I need help making this detailed plan into an essay 2021 Macbeth Essay Topic 2 - Planning Document
'"I have almost forgot the taste of fears."
Macbeth is completely corrupted by his desire for power.'
Do you agree?

Introduction – Introduce the play: title, author and period in which it was written. Identify the genre (tragedy), main characters and the general plot. Outline the points you will discuss and state your contention: for eg. “Macbeth is driven mad by his ruthless lust for power. His former loyalty and allegiance to King Duncan is cast asunder when he receives supernatural prophecies that prove true, spurred on by Lady Macbeth’s manipulations. Macbeth will stop at nothing to gain and keep safe his treacherous kingship, despite losing all he loves in the process, including his very humanity. Women and children are no longer safe under the rule of such a tyrant.”

Body Paragraph 1. Topic Sentence Macbeth’s transformation from loyal subject to ‘bloody butcher’ was precipitated by the witches’ predictions and spurred on by Lady Macbeth’s manipulations. Explanation The witches do not have the power to destroy Macbeth but were able to induce him to act on his already ambitious desires. Macbeth’s ambition is provoked by the witches prophecies and he begins to consider the unthinkable, enlisting the help of his wife, who all too readily prepares for his ascension to the throne of Scotland through unnatural means. Examples (Rewrite these in a sentence and embed quotes to prove it.) Macbeth is introduced as a ‘brave and noble’ a ‘valiant soldier’ and ‘worthy cousin’. He is respected as a soldier and a loyal subject. But, upon hearing the witches’ prophecy he is tested. Lady Macbeth immediately plots to kill King Duncan once she receives Macbeth’s letter about becoming the Thane of Cawdor, as the witches prophesied and the suggestion that he may become King. She uses sinister tactics to persuade Macbeth and questions his very manhood. Link

Body Paragraph 2 Topic Sentence Initially Macbeth is a ‘noble man’, full of promise and the ‘milk of human kindness’ but he metamorphoses into the ‘dead butcher’ – the tragic hero demanding our sympathy. Explanation His greatest acts of nobility occurred prior to the events of the play and this redeeming trait is further enhanced in the first soliloquy where he debates the horrific consequences of the witches’ prophecy and his proposed actions. However, he ultimately chooses his own selfish ambition, overleaping his conscience in the process. Examples At first he is resolved against murder, ‘if chance will have me king’. There is a chance that he will get the crown without him having to do anything – ‘without my stir’. It is Lady Macbeth’s powerful rhetoric that overwhelms his decision. Her vicious assault on his masculinity and virility (quotes) is persuasive and he finally surrenders to the horrid deed. Yet he is fully conscious of the abject wickedness of his act. (Note his tormented state by his guilty conscience – he recognizes the wickedness of the path he has embarked upon. In the dagger soliloquy he is clearly suffering from the horrors of the ‘bloody business’. After the deed we are aware of how terrifyingly alive his conscience is ‘To know my deed, ‘twere best not know myself’
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Body Paragraph 3 Topic sentence Women and children are no longer safe under the rule of such a tyrant. Explanation The killing of Lady MacDuff and her child is Macbeth’s third crime. The killing of Banquo (and attempt of Fleance) is a horrific act however, the killing of Lady Macduff and her children is the pinnacle of Macbeth’s evil. They symbolize loyalty and their deaths symbolise the spreading of evil. Macbeth’s growing wickedness, each succeeding atrocity, is another step towards depravity and his ultimate destruction. Lady Macbeth’s madness is a direct result of her own crime and those of Macbeth’s continuing savagery. Although Lady Macbeth is no longer an accomplice she is well aware of the ongoing murders and this ultimately drives her mad. Examples Banquo was Macbeth’s friend – he was killed because Macbeth was scared his line would produce kings. Along with the attempted assassination of Fleance. He killed Macduff’s innocent family out of spite (due to Macduff’s fleeing of Scotland). Once Lady Macbeth is Queen she tries to discourage Macbeth’s thoughts of further murders. Lady Macbeth killed herself out of guilt (she knows about Banquo and the Macduff’s), proof that she retained some semblance of a conscience. Link

Conclusion Macbeth has the potential to be a great leader but he allows his ambition to overleap his conscience and this ultimately leads to his own destruction.​