An Overview of "Macbeth"
- Apr 21
- 6 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s darkest and most dramatic plays - a whirlwind of witches, murder and moral meltdown. It’s basically the story of a brave and loyal soldier and his ambitious wife who let their desire for power get way out of hand.
With its fast-paced plot, eerie atmosphere and unforgettable characters, Macbeth tackles big themes like ambition, guilt and the supernatural.
Underneath the blood and betrayal is a timeless warning about the cost of human desires, unchecked ambition and the dangers of letting power go to your head, making it just as relevant today as it was in Shakespeare's time... and giving you plenty to write about in your GCSE English Literature exam.
Plot
Set in medieval Scotland, the play follows Macbeth, a courageous and respected general who wins victory for King Duncan in battle. On his way home, he encounters three mysterious witches who greet him with a chilling prophecy: he will one day become King of Scotland.
Encouraged by his wife, Lady Macbeth, who is even more determined and ambitious than he is, Macbeth murders King Duncan in cold blood and seizes the throne. However, instead of feeling happy with his new power and status, he becomes increasingly paranoid and fearful.
To protect his position, he commits more brutal murders, including the killing of his friend Banquo and the family of Macduff, a nobleman who begins to suspect Macbeth’s guilt.
However, as Macbeth’s reign becomes more violent and unstable, rebellion rises and Malcolm, Duncan’s son, joins forces with Macduff and other Scottish nobles to take back the throne.
The play builds to a tense and dramatic final battle, in which Macbeth is killed, Malcolm is declared king and peace and order are finally restored to Scotland.
Main Characters
Macbeth
Initially brave, loyal and honourable, Macbeth is celebrated for his courage in battle and loyalty to King Duncan.
However, his encounter with the witches awakens a deep and dangerous ambition and, encouraged by Lady Macbeth and driven by the prophecy, he murders Duncan and seizes the crown.
As Macbeth struggles to maintain his power, he becomes increasingly paranoid and ruthless, ordering the deaths of Banquo and Macduff’s family. Guilt, fear and madness begin to consume him and, by the end of the play, he has become an isolated and power obsessed tyrant, demonstrating how ambition and moral corruption can destroy even the noblest of men.
Lady Macbeth
Lady Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most powerful and complex female characters who, at the start of the play, is portrayed as determined, ambitious and deeply manipulative.
When she learns of the witches’ prophecy, she immediately begins plotting King Duncan’s murder and pushes Macbeth to follow through with it, questioning his manhood and courage when he hesitates. She dismisses any sense of morality, believing that achieving power is worth any cost.
However, Lady Macbeth cannot escape the consequences of her actions and, as the play progresses, her guilt begins to overwhelm her and she descends into madness. Her suicide demonstrates that, in the end, the woman who once seemed fearless is destroyed by the very ambition that once gave her strength.
Banquo
Banquo is a brave and honourable nobleman, loyal to King Duncan and a close friend of Macbeth. He is cautious, morally grounded and suspicious of the witches' intentions so, when he receives a prophecy from them, he doesn't act on it.
His integrity makes him a threat to Macbeth, especially when the prophecy suggests Banquo’s descendants will be kings so, fearing this, Macbeth arranges for Banquo to be murdered. Banquo’s death marks a turning point in the play, symbolising Macbeth’s betrayal of friendship and the deepening of his paranoia and tyranny.
The Witches
The witches are mysterious, supernatural figures whose cryptic prophecies spark Macbeth’s ambition and set the tragic events into motion.
Although they never directly tell Macbeth what to do, their manipulative language influences his thoughts and fuels his desire for power, raising questions about whether Macbeth is truly in control of his destiny.
Symbolising chaos, fate and the unknown, the witches create a haunting atmosphere that runs throughout the play, reinforcing its themes of evil, temptation and the supernatural.
Themes
Ambition and Power
Macbeth’s desire for power, intensified by the witches’ prophecy and Lady Macbeth’s manipulation, drives him to betray his king, abandon his conscience and descend into violence.
Shakespeare uses these events to present ambition as a destructive force which, when left unchecked, leads to moral collapse and tyranny.
