1. Major Themes/Symbols/Motifs in Macbeth

2. Major Themes (Big Ideas)
Power corrupts, especially when ambition is unchecked.
Cruelty = Masculinity
The difference between being a leader and being a tyrant

3. Major Motifs (Recurring Images/Ideas)
Hallucinations: these are usually connected to feeling guilt
Violence: look for this to be accompanied by blood (see next slide)
Prophecy

4. Major Symbols (Represent Big Ideas)
Blood: guilt
Weather: usually represents something wrong/amiss with the political order. Watch when the weather changes; it usually means something major is about to happen. It also offers foreshadowing.