Cramming for topic ideas for one of Shakespeare’s most perennially popular plays? We’ve got you covered. Before you begin, though, we have some advice on how to choose the right one for you. First, you’ll want to read the play, cover-to-cover, and we must emphasize the importance of gaining a deeper appreciation of the subject matter by taking some notes along the way. Sure, there are sites online which will cover the basics of the play’s plot, characters, and themes, but if you want to impress your teachers, you’re going to need to write from experience.

You should also consider the following list as entirely flexible. If you dig the vibe behind something listed here, but think you’d rather use it as a template for something else, then by all means – template away! And if you’d like help on not just topic ideas but the essay itself, remember that you can get assistance from this website at any time.

• Macbeth isn’t just about its titular lead character, nor his fellow lead cast. You can learn a lot about the play by peering through the eyes of some of its less-celebrated side characters, such as Angus, who announces important twists in the plot, and the old man whose memory stretches back seven decades and recalls pivotal events which foreshadow things to come. Writing about any of Macbeth’s supporting roles means bringing a fresh perspective.

• Here’s a popular one: think critically over Macbeth’s mentality throughout the course of the plot. How is it affected by major events? How is he reshaped as a person, ultimately becoming the controversial character we all know so well? Indeed, his mental state falls into blatant turmoil, and you can write a paper on how and why this happens, sequentially, studying it from start to finish.

• Macbeth is perhaps the most famous character to be described as a self-fulfilling prophecy. Examine how he manifested his own destiny, making increasingly bleaker choices along the way to his own ruin.

• Shakespeare’s writing style has, to put it lightly, been studied quite a bit. How does that style contribute to the atmosphere of this play? How does it color one’s perception of the story?

• It has been said that if there were a singular defining theme throughout the play, it would be blind ambition. Not only is this seen clearly with Macbeth himself, but it runs roughshod on many other characters, including Lady Macbeth. Compare the various ways in which ambition checkers the cast, causing harm and strife.

• What is it about Duncan which makes him a noble man? What does he do throughout the play which compels us to view him so kindly, so sincerely? Contrast this with the actions of Macbeth. How is he such a tyrant we come to despise? Are there traits these two men share? Perhaps that’s worth consideration as well.

• Gender politics play a vital role in the play as well. Consider the era this was written. Study the gender stereotypes of the day and compare them to those still prevalent today. How does the play go against the grain in this regard? Do Shakespeare’s subversions still impress us today?

• What is the lasting influence of Macbeth on modern literature? How can its impact be felt in the media we consume today? There are elements of Shakespeare’s famous works rampant in movies, television shows, music, games, comics, and more. Macbeth is frequently quoted, and his character is just as frequently the inspiration for the plots of contemporary fiction. He’s even been compared to real-world leaders. A comprehensive study might be in order.

Good luck!