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Introduction
Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies. Writing about it, however, can be difficult because of how complex the play actually is. To help get you over the hump, try this Macbeth essay outline and see what a difference it can make. We break one aspect of the play down into its most important parts—how Macbeth’s ambition is exploited by the witches, and how his weakness is exploited by his wife to get him to become a king-killer.
Below is our basic essay outline template that we use for creating our example outline for a Macbeth essay. After looking over the template be sure to examine the example that follows for more details on how we would put this essay together. Keep in mind that all good essays and outlines should center around a single main point. So while there are a lot of different things you could say about Shakespeare’s play, we’re looking at just one specific topic—Macbeth’s pursuit of power. Enjoy!
Macbeth Essay Outline Template
I. Introduction
a. Ask a question about the play that is likely to get the reader’s attention.
b. Briefly allude to the answer by noting some important details from the play that will support your main argument.
c. Finish with your thesis statement—the main point that your essay will make that answers the question and that is supported by the details highlighted above.
II. First Supporting Paragraph
a. Begin with a topic sentence that introduces the main point of the paragraph.
b. Support the topic sentence with relevant details from the play, including quotes from specific scenes or literary analysis from scholars.
c. Use a transition thought to prepare the reader for the next supporting paragraph.
III. Second Supporting Paragraph
a. Same as the first paragraph, begin with a topic sentence that introduces the main point of the paragraph.
b. Support the topic sentence...…without the right use of his own sense, a fact represented by his loss of his head.
V. Conclusion
a. Macbeth pursues power out of ambition, temptation and weakness.
b. He has the opportunity to stop the pursuit before he falls from grace.
c. Once having determined his course, however, he goes all in and pays the price in the end.
Conclusion
Our Macbeth essay outline should help you figure out the basics of identifying the main point of your paper and bringing in the relevant details to support your argument. Designate one paragraph to each supporting topic and you’ll do great. Our essay outline example focuses on why Macbeth pursues power, and even though your essay will likely take a different course, the basic outline structure should remain the same. Good luck!
References
Shakespeare, W. (2020). Macbeth. Retrieved from https://shakespeare.folger.edu/shakespeares-works/macbeth/
Macbeth REVISED Shakespeare's tragedy of Macbeth is, in some ways, the story of a disaster that everyone can see coming. After all, it opens with characters -- the Three Witches -- who can see the future. When Macbeth encounters them, the witches offer what Shakespeare terms "strange intelligence" or "prophetic greeting" -- predicting that he will attain the titles of Thane of Cawdor, Thane of Glamis, and King of Scotland (I.iii).
This scene illustrates the difference between Lady Macbeth and her husband. She sees the big picture and the risks involved with getting what she wants. She understands those risks and accepts them as mere obstacles. In this light, she is cold and calculating. She is afraid of nothing and is quick to pray for what it takes: Come, you spirits That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here And fill me from
In short, he chooses evil over good. Macbeth somehow justifies murdering Banquo and Fleance, which demonstrates his deteriorating mental state. He did not struggle with murdering them as he did with Duncan. He says: For them the gracious Duncan have I murder'd; Put rancours in the vessel of my peace Only for them; and mine eternal jewel Given to the common enemy of man, To make them kings, the seed of Banquo kings! (III.i. 65-69). Macbeth no
" (I.v.64-66). She even summons the spirits to free her from the weakness of femininity "Come, you spirits / That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here" (I.v.41-42) because she associates cruelty and lack of remorse with manhood. In many cases, politics is about what takes place behind the cameras in the sense that rivalry, treason and the corruptive influence of ambition are never expressed in an open manner, but
/ He shall spurn fate, scorn death, and bear / His hopes 'bove wisdom, grace, and fear. / And you all know security / Is mortals' chiefest enemy." (Act III, Scene 5). True to the prophesy of the above words, Macbeth destroys both his security and power by succumbing to the illusion of security. The appearance of extreme wealth and power blinds him to the true danger around him and
Macbeth Gothic The great play Macbeth by the wonderful English author William Shakespeare is a very haunting and scary depiction of a royal Scottish family. Even though this play was written and performed in time period that would be considered pre-Gothic, this play demonstrates some very Gothic elements in its contents. The purpose of this essay is to demonstrate how Macbeth is quintessentially a gothic work. This essay will accomplish this