orders from his superior,
but rather become his own superior. This is likely to be one of the reasons for his undying
ambition for power. Shakespeare comments on human conditions by making his characters
play out the worst thing that could be from having these emotions, one could see it as a
hidden warning.
Macbeth lost everything he would have gained the moment he killed Duncan and
condemned himself to hell. Lady Macbeth died from guilt she thought she wouldn’t
experience. Shakespeare’s genius writing gives the audience a glimpse into the world of
deceit, murder, power and the supernatural. Shakespeare skilfully entwines morals into his
play and makes sure to portray that evil will never win.
Feedback: Borderline C/B grade
• Great knowledge of concepts and wider debates
• Some good application of context - though this could be more detailed and specific
• Good focus on the question
• Good structure, clear and well outlined topic sentences
• Some sense of exploring critical or alternative interpretations
• Not enough quotations
• The main criticism is that it has a lack of focus on form, structure and language devices
• without these it is difficult to achieve beyond a low B grade
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