| Introduction
Setting
the Stage: To Think About…
Is
there such a thing as evil? Good?
Are
we born good or evil (or somewhere in-between?) or do we become
so, over the course of our lives? What brings about such changes?
Are
some people essentially evil, or do they become evil? Why and
how so?
Who
takes responsibility for actions of an individual? Even though
Lady Macbeth does not commit any of the crimes in Macbeth
firsthand, is she as guilty of wrongdoing as Macbeth himself?
What
kinds of morals do Lady Macbeth and Macbeth have?
Is
a belief in destiny or fate reason to act in a pre-determined
way?
Does
deciding to take a course of action mean that we have to remain
on that course, even as it seems to be turning out to be the wrong
one?
Does
crime become less shocking the more it occurs? In other words,
do you think Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are less troubled by their
actions as the play moves on, or do you think they remain unperturbed?
Introduction
In
this lesson students will consider the ethical situations that
arise in the play Macbeth and consider the extent to which character
is responsible for actions, or whether actions form character.
Students
will consider responsibility for one’s own actions, and
consider the way in which one evil act can often pave the way
for a succession of such acts. Once we have made a poor decision,
then does it seem easier to continue making more poor decisions?
Is
there such a thing as evil? Are people essentially evil, or do
they become evil? Why, and how so?
Who
takes responsibility for the actions of an individual?
To
what extent is Lady Macbeth as guilty or evil as Macbeth?
Is
Macbeth totally without any ethics or morals? If not, what kinds
of morals does he have?
Why
is killing “acceptable” in some cases, and not in
others?
To
what extent, if any, should the witches who prophesy Macbeth’s
fortunes take responsibility for the wrong-doings; in other words,
is a belief in destiny or fate reason to act in a pre-determined
way?
Students
will also be asked to consider parallels in Macbeth and Lady Macbeth’s
actions to situations in more contemporary society, for example,
the regimes of Duvalier and Trujillo in the Caribbean, Pol Pot,
Idi Amin (a recent film the students may well be familiar with
is The Last King of Scotland), Robert Mugabe, and Saddam
Hussein.
Educational Objectives
Upon
completing the Macbeth module, students will:
•
Identify key moral dilemmas within the play, and apply them to
other “real life” situations
•
Describe core values and the extent to which they apply to characters
and their actions in the play.
•
Better understand the choices we face on a daily basis about doing
the right thing
•
Better understand individual integrity
•
Be able to articulate whether (and if so, why) some killing is
“justifiable”
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