Includes 5 full essay plans on Shakespeare's Macbeth, including the plans in response to the questions:
How does Shakespeare present the theme of order vs disorder in Macbeth?
How does Shakespeare present Macbeth and Duncan to be different kings?
How does Shakespeare present the supernatural in ...
How does Shakespeare present the theme of order vs disorder in macbeth?
Intro
- The opposing forces of order and disorder run throughout Macbeth. We see Shakespearean
and mediaeval views of an ordered society vs chaos.
- The disorder and chaos ultimately link back to Macbeth committing regicide
- The divine right of kings was strictly followed in the Jacobean era, Shakespeare wanted to
please the current king at that time by showing the relentless consequences that come with
carrying out such acts
Paragraph 1
- The forces of the supernatural – represented by the witches in the play – are consistently
trying to subvert and undermine this natural order
- ‘Fair is foul and foul is fair’
- Shakespeare establishes the witches as a source of chaos and disorder straight away by using
these oxymoronic phrases, which confuse Macbeth as well as the audience
- The use of the equivocation presents the supernatural as deceitful, showing them as
multi-faceted
- Fricatives of "f" and foreshadowing paradox consonance.
- Spell-like sound, as if they’re bringing things into existence through their utterances, sets up
the debate as to whether the witches are really controlling events or leading Macbeth to his
own demise
- Foreshadowing macbeth's downfall, as he once was fair, but turned foul due to his
overpowering hamartia
Paragraph 2
- The theme of disorder is explored through Macbeth's mental deterioration after murdering
Duncan
- “Glamis hath murder'd sleep, and therefore Cawdor shall sleep no more, — Macbeth shall
sleep no more!”
- The use of third person singular demonstrates Macbeth's mental deterioration and the
violent metaphor of 'murder sleep' is indicative of how Macbeth has lost any sense of peace
due to his crime against God.
- Sleep has connotation with peace, which cannot be at anymore due to his disruption of the
chain of being
- Symbol of his active and haunting conscience
- Shakespeare suggests those guilty of sins are self destructive
Paragraph 3
- Disorder within Scotland in explore through the description of the weather.
- ‘Strange screams of death…of dire combustion.. The earth was feverous and did shake’
- suggest that all of nature is in turmoil due to the king's murder.
- We are reminded that the Jacobeans believed in a divine order. This order was decided by
God, who they believed was ultimately in control of the universe.
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