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Year 11
AQA

'Macbeth': masculinity as Macbeth's hamartia

I can confidently describe how insecurities surrounding masculinity lead to Macbeth's downfall.

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Year 11
AQA

'Macbeth': masculinity as Macbeth's hamartia

I can confidently describe how insecurities surrounding masculinity lead to Macbeth's downfall.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Arguably, Macbeth's presentation as a brave warrior is a façade for his own insecurities.
  2. Macbeth's insecurities are a result of a patriarchal society.
  3. Arguably, both Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are victims of the society that they live in.
  4. Macbeth's hamartia could be the insecurities he feels regarding his lack of patrilineal line
  5. Macbeth's hubris, his bloodlust and his susceptability to manipulation are all parts of his hamartia.

Keywords

  • Offspring - your children can be referred to as your offspring

  • Hamartia - a hamartia is a character’s fatal flaw.

  • Hubris - hubris means excessive pride

  • Bloodlust - bloodlust is an uncontrollable desire to kill or harm others

  • Façade - a façade is a deceptive outer appearance

Common misconception

Macduff acts as a foil to Macbeth solely because he is noble and courageous.

Ask pupils if Macbeth had dealt with his grief/devastation like Macduff would there have been different outcomes?


To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: 'Macbeth': masculinity as Macbeth's hamartia, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Prepare an example of surface-level vs. nuanced understanding from another text pupils have read and have confidence with.
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Teacher tip
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Equipment

You will need access to a copy of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' for this lesson.

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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
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Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What are Macbeth's greatest character flaws in 'Macbeth'?
Correct answer: He is incredibly ambitious.
He is too trusting of others.
He is a coward.
Correct answer: He is susceptible to manipulation.
Correct answer: He has a desire to harm others.
Q2.
A character who is a construct, designed to highlight contrasting qualities in another character, is called a .
Correct Answer: foil
Q3.
Which of the following characters is not a foil to Macbeth in 'Macbeth'?
King Duncan
Correct answer: Lady Macbeth
Banquo
Macduff
Q4.
Starting with the first, put the following events into the chronological order they appear in 'Macbeth'.
1 - Macbeth hears the witches' prophecies.
2 - Lady Macbeth manipulates her husband.
3 - Duncan is murdered.
4 - Banquo is murdered and his ghost appears at the banquet.
5 - After the witches' second prophecies, Macbeth has Macduff's family murdered.
6 - Lady Macbeth kills herself.
7 - Macbeth dies in a battle with Macduff.
Q5.
What is the definition of hamartia?
Correct answer: Hamartia is a fatal flaw.
Hamartia is a desire to commit terrible crimes.
Hamartia is excessive pride.
Q6.
Which of the sentences below is correctly using the term hubris?
Macbeth's hubris is his desire to please his wife.
By allowing himself to be manipulated, Macbeth is showing his hubris.
Correct answer: In believing he cannot be defeated, Macbeth shows hubris.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Arguably, Macbeth's is the insecurities he feels regarding his lack of patrilineal line in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'.
Correct Answer: hamartia
Q2.
Macbeth's hubris, and susceptibility to external pressure are, arguably, all a result of his insecurities in 'Macbeth'.
Correct Answer: bloodlust
Q3.
Select the criteria below which you would expect to see in a response with deeper analysis.
Correct answer: You have a nuanced understanding of how the text is used as a construct.
Correct answer: You use an evaluative thesis to 'hang' your argument on.
You show a general understanding of plot, character and theme.
You understand the conventional interpretations of the text.
Q4.
In Act 4, Sc3 of 'Macbeth', Macduff shows his grief. Why does this make him a foil to Macbeth?
It highlights how Macbeth is a coward.
Correct answer: It highlights how Macbeth's rejects emotion in favour hyper-masculinity.
It highlights how Macbeth is not a real man.
Correct answer: It highlights how a true men balance emotion and courage, which Macbeth lacks.
Q5.
In Shakespeare's 'Macbeth', it can be argued that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are victims of the society they live in. Which answers below which best justify this argument?
Correct answer: In a patriarchal society, they are punished for rejecting gender norms.
They are judged more harshly because it was stricter in Jacobean times.
Correct answer: There was greater emphasis placed on the importance of patrilineal lines.
They do not act as a man and woman should in those days.
Q6.
Pick the response that uses keywords with the greatest success. Arguably, Macbeth's hamartia is his crippling insecurities surrounding his lack of patrilineal line as...
it allows him to be manipulated by both his wife and the witches.
it causes bloodlust and creates his ambitious nature.
Correct answer: it drives him to use bloodlust and hubris as a façade to hide his true feelings.