Macbeth Key Theme: Corruption of Nature (AQA GCSE English Literature)
Revision Note
Corruption of nature mind map
The corruption of nature theme in each act of Macbeth:
Act | Quote | Summary |
|---|---|---|
1 | “So foul and fair a day I have not seen”– Macbeth | From the first moment Macbeth appears onstage, nature appears to be disrupted, foreshadowing the corruption about to occur |
2 | “The night has been unruly … / Our chimneys were blown down” – Lennox | After Duncan’s murder, Lennox describes unnatural occurrences in the night such as strange sounds and earthquakes, reflecting the chaos in nature |
3 | “By th’ clock ‘tis day, / And yet dark night strangles the travelling lamp” – Ross | Even though it is daytime, it is dark and this unnatural event symbolises Macbeth’s corrupt reign |
4 | “Macbeth shall never vanquished be until / Great Birnam Wood to High Dunsinane Hill / Shall come against him” – Third apparition | The witches’ prophecies predict an unnatural occurrence as nature would have to be corrupted or distorted for Macbeth’s downfall to occur |
5 | “And now a wood / Comes toward Dunsinane” – Macbeth | Macbeth is informed that Birnam Wood appears to be moving towards his castle, fulfilling the witches’ prophecy and symbolising how nature is rebelling against Macbeth’s rule |
Which elements link to the corruption of nature in Macbeth?
Descriptions of nature and the weather: Shakespeare uses descriptions of the weather to foreshadow the deaths to come:
For example, the witches meet in “thunder” and “lightning” and Macbeth pronounces the day as “foul”
Duncan’s murder: Macbeth has consciously and deliberately acted against nature and as the play progresses, he continues to destabilise ordered patterns:
He acknowledges the dead Duncan is happier than he is and admits how “uneasy lies the head that wears the crown”
In contrast, Shakespeare presents Duncan’s character as aligned with nature through pleasant descriptions (which Macbeth destroys): “the air/ nimbly and sweetly recommends itself/Unto our gentle senses”
Unnatural events after Duncan’s murder: Duncan’s death occurs during a night Lennox describes as ”unruly”, with “strange screams of death”:
This reflects the evil nature of Duncan’s death
Lady Macbeth’s unnatural role: Lady Macbeth subverts the typical Jacobean gender roles, and demands the spirits to strip her of her femininity to achieve her ambition: “unsex me here”.
The impact of the corruption of nature on characters
Character | Impact |
|---|---|
Macbeth |
|
Lady Macbeth |
|
Duncan |
|
The witches |
|
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Why does Shakespeare use the theme of the corruption of nature in his play?
1. Setting and atmosphere
Establishes a disrupted natural order from the beginning of the play
Creates an eerie and foreboding tone
2. Plot driver
Drives Macbeth’s downfall as his actions continue to corrupt nature
3. Audience appeal
Appeals to the audience’s interest as the play reflects the volatile nature of society during the Jacobean era and the social expectations that unlawfully killing another man would be justly punished
Challenges ideas about the role of women as Lady Macbeth’s ambitious nature and controlling influence over Macbeth could be perceived as unnatural and unfeminine
4. Dramatic device
Heightens the tension by using unnatural occurrences to signify the fundamental evil of the characters’ actions
Exam-style questions on the theme of corruption of nature
Try planning a response to the following essay questions as part of your revision of the theme of corruption of nature:
Explore how the murder of Duncan disrupts the natural order and leads to Macbeth’s downfall. (You could start with Act 2, Scene 4.)
How does Shakespeare use the theme of the corruption of nature to portray the character of Lady Macbeth? (You could start with Act 1, Scene 5.)
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