There is a variety of engaging essay topics that you can explore surrounding Shakespeare plays, with Macbeth perhaps being one of the most controversial. It follows the rise and fall of Macbeth, as he must content with conflicting morality on his rise to power. Thirty essay topics are proposed which cover the play of ‘Macbeth,’ providing various perspectives to evaluate the play from. The topics chosen are to be used to review and examine the themes such as hierarchy, social power, symbolism, literation, external conflicts, the supernatural and character behavior. These topics help to evaluate some of the key themes within the book regarding characters, storyline, and narrative to provide an engaging account of key developments through the Macbeth story.
- In relation to the death of the character ‘Duncan,’ who do you believe is responsible?
- Regarding the play, ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare, would you consider it to be a moral play?
- Macbeth’s fate is split between two main causes: the prophecy and his own actions, which is more significant?
- Macbeth’s morality cannot save himself from his own thirst for power, why?
- Discuss why Macbeth may be considered the most dynamically tragic hero in all of Shakespeare’s plays.
- Which character do you believe to be more tragic within the play: Macbeth or his wife?
- Would you agree that the family manipulation in ‘Macbeth’ is one of the key narratives?
- Macbeth betrays two characters, Manquo and king Duncan, which do you believe is worse?
- Discuss whether you believe Macbeth is guilty.
- Do you believe that with or without the prophesy, Macbeth would/would not be king?
- There are many important roles in ‘Macbeth,’ are the Witches one of them?
- Macbeth, Macduff and Banquo are similar characters, do you believe they are various versions of the same person?
- For Macbeth to succeed, do you believe it was in part of using the elision technique?
- Was justice served at the end of Macbeth?
- Do you believe that the characters in Macbeth are made to be realistically moral?
- Blood: is it more than a symbol in the play?
- Main characters vs side characters: Is one more important than the other in ‘Macbeth?’
- When the witches expose Banquo’s prophesy, does it reveal anything else about his own character?
- Was Macbeth’s fear of the supernatural what lead his actions astray?
- Does having historical factions within the play improve the narrative and storyline of ‘Macbeth?’
- Does the Prophecy affect Macbeth’s and Banquo’s behavior after it has been revealed?
- Compare the differences/similarities between the part of the phantoms in ‘Macbeth’ vs ‘Hamlet.’
- Evaluate the characters of Macbeth, Macduff, and Banquo, how are they alike?
- The conflicts in ‘Macbeth’ can be compared to those in ‘Lord of the Flies,’ how and why?
- Assess the roles of the supernatural in relation to ‘Macbeth’ and ‘Lord of the Flies’.
- Do you believe that Macbeth is consider an anti-hero in this play?
- How is the representation of remorse showcased in ‘Macbeth?’
- What is the main cause of the tragedies in ‘Macbeth?’ is it caused by free will or determinism?
- Explain the mythological elements in the play of ‘Macbeth.’ Do they affect the plot?
- The theme of deception is routed within the play, how is it shown?
- What is the rout of evil that takes place in ‘Macbeth?’
- Does Macbeths character develop within the play: how so?
- Is there a connection between the gender and the language with the characters in ‘Macbeth?’
- Explain the roles of the hierarchy within the play.
- Explain the use of dramatic irony within the play.