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    Macbeth Band 6 - 6 Full Response

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    Macbeth Band 6 - 6 Full Response

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    Macbeth Band 6_6 Full Response

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    30 views2 pages

    Macbeth Band 6 - 6 Full Response

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    Band 6 (highest band) Response from 2023 AQA English Literature

    How does Shakespeare describe Macbeth as a male character that changes?

    In the exposition, Shakespeare uses Macbeth as a vehicle to highlight the connection


    between loyalty and kingship. Through the use of violent imagery in “unseamed”,
    Shakespeare shows how Macbeth’s violent actions are streamlined for the protection of his
    king. Macbeth dehumanises the Norwegian army, and Shakespeare illustrates a scene of
    bravery and utmost loyalty. This links to the criteria of the tragic hero, where Macbeth is seen
    as admirable and worthwhile. “Unseamed” also foreshadows the “unseam(ing)” of Macbeth's
    psychological state in the future, and the image of destruction in the scene also foreshadows
    the destructive trajectory of Macbeth's future, as well as how he will be “unseamed” by
    Macduff. Perhaps Shakespeare portrayed Macbeth as admirable and loyal in the exposition
    to teach the Jacobean audience that anyone can stray onto a path of immorality, and
    therefore Shakespeare is warning society to remain observant and notice whether your
    actions are going against God’s wishes. Protecting the great chain of being was also being
    advocated by Shakespeare, where Macbeth is obsequious to King James by portraying him
    as someone to protect. The setting in the exposition, Scotland, is significant as it is between
    England and Norway - a middle ground between civilization and savagery, an area where
    extreme things can happen. This links to Shakespeare's warning to the audience, that
    anyone can be pulled astray, even those admired.

    In the climax, Shakespeare uses the character of Macbeth to reveal how association with the
    supernatural leads to a path of immorality. Via the symbolism in “Dagger”, Shakespeare
    creates a sense of betrayal and immorality. “Dagger” has connotations of Cain and Abel,
    mirroring King Duncan being betrayed by Macbeth. The biblical reference may have been
    consciously crafted to warn the Jacobean audience of the spiritual darkness one will enter
    after consorting with the supernatural. Furthermore, the soliloquy is structured such that in
    the beginning, long sentences and rhetorical questions were used, creating a sense of
    confusion and chaos in Macbeth’s mind. However by the end, short, declarative sentences
    are used connoting a sense of mind being made up by Macbeth. This is significant as the
    longer Macbeth interacted with the hallucination, the more agreeing he was to commit
    regicide. Perhaps Shakespeare was warning against association and warning against
    changing towards a path involving the supernatural as it leads to immorality. Shakespeare
    was also being obsequious to King James, as King James was a firm advocate against the
    supernatural and wrote books such as Daemonologie to warn society and to segregate the
    supernatural.

    In the falling action, Shakespeare uses Macbeth as a vehicle to expose how a change
    towards immortality has psychological ramifications. In the use of animal imagery
    “scorpions”, we see Macbeth enduring mental strainage due to his actions. “Scorpions” links
    to poison and the poisoning of one's mind which grows and becomes stronger. “Scorpions”
    also links to the infestation of one's mind and the conscious use of “scorpions” instead of any
    other animal may be to connote the danger one is in physically, spiritual, and psychologically
    post-immoral activities. Shakespeare may be warning against a path of immorality as due to
    the dislike of King James, society was on the verge of a civil war. The mention of animals is
    significant as it shows the dehumanisation of Macbeth, perhaps in God’s eyes, as Macbeth
    disturbed the natural order and divine right. Therefore, Shakespeare may be hinting at the

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    spiritual and afterlife consequences of someone who pursues a change towards immorality,
    which is psychological suffering. This also links to the criteria of the tragic hero where
    Macbeth faces internal conflict.
    In the falling action, Shakespeare uses Macbeth to highlight how a change towards regicide
    is a catalyst for guilt. The motif of “blood” seen in particular in the falling action, and this is a
    symbol of guilt and regret. The instant guilt Macbeth felt after the murder may imply how
    Shakespeare is revealing the guilt one will face if they go against King James, this warning
    against it. The motif of blood shows a sense of weakness in Macbeth, where he changes
    from a strong character in the exposition to a weak character - as seen in the quote “a little
    water clears us”. We see the strength of Lady Macbeth and the weakness of Macbeth,
    therefore Shakespeare is toying with the natural order. The guilt initially grows and
    eventually overtakes Macbeth’s conscience linking to the suffering a tragic hero will face.
    Perhaps the motif of blood is a warning against regicide, as it leads to guilt which consumes
    the mind.

    In the falling action, Shakespeare uses Macbeth to expose the paranoia faced by those who
    want to change their power status via immoral means. In the extract it states “hang
    those…give me…how does”. The use of imperatives creates a sense of urgency and stress
    in macbeth. The idea that Macbeth is concerned and paranoid is seen, as he wishes to take
    no chances and “hang” people who are against him. Perhaps Shakespeare was highlighting
    that attaining power which isn’t meant to be yours will have ramifications. The Jacobean
    audience believed in the Divine Right of Kings, which Macbeth broke. Perhaps Shakespeare
    is warning society not to disrupt the divine right of kings, and accept King James, who was
    disliked by society as seen via the gunpowder plot.

    In the catastrophe, Shakespeare uses Macbeth to reveal how a change towards immorality
    leads to one's downfall. In the metaphor “dead butcher”, we see how Macbeth is scrutinised
    for his violence however was ironically glorified for his violence in the exposition. Perhaps
    Shakespeare is highlighting the difference between moral and immoral use of
    violence.”butcher” shows how Macbeth sees people as meat, and expandable, like
    commodities, therefore linking to him being a tyrannical ruler. This links to the Nemesis,
    where Macduff is an equal and opposite force against Macbeth’s tyranny. Those who
    overstep the boundaries of morality will face a Nemesis (ramification) of their actions. An
    equal reaction to Macbeth’s tyranny is his death. This also links to the tragic hero where
    macbeth faces external conflict and dies. Perhaps Shakespeare is highlighting the
    consequences of our actions and the consequences of regicide. “Butcher” releases a sense
    of catharsis in the audience as the natural order is restored following Macbeth’s death.
    Perhaps Shakespeare is revealing how a change towards immortality has consequences
    and leads to one's downfall via the character arc of Macbeth.

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