How Shakespeare Present Macbeth's Fear in Speech

Shakespeare presents Macbeth as an emotionally unstable tragic hero throughout the play. In this way, audiences are asked to question the way societal pressures influence the protagonist and his rise to power. By introducing Macbeth as moral, loyal, and full of doubt about killing his king, Shakespeare illustrates how succumbing to fate and societal expectations leads to his overwhelming guilt, madness, and inevitable downfall.

In this climactic scene, Macbeth’s desperate cling to control is maintained by the bravado he knows is expected of him, something that audiences have seen since his visit to the witches in Act IV. ……

Video Breakdown preview

This video provides a detailed walkthrough of a Level 6 model answer to the Macbeth question from the 2023 AQA Literature Paper 1. The extract, taken from Act 5, Scene 3, shows Macbeth confronting the English army’s advance and speaking to the doctor about Lady Macbeth’s condition. The essay explores how far Shakespeare presents Macbeth as a male character who changes during the play.

Key areas covered include:

• • A strong thesis statement exploring Macbeth as an emotionally unstable tragic hero shaped by societal expectations.

  • Detailed AO1, AO2, and AO3 analysis, including embedded quotations, rhetorical devices, and contextual links.

  • Exploration of tragic conventions such as anagnorisis and hamartia, and how these reflect Macbeth’s transformation.

  • Consideration of Machiavellian philosophy, Shakespeare’s intentions, and the play’s structure from exposition to resolution.

  • Comparisons between Level 6 and Level 4 responses to highlight the differences in depth, interpretation, and critical insight.

This breakdown helps students understand how to build a conceptualised argument, integrate context, and sustain high-level analysis throughout an essay.