Guilt and Consequences
Although Macbeth and Lady Macbeth appear ruthless, both are ultimately destroyed by the weight of their guilt. Shakespeare uses their psychological decline to show that immoral actions carry lasting emotional consequences, which no amount of power or control can suppress.
The Supernatural
The supernatural acts as a catalyst for chaos and a symbol of moral disorder. The witches’ cryptic prophecies, ghostly visions and eerie atmosphere blur the line between reality and illusion, suggesting that once evil is invited in, it becomes impossible to contain.
Context
Jacobean Era
Written in 1606, Macbeth was produced during the reign of King James I, a monarch with a strong interest in themes of kingship, succession and the supernatural. The play reflects widespread Jacobean concerns about political unrest and the threat of treason - anxieties that had been intensified by the recent Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in which conspirators attempted to assassinate the king and overthrow the government.
Shakespeare’s inclusion of the witches was influenced not only by James’s personal obsession with witchcraft but also by popular fears that supernatural forces could disrupt the natural order of the world. The witches’ role in the play goes beyond simply predicting Macbeth’s rise; they symbolise temptation, manipulation and the chaos that can follow when individuals allow dark forces to influence their actions.
Divine Right of Kings
The concept of the Divine Right of Kings - the belief that monarchs were appointed by (and only had to answer to) God - was central to the political and religious thinking of Shakespeare’s time. Macbeth’s murder of Duncan is therefore presented not only as a brutal crime but as a direct violation of divine and natural law.
By showing the disorder, guilt and violence that follow Duncan’s death, Shakespeare reinforces the idea that disrupting the rightful line of succession leads to chaos, both in the personal lives of the characters and in the wider state of the nation. Through this, the play serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of ambition that challenges legitimate power and the divine structure of society.
The Playwright: William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare, born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, is widely regarded as the most influential playwright in the English language.
His powerful use of language, unforgettable characters and timeless stories have left a lasting impact on literature and drama, with his works continuing to be studied and performed more than four hundred years after his death.
In Macbeth, Shakespeare weaves together themes of unchecked ambition, guilt and the supernatural to reflect the political anxieties of the Jacobean era, while also exploring deeper, universal conflicts, such as morality and desire and the struggle between fate and free will.
What makes Macbeth particularly engaging for modern audiences, including GCSE students, is Shakespeare’s ability to create complex, flawed characters whose personal battles mirror the wider fears and ambitions of society and challenge us to reflect on our actions, values and choices.
Remember:
Macbeth is a dark and powerful story that shows how ambition, fear and guilt can destroy lives when left unchecked.
If you can explore the characters’ downfall and understand the devastating consequences of their choices, you will bring real depth and meaning to your exam answers.
Every time you connect key ideas, quotes and themes (and explain how they link to the play’s bigger messages) you're building the skills and confidence you need to achieve your full potential in this exam. Good luck!
Unsure How to Start Your Macbeth Revision?
Why not check out my "Revise Macbeth in 30 Days" Revision Plan."
Inside, you'll find 30 quick and simple tasks, each designed to help you revise the main plot points, characters, themes and context of this classic play... in less than 30 minutes each.
Found This Useful? You’re In The Right Place.
The EHS Blog is packed with guides to help you master GCSE English Language and Literature. Whether you’re revising key texts like Macbeth and An Inspector Calls, tackling tricky language questions or brushing up on your essay skills, there’s plenty more to explore.
Head back to the EHS Blog to keep your revision on track!
Could You Use a Little Extra Help With GCSE English?
Join my email newsletter and you'll get free study tips, revision shortcuts and exclusive discounts sent straight to your inbox.
It takes less than a minute - and could be the easiest revision decision you make this year.
About the Author
I’m a private tutor, a former secondary school English Teacher and the founder of English Home Studies. In addition to offering 1:1 tuition sessions for students from 9 - 16 years old (Year 5 - Year 11), I create digital and printable revision guides and activity packs.
I often post advice and links to free and affordable English resources on the English Home Studies Facebook and Instagram pages but, if you have a child in KS3 or KS4, you might like to join one of my Facebook groups:
If you would like to find out more about my qualifications and experience or read some of the lovely reviews I've received from previous clients, please have a look around my website and, if you have any questions, please send me a message. Many thanks.
