In Jacobean England, women had very little power
The female characters in Act 1 of 'Macbeth' can seem unconventional in their behaviour
Arguably, this unconventional behaviour doesn't prevent them from reinforcing the status quo
Lady Macbeth could be interpreted as a dutiful wife

Common misconception

The only argument about Lady Macbeth involves her being subversive.

Characters can be interpreted in different ways. Your role is to construct a strong argument, not the 'right' argument.

Keywords

Dutiful - If you are dutiful, you fulfil your duty. You do this with obedience and devotion.
Conventional - If you are conventional, you follow accepted norms or standards.
Unconventional - If you are unconventional, you do not follow accepted norms or standards.
Outsider - Being an outsider is an important idea, particularly to Shakespeare. An outsider is a character who is not accepted by society.
Status quo - The status quo is the term for accepted standards and rules by which a community lives.

Using LC1, dwell on the idea that different moments in a text can be interpreted in different ways. However, students don't have to offer both sides of an argument - they can be definitive in their ideas.

Teacher tip

Equipment

You need access to a copy of William Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'.

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

How does 'Macbeth' begin?

With the witches' prophecies.

Lady Macbeth reading a letter about the prophecies.

Macbeth searching for the witches.

During a battle.

Correct answer: With the witches, on a heath.

Q2.

In 'Macbeth', why might the witches be considered outsiders?

Correct answer: They don't conform to the status quo.

They reinforce the status quo.

Correct answer: The don't adhere to common expectations of Jacobean women.

Correct answer: They conform to supernatural stereotypes.

They want to meet Macbeth, an important Thane.

Q3.

In his letter to Lady Macbeth in Act 1, Scene 5 of 'Macbeth', Macbeth calls her his 'dearest of greatness'.

Correct Answer: partner, 'partner', Partner

Q4.

The is the term for the accepted standards and rules by which a community lives.

Correct Answer: status quo, statusquo, Status Quo, Status quo

Q5.

Arguably, in Act 1, Scene 5 of 'Macbeth', the Macbeths are presented as having a strong relationship. Which statements best support this argument?

Macbeth is ambitious.

Lady Macbeth emasculates Macbeth.

Correct answer: Lady Macbeth has detailed knowledge of Macbeth's strengths and weaknesses.

Correct answer: Macbeth sends Lady Macbeth a letter as soon as he hears about the prophecies.

Macbeth and Lady Macbeth discuss the child they once had.

Q6.

In 'Macbeth', which quotation best shows Lady Macbeth's support for her husband's ambition to be King of Scotland?

'Art not without ambition'

'my dearest partner of greatness'

Correct answer: 'Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor! Greater than both'

'look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under't.'

'When you durst do it, then you were a man'

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

Which of the following were common expectations of Jacobean women?

Correct answer: To be chaste.

To be educated.

Correct answer: To be dutiful.

Correct answer: To be silent.

To be articulate.

Q2.

In Act 1 of 'Macbeth', in what ways does Lady Macbeth reinforce the status quo?

She pretends to be a dutiful wife to Macbeth.

She pretends to be a dutiful subject to King Duncan.

Correct answer: She seeks power for her husband, not herself.

She dominates the dialogue in 1.7.

She accepts the witches' prophecies.

Q3.

In Act 1 of 'Macbeth', which quotations show Lady Macbeth's detailed knowledge of her husband?

'Great Glamis! worthy Cawdor! Greater than both by the all-hail hereafter'

'I have given suck, and know How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me'

Correct answer: 'yet do I fear thy nature; It is too full o' the milk of human kindness'

'Leave all the rest to me.'

Correct answer: 'Art not without ambition, But without the illness that attends it'

Q4.

We could interpret the female characters in 'Macbeth' as powerful or powerless. For each plot point in the play, decide whether this presents the female character as powerful or powerless.

Correct Answer:powerful - first on stage,The witches start the play.

The witches start the play.

Correct Answer:powerful - takes the lead,Lady Macbeth dominates the dialogue in 1.7.

Lady Macbeth dominates the dialogue in 1.7.

Correct Answer:powerful - control fate,The witches seem to predict, perhaps control, the future.

The witches seem to predict, perhaps control, the future.

Correct Answer:powerless - shunned ,The witches have no place in society: they are outsiders.

The witches have no place in society: they are outsiders.

Correct Answer:powerless - role of wife,Lady Macbeth seeks power for her husband, not for herself.

Lady Macbeth seeks power for her husband, not for herself.

Correct Answer:powerless - hierarchy,Lady Macbeth has to be a dutiful subject to King Duncan.

Lady Macbeth has to be a dutiful subject to King Duncan.

Q5.

In Act 1, Scene 5 of 'Macbeth', Lady Macbeth asks 'spirits' to 'unsex me here'. Which of the following could be accurate inferences about this quotation?

Lady Macbeth wants to be King.

After hearing about the witches, Lady Macbeth wants to be one.

Correct answer: Lady Macbeth feels that she is powerless unless she rejects her femininity.

Correct answer: She wants to be unnaturally powerful so she can commit an unnatural act.

Lady Macbeth doesn't want any children.

Q6.

In Act 1, Scene 7 of 'Macbeth', why does Lady Macbeth say she would have 'dash'd' her child's brains to the floor whilst breast-feeding?

She promised Macbeth she would do this to prove her love.

She wants to do this, worried that her child will become King.

Correct answer: She is using the image to describe her devotion to Macbeth.

She is explaining how and why she killed their child.

She is describing how she will kill their future child.